Agenda item
MEETING:
Technical Strategy Leadership Group
DATE:
03 December 2015
SUBJECT:
Annual Report from Vehicle/Vehicle SIC
AUTHOR:
John Hawkins, Chair, Vehicle/Vehicle SIC
1.
Purpose of the paper
1.1
This paper is for discussion by TSLG.
2.
Issue
2.1
Sixth annual report to TSLG from Chair of the Vehicle/Vehicle System Interface
Committee (V/V SIC).
3.
Recommendations
3.1
TSLG is invited to note the work of V/V SIC and its sub-groups in the last 12
months and to provide any guidance considered appropriate in relation to
activities planned for the coming year.
4.
Background
4.1
The V/V SIC assists the Railway Industry to manage all aspects of the vehicle
system interfaces in a safe, cost effective and efficient way. It has also now taken
on an additional role as Portfolio Champion for the Rolling Stock Chapter of the
RTS.
4.2
V/V SIC has formed separate sub-groups to cover specific issues:
X-Industry Remote Condition Monitoring Group (XiRCM)
Diesel Systems Working Group (DSWG)
Fire Forum
Key Train Requirements Sub-Group
4.3
In addition, to support its role as RTS Portfolio Champion, V/V SIC has also created
a Rolling Stock Portfolio Working Group.
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5.
Key Areas of Activity
5.1
Key Train Requirements
5.1.1
Work on the preparation of Issue 4 of the KTR document is progressing well, with
a number of meetings having taken place to consider proposed changes and an
initial draft of the document produced. A particular emphasis has been to take
account of feedback received from outside the industry as a result of the
publicising of Issue 3, following its publication in September 2014.
5.1.2
Toilets have been recognised as a particularly sensitive area from a passenger
perspective and a cross-industry workshop was therefore arranged in September
2015 to identify key problem areas and potential solutions. The output from this
workshop will be discussed with groups such as Transport Focus before the
content for inclusion in the KTR document is finalised.
5.2
RTS Rolling Stock Chapter Delivery
5.2.1
Completed Work
5.2.1.1
The RTS Rolling Stock Portfolio Working Group completed work on the
preparation of Benefits Maps for the Rolling Stock Chapter of the RTS in February
2015. These maps, together with those prepared by other Portfolio Groups, were
subsequently endorsed by RDG T&O Group. The seven Significant Programmes
identified for rolling stock were as follows:
Passenger Train Architecture
Future Freight Trains
Train Energy and Motion
Passenger Environment and Experience
Train Operability and Control
Rolling Stock Support (RAMS)
Rolling Stock Interfaces
5.2.1.2
Further work has subsequently been undertaken to identify key projects that
would be required to deliver the outputs identified for each of the Significant
Programmes and to allocate, within the context of the Rolling Stock Portfolio,
priorities. Having completed this activity during spring 2015, the Group responded
to a request from FutureRailway to suspend further work whilst they assimilated
output from the Portfolio Groups and synthesised it into possible programmes
(feasibility studies, competitions, research - noting that some may potentially be
cross-system) for further consideration. To date, the Rolling Stock Portfolio Group
has met only once since this requested “pause” in its activities.
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5.2.2
Planned Work
5.2.2.1
It is anticipated that the next stage of activity for the Rolling Stock Portfolio Group
will be to further develop those projects that are identified as delivering the
greatest benefits when considered from a whole system perspective. As an
example, the ability to achieve high performance, predictable, braking has already
been identified as a key enabler to achieving closer running between trains and
vehicles. This, in turn, offers the potential to significantly increase capacity
without the requirement for major infrastructure investment; for example,
through provision of additional tracks. Work is therefore progressing to identify
and develop projects that may support the delivery of high performance,
predictable, braking.
5.3
Other Industry Support Activities
5.3.1
V/V SIC continues to lead other activities providing more tactical support for the
rail industry. These include:



Research Project T1024, “Procedures for dealing with bodyside windows
broken in service”– The objective of this research was to propose a common
approach and guidance for dealing with bodyside windows broken in service.
Research activities have now concluded and the findings offer significant
potential benefits to train operators by enabling a relaxation of restrictions
currently applied for trains which have suffered a broken outer pane of a
bodyside window. The results from this research are scheduled to be
presented to the next meeting of the ATOC Technical and Standards Forum.
Research Project T1036, “Performance specification and guidance for internal
powered train doors to minimise injury potential” – This research project was
initiated in response to concerns raised by Passenger Focus (now Transport
Focus) regarding injuries sustained by passengers as a result of encounters
with internal power operated doors on trains. There are currently no
Standards or Codes of Practice in place relating to desirable design features
or performance characteristics for these doors.
The research, now completed, has assisted in determining the ideal operating
characteristics for internal powered train doors, providing essential material
for inclusion in the next issue of the Key Train Requirements document,
pending a review of relevant standards. The report has also been shared with
Transport Focus in order to demonstrate the responsiveness of the industry
to safety concerns raised by passenger representatives.
Research Project T1036, “Performance specification and guidance for internal
powered train doors to minimise injury potential” – This research project was
initiated in response to concerns raised by Passenger Focus (now Transport
Focus) regarding injuries sustained by passengers as a result of encounters
with internal power operated doors on trains. There are currently no
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
Standards or Codes of Practice in place relating to desirable design features
or performance characteristics for these doors.
The research, now completed, has assisted in determining the ideal operating
characteristics for internal powered train doors, providing essential material
for inclusion in the next issue of the Key Train Requirements document,
pending a review of relevant standards. The report has also been shared with
Transport Focus in order to demonstrate the responsiveness of the industry
to safety concerns raised by passenger representatives.
Knowledge Search S096, “Rolling stock interior noise” – This Knowledge
Search reviewed work undertaken to manage, and identify appropriate limits
for, interior noise levels across a range of transport modes, including rail,
automotive and aviation. The results are currently being reviewed with a view
to including relevant material in the next issue of the Key Train Requirements
document.
Following a presentation to V/V SIC of innovative train suspension
configurations used for trams and by some mainline railways in other
countries, it was concluded that further investigations were required to
determine the potential whole system benefits. A subsequent meeting
involving representatives from V/V SIC, V/T SIC and ORR concluded there
would be benefits from commissioning a research project to use the
algorithms in VTISM to identify what reductions in track maintenance and
renewal costs might be achievable. Results from this research should inform
decisions as to where rolling stock innovation funding might best be focused
to support delivery of key outputs identified through the RTS Portfolio
Groups. This is now being progressed as a Research Idea.
5.4
Activities of Other V/V-SIC Working Groups
5.4.1
X-Industry RCM Strategy Group (XI-RCMSG)
5.4.1.1
Chair – Amanda Hall (Network Rail). Meetings scheduled every three months.
5.4.1.2
The remit for this group is to identify and, where appropriate, put in place the
enablers necessary to achieve the objectives of the Rail Technical Strategy for
train-to-infrastructure and infrastructure-to-train Remote Condition Monitoring
(RCM).
5.4.1.3
Over the last year, work has been carried out on some of these enablers. T1010
has been completed and is formed of the following four work packages:


T1010-1 – RCM data sharing architecture principles and interface
specifications;
T1010-2 – RCM data sharing business process mapping and commercial
framework;
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

T1010-3 – Standards review and guidance on how to use the products in the
work packages;
T1010-4 – Cross-industry RCM Business Case Decision Support Tool.
5.4.1.4
The outputs of T1010 have been presented at various events, including: a RSSB
dissemination event, the RIA Information Management Group and TSLG.
5.4.1.5
The response has been positive and, at the request of stakeholders and TSLG,
work has commenced on scoping the next steps beyond the deliverables in T1010.
This is likely to be in the form of a demonstrator to provide more detail on a
practical application of the T1010 approach to the sharing of remote condition
monitoring data across different parties.
5.4.1.6
An output from T1010-3 was to recommend standards which need to be
produced. Of those submitted to the T&RS Subject Committee, the Automatic
Vehicle Identification standard has been accepted as a development priority.
5.4.1.7
Automatic Vehicle Identification trials have been carried out by Network Rail in
conjunction with some suppliers, TOCs, FOCs and ROSCOs and with the support of
the Group. The trials report is at final draft stage and will be issued shortly.
5.4.2
Diesel Systems Working Group (DSWG)
5.4.2.1
Chair – Bryan Donnelly (ATOC). Meetings scheduled quarterly.
5.4.2.2
The diesel systems working group meets quarterly and provides industry expertise
and exchange of information for:



Diesel emissions legislation(especially monitoring proposed changes to Non
Road Mobile Machinery Regulations)
Changes to fuel specification and quality to include impact assessment, with a
particular interest in renewables
New technology for reducing fuel consumption and emissions
5.4.2.3
Of particular interest is the NRMM stage 5 proposals and the group is being used
to provide expertise into our arguments for a CER position on the proposed
changes to the directive.
5.4.3
Fire Forum
5.4.3.1
Chair – Phil Hinde (CrossRail)
5.4.3.2
This Group continues to meet on an approximately annual basis; the last meeting
taking place in December 2014. Due to pressure of work the next meeting is not
expected to take place until early in 2016. Whilst other forums, such as BSI
Committee and FSH19, are able to provide an overview for fire related standards,
Fire Forum provides a unique opportunity to undertake a cross-industry review of
fire safety from a rolling stock industry point of view. This includes a review of
previous incidents, including not only fire performance but also incident
management.
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5.4.3.3
The most noteworthy element from the trends and incident reviewed in
December 2014 was the number of occasions when a minor, and technically
speaking well-contained, event caused disproportionate disruption and panic
behaviour including uncontrolled self-evacuation by passengers. Such outcomes
generally appeared to have created greater hazard than the original combustion
(e.g. arcing from shoegear damaged by contact with debris).
5.4.3.4
It has been recommended to V/V SIC that RSSB’s wider safety expertise is used to
review this, with a view to strengthening staff training around understanding of
fire risks, incident response, emergency communications with passengers, and
evacuation.
6.
Future Challenges
6.1
Whilst recognising the importance of continuing its role of providing tactical
support for the rail industry where required, and continuing to develop the Key
Train Requirements document, the principle focus for V/V SIC over the coming year
is expected to be on developing and assisting in the delivery of key projects from
the Significant Programmes defined by the Rolling Stock Portfolio Group that have
been identified as offering the greatest whole system benefits in delivering the
vision described in the RTS.
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