Urban rail safety assessment

Urban rail safety assessment is a comprehensive process whose goal is to ensure that urban rail systems such as metro systems and light rail systems are reliable, safe, and compliant with current safety regulations.

Urban rail safety assessment ensures that rail systems operate safely and efficiently, which is crucial for maintaining high levels of passenger satisfaction and system reliability. It gives rail users the confidence that their daily commutes are safe and at low risk of accidents.

These rail systems involve multiple subsystems and technologies that must work together seamlessly. Integrating new technologies with existing infrastructure poses significant challenges. Ensuring that all components (from signalling systems to rolling stock) function harmoniously requires thorough design reviews, risk analyses, and testing to identify and resolve potential issues early in the development process. As advanced technologies introduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities, continuous monitoring and risk assessment is vital to safeguard against potential breaches and failures.

Testing also helps you achieve compliance with evolving safety regulations. As urban rail systems become more complex, national and international regulations reflect this complexity, and complying with these regulations becomes ever more demanding. A thorough safety assessment ensures that rail systems meet relevant legal and safety standards. This facilitates smoother market access and reduces costly and time-consuming errors and rework.

Doing all this with minimal disruptions to ongoing operations requires expertise. Coordinating testing schedules and managing project timelines to minimise impacts on existing services is a complex task that requires meticulous planning and execution. Similarly, balancing safety with cost efficiency requires a careful and strategic approach to resource allocation and risk management.

An independent safety assessment based on extensive and in-depth expert knowledge can help with all of the above.

TÜV SÜD has extensive experience in the safety assessment of mass transit systems. National and international railway authorities worldwide recognise us as experts in railway safety.

Our specialists understand the complex requirements of urban rail transport and offer in-depth knowledge and comprehensive expertise. We are one of the few service providers that can cover all subsystems of an urban rail transport system.

With our state-of-the-art testing facilities for rail vehicles, we offer you physical vehicle tests and assessments as a complete package from a single source. Our early involvement ensures your safety and reliability while reducing both technical and economic risks.