Legislation

Objective

IMs are increasingly using drones for inspections, maintenance and other purposes. In addition, unsolicited drone flight operations over rail tracks are becoming a safety and security issue.

On EU level, current legislation on drone flights does not take into account rail specificities. Therefore, a harmonised railway drone-oriented EU legislation and regulation needs to be developed in cooperation with EASA, ERA and EC, notably to foster drone operations ‘Beyond Visual Line of Sight’ (BVLS) in line with rail infrastructure needs.

EIM has set up a WG “Drones” to analyse the legislative landscape on this topic and propose coordinated actions by the rail sector.

EIM in action

The WG Drones meets to exchange experiences, address the need for specific EU legislation regarding the use of drones in the rail sector and to promote a coordinated approach among IMs on European level.
EIM seeks to increase IM’s visibility in the domain of drones by participating in the EC Expert Group “Drones” and in the relevant EASA activities.
EIM cooperates with CER and UIC regarding the regulatory and technical aspects of drones.

EIM actions in 2023

In January 2023, EIM sent a formal letter to CEN (European Standardisation Body) and EASA to exchange on the risk of delays regarding the standardisation work on drones under ASD-STAN leadership.
In March 2023, EIM and CER prepared a joint statement to the EC as a reply to the EC consultation on “Drones: countering the potential threats from unmanned aircraft systems”.
In December 2023, EIM’s members started analysing a first draft of “EASA Guidelines for UAS operations in the open and specific category – Ref to Regulation (EU) 2019/947” on the conditions for crossing railways in the open categories.

Outlook 2024

EIM’s WG “Drones” will continue engaging with EASA to coordinate a response of the rail sector to the proposed Guidelines on drones of EASA.
EIM will hold joint meetings with CER and EASA with the objective to elaborate a text that reflects the safety needs of IMs to be included in EASA’s Guidelines.

Objective

The TSIs related to fixed installations (such as ENE, INF, PRM) require compliance with the requirements when building new rail infrastructure or when upgrading or renewing existing rail infrastructure. The processes described in the Interoperability Directive (IOD) and the CIR250 lay down how compliance is ensured. It is also the case that IMs are approached by their Ministries of Transport to aid with the drafting of National Implementation Plans (NIPs) as many of the TSIs prescribe what Member States have to do.

EIM’s WG “TIA” (TSI Implementation and Authorisation Processes) works on sharing both issues and solutions regarding processes related to TSI compliance involving Notified Bodies (NoBos) and National Safety Authorities (NSAs).

EIM’s WG “TIA” also shares experiences, drafts processes and templates regarding NIPs.

EIM in action

EIM’s WG “TIA” is a new WG of EIM, which aims to identify and address issues and strategies related to TSI Compliance and TSI Implementation.
EIM’s WG “TIA” shares both issues and solutions regarding processes related to TSI compliance involving Notified Bodies (NoBos) and National Safety Authorities (NSAs).
EIM’s WG “TIA” also shares experiences, drafts processes and templates regarding NIPs.

EIM actions in 2023

EIM’s WG “TIA” launched a survey amongst its members on cost effective TSI compliance on TSIs INF and ENE.
EIM’s WG “TIA” gathered issues and solutions regarding NoBo-certification processes.
EIM’s WG “TIA” facilitated the processes of drawing up NIPs on ENE (energy) and INF (infrastructure) by providing templates and an analysis process for the Ministries of Transport.

Outlook 2024

EIM’s WG “TIA” will work on the following topics:

Improve the definitions upgrade and renewal to support a gradual evolution towards a TSI compliant infrastructure.
Improve cost effectiveness of TSI Implementation (by defining a broader range of acceptable values for existing infrastructure).
Differentiating TSI requirements (contributing to interoperability, safety, and other purposes).