Rail Infrastructure Assessment, Testing and Certification

Why is railway safety so important?

Railway track and maintenance inspection and assessment as well as certification by independent experts provides multiple benefits to infrastructure managers, construction companies and manufacturers of infrastructure components:

• Ensure safety and reliability of all elements of rail infrastructure

• Gain access to various markets by meeting national and international regulatory requirements

• Increase acceptance of your product or rail network with certification from a trusted third-party testing and inspection body

• Improve your internal quality management procedures

• Save time and money by avoiding costly and time-consuming rework of rail infrastructure requirements and specifications

• Uphold responsibilities to rail users through the design, construction and maintenance of safe and reliable infrastructure

TÜV SÜD’s is your recognised expert to ensure a safe railway network

TÜV SÜD is internationally recognised for its extensive experience in assessing all aspects of railway infrastructure and its components. We are an accredited Inspection Body according to EN ISO/IEC 17020 and we provide a comprehensive range of railway assessment, testing and certification solutions for ensuring the safety and reliability across your entire rail infrastructure network.

Our laboratories which are accredited according to EN/ISO 17025 are equipped with specialised technology to conduct tests on a wide variety of track components according to the corresponding standards. Additionally, we are able to offer EC certification services to technical specifications for interoperability (TSI) for infrastructure (INF), persons with reduced mobility (PRM) and safety in railway tunnels (SRT).

TÜV SÜD’s railway safety assessment services

We provide a comprehensive range of railway assessment, testing and certification services:

Independent safety assessment (ISA) and Certification

• Infrastructure inspections (design review, construction supervision and acceptance)
• Assessment of conformity to EN standards or any other international or national standards
• Certification according to national and international standards
• EC verifications according to Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) as Notified Body (NoBo)
• Safety assessment of infrastructure (e.g. also for Projects according to EN 50126)
• Assessment of NNTS as Designated Body (DeBo)
• CSM evaluation as Assessment Body (AsBo)
• RAMS assessment according to EN 50126
• Evaluation of earthworks (geological and geotechnical) and civil works (incl. static calculation)
• Assessment according to German Light Rail Law: BOStrab§60, 61 and 62
• Assessment according to Austrian Law EisbG §19, 30 etc.
• Certification of track measuring cars
• Quality Assurance, quality control (QA/QC) and safety audits
• Assessment of tunnel safety, fire protection, emergency and rescue concepts for tunnel and stations
• Assessment of maintenance procedures   

Testing

• Testing of superstructure components (e.g. sleepers, rails, conductor rails, fastening systems, switches, crossings, flash butt and aluminothermic welds, track fencing) according to EN standards or any other national standard
• Factory acceptance testing (FATs)

Technical Assessment

• Independent checking engineer (ICE)

• Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) at systems and Subsystem of the infrastructure
• Damage evaluation (e.g. from derailment)
• Technical support (2^nd and 3^rd opinion): 

o   Cause of derailment and related damages

o   Choice of proper superstructure components

o   Compatibility assessment of track/rolling stock (wheel/rail)

Training

• Technical training for supplier, contractors, operators, authorities etc.