Railway Applications — Testing and Simulation for the acceptance of running characteristics

Scope

Defines the process for assessing the running characteristics of railway vehicles on standard-gauge (1435 mm) networks, combining stationary tests, on-track running tests and simulation to evaluate running safety, track loading and ride characteristics. It is the core vehicle-dynamics acceptance standard used in vehicle authorisation by manufacturers, test and simulation bodies, assessors and railway undertakings.

EN 14363 defines the process for assessing the running characteristics of railway vehicles operating on standard-gauge (1435 mm) networks, combining stationary bench tests, on-track running tests and computer simulation to evaluate running safety against derailment, track loading imposed on the infrastructure, and ride comfort and stability characteristics. It specifies the test tracks, measurement instrumentation, acceptance criteria and evaluation methods that manufacturers, test bodies and railway undertakings must use to demonstrate that a vehicle's running behaviour is acceptable before it is authorised for service. The standard allows a combination of testing and simulation, so that a vehicle design can be assessed by physical trials on representative track sections complemented by validated simulation for conditions difficult to test directly. It is the core vehicle-dynamics acceptance standard applied during EU vehicle type authorisation, working alongside the standard vehicle mass definitions and line-category framework used elsewhere in the sector that determine the loading conditions a vehicle must be assessed against. The standard is currently under revision, with a full replacement (prEN 14363-1, under CEN/TC 256) publicly in progress, while the 2016+A2:2022 edition remains the applicable reference in the meantime.