BS EN 15689:2009

What is BS EN 15689 - CMS crossing requirements and tests about?  

Crossing components help transfer railway vehicles from one track to another. BS EN 15689 is a European standard that discusses crossing components made of cast austenitic manganese steel:

• To establish material requirements for casting austenitic manganese steel for fixed crossings and cradles for crossings with moveable parts designed to be welded or bolted to rails
• To formulate codes of practice for inspection, testing of un-machined and machined heat-treated castings
• To list the methods by which crossings should be identified and traced
• To define limits of weld rectification by the supplier
• Special requirements for pre-hardened crossings

BS EN 15689 specifies the minimum requirements and acceptance tests for cast manganese crossing components. Special applications (for instance tram systems) can require different demands and need to be agreed upon between customer and supplier.

Note: Geometrical aspects, as machining tolerances and inspection of finished crossings are covered in BS EN 13232-6 and BS EN 13232-7 and therefore not in BS EN 15689.

Who is BS EN 15689 - CMS crossing requirements and tests for? 

BS EN 15689 on CMS crossing requirements and tests is useful for: 

• Owners and managers of the rail transport networks
• Train operating companies (TOCs)
• Project managers
• Manufacturers and suppliers of CMS crossing components
• Product design engineers
• Railway engineers
• Quality control and testing authorities
• Railway infrastructure regulatory bodies

Why should you use BS EN 15689 - CMS crossing requirements and tests?  

A crossing lets the wheel flange of a railway vehicle pass from one track to another. The casted components are composed of cast austenitic manganese steel, which can withstand a lot of repeated chocks from railway wheels.

BS EN 15689 provides general requirements - for example - microstructure, surface conditions, foundry practice, and additional requirements for pre-hardened crossings. BS EN 15689 provides you with guidelines for quality systems, sample approval, general requirements, as well as acceptance tests for crossing components. Additional requirements for pre-hardened crossings as well as weld rectification of surface discontinuities have also been discussed in BS EN 15689.

Details have also been provided on identification and marking, documentation, and non-common cast manganese crossings.

Using BS EN 15689 guidelines, you would be able to meet and exceed quality standards for the cast austenitic manganese steel crossing components that you design and manufacture, which contributes towards safe transport of goods and commuters via rail.