Commission Decision of 21 February 2008 concerning a technical specification for interoperability relating to the ‘rolling stock’ sub-system of the trans-European high-speed rail system (notified under document number C(2008) 648) (Text with EEA relevance) (2008/232/CE) (repealed)

4.2.3.3. Rolling stock parameters which influence ground based train monitoring systems

4.2.3.3.1. Electrical resistance

To ensure the operation of track circuits, the electrical resistance of each wheelset, measured from tyre to tyre shall meet the requirements of clause 3.5 of Annex A Appendix 1 of the Control-Command and Signalling TSI:2006.

In the case of independent wheels (left and right parallel wheels that rotate independently), it is necessary to electrically connect the pair of wheels to achieve the above values.

4.2.3.3.2. Axle bearing health monitoring

4.2.3.3.2.1. Class 1 trains

The health of wheelset bearings on Class 1 trains shall be monitored by on board detection equipment.

This equipment shall be able to detect a deterioration of the wheelset bearing health, either by monitoring its temperature, or its dynamic frequencies or some other suitable wheelset bearing health condition characteristic. A maintenance requirement shall be generated by this equipment and indicate a need for operational restrictions when necessary depending on the extent of the wheelset bearing deterioration.

The detection system shall be located entirely on board and diagnosis messages shall be communicated to the driver.

Specification and assessment method for on board detection equipment are an open point

To prevent Class 1 trains triggering an incorrect alarm of trackside hot axle box detection (HABD) equipment, Class 1 trains shall have no component (other than axle boxes), or vehicle part, or commodity, that generates sufficient heat in the target area, defined in clause 4.2.3.3.2.3, that triggers an alarm. Where such a possibility exists then that component, vehicle part or commodity that has the possibility of generating an alarm shall be permanently shielded from the trackside HABD equipment.

It is permissible for Class 1 train axle boxes, by mutual agreement between all the infrastructure managers to whose lines the trains are intended to run and the railway undertaking, to interface with trackside HABD, in addition to the on board detection equipment, if all the requirements of clause 4.2.3.3.2.3 are fulfilled. As an alternative it is permissible by mutual agreement between infrastructure manager and railway undertaking to identify these trains by train identification systems and use the HABD information as agreed.

When, for vehicles with independent rotating wheels, inhibition of false alarms by using the train identification number is not possible, priority shall be given to the on-board detection system provided that all bearings of the wheels are monitored. The rolling stock register shall indicate if the axle boxes that have the possibility of generating an alarm are or are not shielded permanently from the trackside HABD equipment.

4.2.3.3.2.2. Class 2 trains

It is not required to equip Class 2 trains with on board detection system unless their hot axle box bearings cannot be detected by the systems of trackside detection defined in TSI Control-Command Signalling TSI: 2006 Annex A Appendix 2.

Where a Class 2 train is equipped with on board detection system for wheelset bearing health monitoring equipment the requirements of clause 4.2.3.3.2.1 shall be applied.

The wheelset bearing health of Class 2 trains, that are not equipped with on board wheelset bearing health monitoring equipment, shall be able to be monitored by trackside Hot Axle Box Detector (HABD) equipment to detect abnormal wheelset bearing temperature rises, and shall meet the vehicle interface requirements set out in clause 4.2.3.3.2.3.

4.2.3.3.2.3. Hot axle box detection for Class 2 trains

4.2.3.3.2.3.1. General

The minimum area on a vehicle that shall remain clear for the observation and measurement of axle box temperatures by trackside HABD equipment, known as the target area (TA), shall comply with the requirements given in clause 4.2.3.3.2.3.3 and 4.2.3.3.2.3.4.

4.2.3.3.2.3.2. Functional requirements for the vehicle

The vehicle's axle box shall be designed such that the maximum temperature difference between the loaded zone of the bearing and the target area shall not exceed 20 °C when assessed by the methods defined in Annex 6 of EN12082:1998, Rig performance test.

A minimum of three alarm trigger levels shall apply to Class 2 trains on the axle box target area temperatures (T_{axle box}) as measured by the trackside HABD equipment:

(a)

Warm alarm: T_{axle box} open point °C

(b)

Hot alarm: T_{axle box} open point °C

(c)

Difference alarm (Difference between the temperature of the right and the left bearing of a wheelset = ΔT_diff): ΔT_diff open point °C

As an alternative to this requirement on alarm trigger levels, it is permissible by mutual agreement between the infrastructure-manager and the railway undertaking to identify trains by train identification systems and use specific alarm trigger levels as agreed, that are different from the above levels. Specific alarm trigger levels shall be listed in the rolling stock register

4.2.3.3.2.3.3. Transverse dimensions and height above rail level of the target area

For rolling stock intended to be used on 1 435 mm track gauge the target area on the underside of an axle box, that shall remain un-obstructed to permit observation by a trackside HABD, shall occupy a minimum uninterrupted length of 50mm within a minimum transverse distance from the wheelset-centre of 1 040 mm and a maximum transverse distance from the wheelset centre of 1 120 mm at a height above the top of the rail between 260 mm and 500 mm.

4.2.3.3.2.3.4. Longitudinal dimension of the target area

The longitudinal dimension on the underside of the axle box that shall remain unobstructed to permit observation by a trackside HABD (see Figure 1) shall:

• be centred on the wheelset’s centreline,

• have a minimum length L_min (mm) = 130mm for Class 1 trains where used

• have a minimum length L_min (mm) =100mm for Class 2 trains

4.2.3.3.2.3.5. Limit criteria outside of the target area

To prevent unwanted activation of the trackside HABD, in the vertical plane and over a minimum longitudinal length of L_E mm (= 500 mm) centred on the wheelset centreline:

(a)

No component, or vehicle part, or commodity that has a temperature greater than that of the axle box (e.g. hot load, engine exhaust) shall be located within the longitudinal limit of L_E mm and at a distance of less than 10 mm from either outer edge of the target area's transverse limits (as given in 4.2.3.3.2.3.3) unless it is shielded from observation by the trackside HABD.

(b)

No component, vehicle part or commodity that has the potential to increase the temperature of a component or part that lies within the longitudinal limit of L_E mm and the target area transverse limits to a temperature above that of the wheelset-box (e.g. engine exhaust), shall be located at a distance of less than 100 mm from either outer edge of the target area's transverse limits (as shown in 4.2.3.3.2.3.3) unless it is shielded and prevented from causing an increase in temperature of any part within that area.

4.2.3.3.2.3.6. Emissivity

In order to maximise the emissivity of the observed target area surface and to limit stray radiation from the axle box, the underside surfaces of the axle box and its immediate environment shall be designed to have a matt finish and be painted with dark paint of a matt finish. The paint used shall be to a specification of a maximum 5 % specular reflection in its new state (as defined in clause 3.1 of EN ISO 2813:1999) and be appropriate for the axle box surfaces to which it is applied.

Figure 1