Munich. Battery and hydrogen drives in rail vehicles can help to decarbonise European rail transport. However, there are currently no comprehensible, harmonised safety  standards for alternative drive concepts. TÜV SÜD´s “Assessment Guide for alternative propulsion systems in rail vehicles” provides practical guidance for a comprehensive  assessment.

The use of alternative propulsion systems in rail transport involves risks that are not yet  adequately addressed by relevant rail regulations. For this reason, manufacturers and operators must resort to standards from other industries in order to assess risks and control  hazards. However, often only a safety assessment of individual components is carried out, rather than an assessment of the overall system.

The TÜV SÜD’s Assessment Guide emphasizes the need for a comprehensive safety analysis, covering everything from hazard identification and residual risk assessment to the overall system evaluation. Adopting a holistic approach, it addresses the integration of  alternative drive systems into vehicles, infrastructure, operation and maintenance. This aims to harmonise and make the assessment of risks and safety measures more transparent for  alternative propulsion systems.

Holistic view of the overall system

The Assessment Guide is aimed at vehicle manufacturers and system integrators, component and battery manufacturers, approval and assessment bodies, operators, and authorities. They  receive structured and practical guidance for the safety assessment of alternative propulsion systems in the European railway context.

Tolga Wichmann

© TÜV SÜD

It provides an overview of the regulatory framework, describes the procedure for a systematic  safety analysis, specifies risk-based approval and acceptance criteria, and emphasizes the importance of a holistic view of the overall system and the need for an independent safety  assessment.

The author of the “Assessment Guide for alternative propulsion systems in rail vehicles” is Tolga Wichmann, Lead Assessor Alternative Propulsion for Rolling Stock at TÜV SÜD Rail GmbH.

Tolga Wichmann has been involved in the development of rail vehicles for almost 20 years. As Lead Assessor, he is responsible for the safety assessment of battery and hydrogen propulsion systems in the railway environment. He is an officially recognized railway expert for preventive fire  protection, the investigation of fire incidents, and evacuation and emergency rescue concepts.

TÜV SÜD supports and assists manufacturers, maintenance providers, and operators in the  safety assessment of alternative propulsion systems – from the early development phase to final approval, as well as during commissioning and maintenance. The experts have extensive  experience with the expert reports and assessments described in the Assessment Guide.

This article was originally written by TÜV SÜD.

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