V/V SIC
Vehicle/Vehicle
System Interface Committee
Vehicle/Vehicle
Remit
20 February 2014
1
Introduction
1.1
System Interface Committees shall be comprised of Members, who shall consist of
representatives of the Industry Categories, a Chair, Participants and Observers
1.2
The Vehicle/Vehicle SIC (V/V SIC) was established to provide the focus for the interface
between railway vehicles, and also facilitate activity on topics which, while essentially
intrinsic to vehicles, have implications for the interface of vehicles with the railway system as
a whole, or with the environment (such as weight, reliability, noise).
1.3
This document outlines the remit for V/V SIC to undertake its business, including its Purpose,
Objectives, Scope, Specific Actions and Structure.
2
Purpose of the SIC
2.1
The purpose of the Vehicle/Vehicle System Interface Committee shall be to assist the
Railway Industry to manage all aspects of the vehicle system interfaces in a safe, cost
effective and efficient way.
2.2
The scope of the V/V SIC includes relevant aspects of human factors, managerial, and
process issues as well as technical engineering matters.
3
Objectives of SIC
3.1
Champion of RTS portfolio:
The SIC Protocol requires that SICs support the development of the RTS. With this in mind
the role of the SIC, in agreement with TSLG, includes being a portfolio champion of a chapter
of the Rail Technical Strategy (RTS). The Protocol states the following:
‘3.2
The approach adopted by SICs shall be:
a) Strategic – resulting from the Rail Technical Strategy, and its further
development as the Rail Technical Strategy 2012, and any consequent direction
from TSLG through formal remits to SIC Chairs, and
b) Tactical – dealing with more immediate issues, but aligning where necessary
with the trajectory of the Rail Technical Strategy and its successor, the Rail
Technical Strategy 2012.’
3.2
V/V SIC is the industry RTS portfolio champion for the Rolling Stock chapter.
All SICs will provide support to the cross-cutting Whole System Approach that is being
championed by TSLG.
3.3
V/V SIC will aim to:

Develop a strategy for optimisation of line side equipment to assess various aspects of
rolling stock condition e.g. hot axle box detection equipment and wheel load impact
detection

Explore opportunities for the reduction in train mass leading to low impact effects and
track damage.
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
Monitor the brief on EU lead directives associated with noise to ensure that the rail
aspects are competitively addressed and focused on the Noise Mapping aspects

Ensure appropriate conventional TSI input for UK rail through effective engagement with
Mirror groups, building on High Speed TSI lessons learnt

Create an environmental and energy consumption vision through a holistic systems
approach, tying in with environmental and energy consumption interfaces e.g. energy
per kg/ per seat/ per passenger

Develop measuring systems for pollution/global warming/noise e.g. cost per tonne of
CO2, NOX, etc; wheel-rail noise

Investigate methods to optimise aerodynamics (and pressure waves)

Investigate methods to optimise evacuation, normal access and egress, anti-terrorist
designs/ measures

Investigate methods to optimise passenger facilities and communication, information,
comfort, personal security
3.4
V/V SIC will sponsor Research & Development projects relevant to its scope, through acting
as client for projects managed within the RSSB R&D programme. The aim of this research is
to provide the knowledge and information necessary to support key decisions made by the
SIC and advice given by it to the industry.
3.5
The Committee’s role in relation to the research and other valuable work undertaken by
different groups (outside its Working Groups) will be to act as a “clearing house” and
therefore act as a central location from which the research and other work findings can be
shared amongst the industry. The SIC will not decide on the types or nature of research
these “independent groups” can undertake, as this will be governed by their own individual
remits and scopes.
4
Membership of SIC
4.1
The membership of V/S SIC shall be appropriate to its scope. However each industry
category, RSSB, DfT and ORR is entitled to have one member on the V/V SIC. The role of
each member is to represent the views of the constituency to which they belong.
4.2
The current membership of the committee will comprise of representation from:

Rolling stock owners (including rolling stock leasing companies)

Railway undertakings (passenger train operators)

Railway undertakings (non-passenger train operators; excluding any party which
operates non-passenger trains wholly or mainly in connection with its role as an
infrastructure contractor)

Network Rail and other infrastructure managers

Infrastructure contractors

Office of Rail Regulation (ORR)

Department for Transport (DfT)

Suppliers (including rolling stock manufacturers)

