New to rail — start here

Ten documents that give a newcomer the shape of the whole system: who legislates, what binds, what is assessed, and where the results are recorded. Read alongside the standards guide.

10 documents

1
DIR-2016-797Binding law
Directive on the interoperability of the rail system within the Union (recast)
One half of the system: interoperability, essential requirements, authorisation.
2
DIR-2016-798Binding law
Directive on railway safety (recast)
The other half: safety, safety management, certification.
3
REG-2016-796Binding law
Regulation establishing the European Union Agency for Railways
The referee: what ERA is and what runs through its one-stop shop.
4
TSI-LOCBinding law
TSI Locomotives and Passenger Rolling Stock
A TSI in practice — see how binding technical law reads for one subsystem.
5
TSI-CCSBinding law
TSI Control-Command and Signalling
The most cited TSI: signalling, ETCS and the Annex A mechanism.
6
CSM-RABinding law
Common Safety Method for Risk Evaluation and Assessment
The risk-assessment method the whole industry shares.
7
EN-50126-1Harmonised (OJ-cited)
Railway Applications — RAMS Part 1: Generic Process
The RAMS lifecycle — the vocabulary of every safety conversation.
8
EN-14363Harmonised (OJ-cited)
Railway Applications — Testing and Simulation for the acceptance of running characteristics
A classic EN standard: how vehicle acceptance testing is specified.
9
ERA-TSI-GENERAL-GUIDEGuidance & registers
General Guide for the Application of TSIs
ERA's own explainer of the TSI system's shared mechanics.
10
ERA-RINFGuidance & registers
RINF — Register of Infrastructure (online application)
A register in practice: the infrastructure data everyone consults.

All reading paths Read the standards guide →