TSI Safety in Railway Tunnels

Scope

Technical specification for interoperability laying down harmonised safety requirements for railway tunnels on the EU network, covering the infrastructure, energy, rolling stock and operation subsystems — including fire protection of structures and vehicles, evacuation and rescue provisions, and emergency planning. Applied by infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, manufacturers and notified bodies when authorising new or upgraded tunnels and the rolling stock that runs through them.

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1303/2014, the Technical Specification for Interoperability on Safety in Railway Tunnels, lays down harmonised safety requirements applicable across the infrastructure, energy, rolling stock and operation subsystems for railway tunnels on the EU network. It covers fire protection of tunnel structures and of the rolling stock that runs through them, requirements for evacuation and rescue routes and equipment, and emergency planning and coordination between infrastructure managers, railway undertakings and rescue services. Because tunnel safety requirements span several subsystems, the TSI cross-references fire behaviour requirements for rolling stock materials and components and the general safety framework of the RAMS and signalling CENELEC standards. Infrastructure managers, railway undertakings, manufacturers and notified bodies apply it when authorising new tunnels of significant length or when introducing rolling stock intended to operate through them. The Regulation's consolidated version, current as of 29 January 2024, reflects amendments made since its 2014 adoption, and it remains the primary EU reference for tunnel-specific fire and life-safety requirements.