Railway applications - Wheelsets and bogies - Part 1: Design method for axles with external journals

Scope

Defines the design method for wheelset axles with external journals: the forces and moments to be considered, the stress calculation method, and maximum permissible stresses for the standard axle steel grades. The 2017 edition merged the former EN 13103 (non-powered) and EN 13104 (powered) into a single method covering both trailer and motor axles, making it the reference for axle design across European rolling stock.

EN 13103-1 defines the design method for railway wheelset axles fitted with external journals, specifying how the forces and bending moments acting on an axle in service must be calculated, the associated stress calculation method, and the maximum permissible stresses for the standard axle steel grades used in European rolling stock. The 2017 edition merged what had previously been two separate standards -- EN 13103 for non-powered (trailer) axles and EN 13104 for powered (motor) axles -- into a single unified design method covering both axle types. Axle designers and manufacturers use the standard to size new axle designs and to demonstrate that a design meets the required safety margins against fatigue and static failure over the vehicle's service life. It is one of the core wheelset and bogie design standards referenced during rolling stock type approval and forms part of the technical basis notified bodies rely on when assessing running gear conformity. The current edition in force is EN 13103-1:2017+A1:2022.