RSSB
Supporting technical and operational expertise will be invited as and when required.
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Disclosure of Interests
5.1
Disclosure of interests applies to both SICs and sub-groups. The SIC Protocol states:
‘If a member, or a person for whom that member works, has a direct or indirect personal
interest in a matter to be discussed by the committee, as distinct from a common interest of
the industry category as a whole, the member shall declare that interest to the Chairman of
the committee of which they are a member at the earliest opportunity:
a) On the first occasion at which the matter is discussed, or
b) If a member is not aware of an interest at that time, at the next committee meeting after
which they become aware of that interest, regardless of whether the matter is being
discussed at that meeting.
Once disclosed, an interest need not be disclosed again.
When a member declares an interest, the other members shall decide whether that
member may continue to participate in discussions on the matter concerned or whether that
member shall be excluded from the meeting while the matter is discussed.’
6
Specialist Skills and Knowledge
6.1
The SIC will review members' skills and experience to ensure they enable the SIC’s scope of
work and objectives to be achieved.
7
SIC Funding and Budget Management
7.1
Representation by the stakeholders on the V/V SIC shall be in kind.
7.2
Funding for specific packages of research and development will be made available from
RSSB subject to support from the System Interface Committee and authorisation by RSSB
8
Process to elect and appoint new members / chairpersons
8.1
The V/V SIC shall follow the election process for new members or a new chairperson as set
out in SIC Protocol Issue 4.
9
Organisation / Operation of Meetings
9.1
The V/V SIC may regulate its proceedings as it sees fit providing they meet the objectives of
this remit.
9.2
Unless otherwise decided by the V/V SIC, it shall meet at least once every four to six weeks.
9.3
The meeting will operate to a pre-agreed agenda.
9.4
If there are insufficient agenda items to be discussed at any single meeting the Chairman
will, with consultation, cancel the meeting with a minimum of five working day’s notice
9.5
Where applicable, the V/V SIC shall form a separate sub group to review and report on
specific issues. The Sub Group will be the forum for the discussion and identification of
issues and system enhancements relevant to the remit of the group and the subsequent
development of work streams to identify appropriate solutions suitable that can be
recommended to the V/V SIC. The meeting frequency will be decided at the discretion of the
sub-group chairman and the requirements of the SIC.
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Meeting Quorum
10.1.1 A meeting quorum comprises 1 x Infrastructure Manager, 1 x Railway Undertaking
and 1 x Original Equipment Manufacturer or their nominated alternates. If a meeting is
not quorate, decisions will be taken in agreement with Section 11.1.1 of this remit.
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Delegation of Authority
11.1 Decision Making
11.1.1 If the meeting is not quorate absent members will have two weeks after issues of the
draft minutes of the meeting to make an objection to any decision taken in the
meeting. If no such objections are made the decision will stand.
11.2 Reporting
11.2.1 The V/V SIC will submit an annual report to TSLG.
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Administration
12.1 Minutes
12.1.1 Draft minutes will be reviewed by the RSSB Technical Expert, RSSB Research and
Development Member and then by the Chair before distribution to the group.
12.1.2 The draft minutes will be distributed to the group via group email.
12.1.3 The draft minutes of each meeting will be approved at the following meeting.
12.1.4 The final approved minutes of each meeting will be distributed to the group via group
email.
12.2 Meeting Documentation
12.2.1 The meeting documentation will be provided to the group no later than five working
days prior to the meeting.
12.2.2 The meeting documentation will be distributed to the group via group email.
12.3 Remit Review
12.3.1 This remit shall be reviewed by the V/V SIC every two years.
12.3.2 Any amendments shall be endorsed by the V/V SIC.
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Appendix A Remit for Portfolio Champions
A.1
For a particular portfolio, provide cross-industry endorsement for need and benefit, endorsing
the route map and plan developed and maintained by Future Railway.
A.2
Participate in and advise on the on-going review, gap analysis and strategic development of
the route map and plan developed and maintained by Future Railway.
A.3
Advise TSLG on the scope of the Portfolios and Programmes required to deliver the RTS
and effectively deliver benefits and value from the available budget.
A.4
Help ensure that a whole system approach is adopted taking account of the wider and crosssystem implications of the SIC scope of work and contributing to cross-system portfolios.
A.5
Contribute to the development and maintenance of the proposed whole system reference
architecture.
A.6
Provide expert advice to TSLG Core Group and other industry decision making groups,
including for example on specific projects.
A.7
Where appropriate provide the industry sponsor role for individual programmes / projects
until dedicated industry sponsors / steering groups are appointed.
Notes
The champions will not be accountable for delivery of the strategy and they will be provided
with appropriate resource support by RSSB/ FutureRailway to fulfil their advisory role.
It is necessary for the individuals/ groups to have the expertise, attitude, competence,
gravitas and contacts to command the respect of senior decision makers and the wider
industry. In delivering the role, the ‘champions’ will need to engage with relevant
stakeholder groups.
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