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 properly consider rail specificities. Therefore, a harmonised railway drone-oriented EU legislation and regulation needs to be developed in cooperation with EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency), 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

EIM’s WG Drones meets to discuss regulatory matters, 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 following the work in this domain by 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 2024

In January 2024 EASA decided to publish “Guidelines for UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) operations in the open category”, which concern the conditions for overfly/crossing (road and) railways.
EIM engaged in discussions with EASA as EASA’s Guidelines underestimated the required safety conditions for drone operations over rail tracks.
EIM’s WG Drones worked intensively to propose changes to the Guidelines and to increase the knowledge of EASA on the actual constraints for safe drone operations over rail tracks and to agree on a methodology for the assessment of risks.
EIM has also engaged exchanges with ERA in order to promote the dialogue between EASA and ERA regarding this matter.

Outlook 2025

EIM’s WG Drones will continue engaging with EASA and ERA and promote an institutional dialogue between the two agencies.
EIPM will also coordinate possible positions of the rail sector in the light of the evolution of the discussions on the EASA Guidelines on drones.

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 must 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 the youngest 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 2024

The WG focussed on the issues encountered with APIS-procedures for Upgrade and Renewal of existing infrastructure. This activity was triggered by surveys performed by SNCF and PLK.
The WG organised a deep dive on the revised TEN-T Regulation during which ProRail shared its impact analysis on implementing the TEN-T Regulation.
The WG organised a site visit to the station renewal and track expansion in the Netherlands (Driebergen-Zeist).

Outlook 2025

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).