BS EN 15746-2:2020

What is BS EN 15746‑2 about?   

BS EN 15746‑2 is the second part in the multi-series of documents applicable to safety requirements for rail machines and associated equipment. 

BS EN 15746‑2 specifies the significant hazards, hazardous situations and events, common to self-propelled road-rail machines – henceforward referred to as machines – and associated equipment, arising due to the adaptation for their use on railway networks and urban rail networks. These machines are intended for construction, maintenance and inspection of the railway infrastructure, shunting and emergency rescue vehicles, when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. 

BS EN 15746‑2 deals with the common hazards during assembly and installation, commissioning, travelling on and off track, use including setting, programming, and process changeover, operation, cleaning, fault finding, maintenance and de-commissioning of the machines. 

Note: BS EN 15746‑2 does not deal with: 

• Requirements with regard to the quality of work and the performance of the machine 
• Machines that utilize the contact line system for traction purposes 
• Specific requirements established by a railway Infrastructure Manager or Urban Rail Manager 
• Negotiations between the manufacturer and the machine operator for additional or alternative requirements 
• Requirements for use and travel of the machine on the public highway 
• Hazards due to air pressure caused by the passing of high-speed trains at more than 190 km/h 
• Requirements which could be necessary in case of use in extreme conditions, such as extreme 
• Ambient temperatures (tropical or polar); see 5.30 
• Highly corrosive or contaminating environment, e.g. due to the presence of chemicals
• Potentially explosive atmospheres

Who is BS EN 15746‑2 for?  

BS EN 15746‑2 on road-rail machines and associated equipment is relevant to:  

•    Railway machine and equipment manufacturers 
•    Railway management authorities 
•    Train operating companies (TOC)s 
•    Site supervisors   
•    Inspection and testing department in railways  
•    Mechanical engineers 

Why should you use BS EN 15746‑2?   

The use of rail for the transportation of products, merchandise, and people is growing. As a result, the rail infrastructure wears out faster, necessitating more maintenance work, shorter repair intervals, and less track availability to carry out maintenance work. Moreover, the railway industry also faces common dangers encountered during assembly and installation, commissioning, travelling on and off track, use (including setting, programming, and process changeover), operation, cleaning, fault detection, maintenance, and decommissioning of the machines. 

BS EN 15746-2 addresses the machinery in question, as well as the extent to which risks, hazardous conditions, and hazardous occurrences take place. The requirements outlined in BS EN 15746-2 are designed to provide the same level of confidence in safety against derailment on the operational track.  

BS EN 15746-2 specifies the requirements equipment must follow in order to provided necessary safety from hazards and accidents and prevent incidences of derailment of tracks.