What is BS EN 50238‑1 - Railway applications about?
BS EN 50238 is a series of the European standard on railway vehicles that demonstrate the compatibility between rolling stock (RST) and train detection systems (TDS).
BS EN 50238‑1 is the first part of the BS EN 50238 series of documents that describes the characterization of train detection systems, rolling stock, and traction power supply systems.
NOTE 1: It is worth noting that the demonstration of technical compatibility between the rolling stock and infrastructure with respect to physical dimensions is not detailed in BS EN 50238‑1.
NOTE 2: BS EN 50238‑1 can be applied to modifications of rolling stock, traction power supply, or train detection systems which may affect compatibility. The detailed process can be used where no rules and processes for compatibility are established.
NOTE 3: BS EN 50238‑1 is not generally applicable to those combinations of rolling stock, traction power supply, and train detection systems that were accepted as compatible prior to the issue.
Who is BS EN 50238‑1 - Railway applications for?
BS EN 50238‑1 on railway rolling stock is useful for:
- Railway engineer
- Electrical and mechanical engineer
- Manufacturers of railway rolling stocks
- Manufacturers of railway electric traction equipment
Why should you use BS EN 50238‑1 - Railway applications?
The compatibility case is a set of documents that record the evidence demonstrating the compatibility between rolling stock, traction power supplies, and train detection systems for a specific route or specific railway network. BS EN 50238‑1 provides an overview of initiating the compatibility process including compatibility case, quality management, route identification for the introduction of RST (new or changed), the introduction of infrastructure elements (new or changed), and compatibility analysis.
To ensure the correct operation of axle counter systems, wheel detectors, and track circuit systems, the physical and electromagnetic properties of TDS are defined in BS EN 50238‑1.
Test methods applied on RST are given in BS EN 50238‑1 to verify that the generated interferences comply with the TDS compatibility limits.
BS EN 50238‑1 navigates you through the characteristics of traction power supply systems to determine the influence of the traction power supply system on the generation and transmission of interference.
Overall, BS EN 50238‑1 provides details on occupancy detection of the part of railway networks in order to provide safe and uninterrupted rolling stock movement and improve the required reliability of axle counting systems.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 50238‑1:2019 supersedes BS EN 50238-1:2003. BS EN 50238‑1:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 50238-1:2003. These include:
- Generic Compatibility Process, which is broken into two-stage process depending on whether there are established compatibility limits or not
- Rules for characterization of train detection systems
- Rules for characterization of rolling stock
- Rules for characterization of the power system
- References are provided to established CENELEC standards for compatibility
- Terminology is updated.
