Railway certification according to TSI and NNTR (NOBO, DEBO)

What is TSI and NNTR railway certification?

Railway certification ensures that vehicles, infrastructure, energy supply, signalling systems and interoperability constituents in the EU are conform with TSI (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) and additional NNTR (Notified National Technical Rules) requirements. This ensures their interoperability, safety, and performance.

Railway certification is a crucial step during their authorisation and homologation process and for modifications during their lifecycle.

TSIs define EU-wide harmonised requirements for interoperable and safe rail transport. They cover:

• Rolling stock – TSI LOC&PAS, WAG, PRM, NOI, SRT
• Infrastructure – TSI INF, SRT, PRM
• Energy supply – TSI ENE, SRT
• Control-command and signalling – TSI CCS

NNTR apply when a TSI does not cover a particular technical aspect, or when an EU member state has its own additional requirements. TSI certification is done by Notified Bodies (NoBo’s), NNTR certification by Designated Bodies (DeBo’s), following the same basic assessment and certification rules. Railway certification according to TSI and NNTR requirements ensures that both European-wide standards and local requirements are met.

Railway certification, NoBo and DeBo services from TÜV SÜD help rolling stock manufacturers, suppliers, railway operating companies, and infrastructure managers gain approval from the relevant governing bodies.

To understand the different approval requirements, and how they can be merged and consolidated, in-depth knowledge is required. The coordination and interpretation of these complex requirements among many different stakeholders, such as Notified Bodies, Designated Bodies, ISA (Independent Safety Assessment), Assessment Bodies (AsBo), and EU (ERA) and national (NSA) authorities is challenging.

Why is railway certification important?

The TSI and NNTR railway certification process enables efficient European rail network cross-border interoperability and maintains high safety standards. Conformity with TSI and NNTR is a legal requirement for the homologation, authorisation, and operation of rolling stock, signalling technology, infrastructure, and energy supplies. Conformity assessment and certification is also an essential part of retrofitting, refurbishment, and modification projects, even when authorisation is not a legal requirement.

The conformity assessment process involves rigorous testing and documentation reviews to confirm conformity to TSIs and NNTRs. Certification confirms that the components and systems are interoperable, safe, and reliable.

How can TÜV SÜD help you with railway certification?

TÜV SÜD has provided mobility and safety solutions for over 150 years. We are globally accredited as an inspection, testing and certification body, and are recognised as a railway assessment body for all subsystems (NoBo, DeBo for numerous countries, AsBo). Our test centres, all accredited to the ISO 17025 standard, can meet your needs locally.

We support railway manufacturers, operators and authorities with a comprehensive portfolio of inspection, testing, and certification services. We have expertise in:

• Large and multidisciplinary projects
• Interoperability constituents of all kinds
• Retrofit, refurbishment, modification
• New technologies like hydrogen or battery trains
• Special vehicles like on-track machines (OTM), road-rail vehicles

Plus, outside of the certification projects, a wide portfolio for general and ISA assessment of railway systems of all kinds, including underground railways and trams worldwide.

Our experts have a wealth of experience with global railway assessment. Many of our inspectors are also EBA (German Federal Railway Authority) authorised. They all have in-depth knowledge of the conformity assessment and authorisation processes and their challenges.

We are also at the forefront of global developments as we are part of railway standards committees worldwide. This helps us to recognise and react to changes at an early stage, so we can actively inform you about upcoming amendments and if requirements change over the course of a project.

Your experienced TÜV SÜD project management team will successfully navigate you through the assessment and certification process. Our in-depth knowledge of all the complex formal and technical requirements ensures compliance for your product and target market. It will also help you to identify the optimal assessment and approval strategy to save time and minimise the risk of project delay. We guarantee you a smooth and seamless assessment process to meet the expectations of your various stakeholders.

Our TSI and NNTR railway certification service process