EMC in railways

Abstract

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) must be maintained between the railway infrastructure: OLE, power supply; signalling or train control system; rolling stock and other electrical/electronic systems situated adjacent to the railway, in order to ensure system functionality and safety. In addition all electrical/electronic systems in use on European railway networks must conform with the essential protection requirements of the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC and the national implementing regulations; SI 2006 no.3418 in the UK and/or the interoperability Directives. From 20 April 2016 Directive 2014/30/EU applies and supersedes. CENELEC the European electrical standards body, has adopted a series of EMC standards for railways: EN 50121 parts 1-5: 2006[2-7]. Meeting these standards indicates: minimum criteria for the equipment to function satisfactorily and safely in the railway environment and when the results are incorporated in Technical Documentation, the minimum criteria for conformance with the EU EMC and Interoperability Directives. In addition to these standards it will be necessary to meet the specific EMC infrastructure requirements e.g.: in the UK RSSB Group standard GM/RT 8015, LU 2-01018-001/1-222 A1-5-01018-001 [and G-222 A1LU Manual of Best Practice] or for Network Rail NR/L1/SIG/30040: `EMC Strategy for Network Rail' and through its Level 2 document NR/L2/RSE/30041: `EMC assurance process for Network Rail'. Achieving EMC from a safety perspective and conformance with the appropriate standards and regulations, will only be achieved by managing EMC within the design of equipment and systems. It will be necessary to generate the appropriate documentation in order to deal with the EMC aspects of safety (eg EMC hazard closures for the hazard log) and to demonstrate conformance with the EMC Regulations.