2.1 Sixth annual report to TSLG from Chair of the Vehicle/Vehicle System Interface Committee (V/V SIC).

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1 Agenda item MEETING: Technical Strategy Leadership Group DATE: 03 December 2015 SUBJECT: AUTHOR: Annual Report from Vehicle/Vehicle SIC John Hawkins, Chair, Vehicle/Vehicle SIC 1. Purpose of the paper 1.1 This paper is for discussion by TSLG. 2. Issue 2.1 Sixth annual report to TSLG from Chair of the Vehicle/Vehicle System Interface Committee (V/V SIC). 3. Recommendations 3.1 TSLG is invited to note the work of V/V SIC and its sub-groups in the last 12 months and to provide any guidance considered appropriate in relation to activities planned for the coming year. 4. Background 4.1 The V/V SIC assists the Railway Industry to manage all aspects of the vehicle system interfaces in a safe, cost effective and efficient way. It has also now taken on an additional role as Portfolio Champion for the Rolling Stock Chapter of the RTS. 4.2 V/V SIC has formed separate sub-groups to cover specific issues: X-Industry Remote Condition Monitoring Group (XiRCM) Diesel Systems Working Group (DSWG) Fire Forum Key Train Requirements Sub-Group 4.3 In addition, to support its role as RTS Portfolio Champion, V/V SIC has also created a Rolling Stock Portfolio Working Group. TSLG 03 December 2015 Annual Report from Vehicle/Vehicle SIC Page 1 of 6

2 5. Key Areas of Activity 5.1 Key Train Requirements Work on the preparation of Issue 4 of the KTR document is progressing well, with a number of meetings having taken place to consider proposed changes and an initial draft of the document produced. A particular emphasis has been to take account of feedback received from outside the industry as a result of the publicising of Issue 3, following its publication in September Toilets have been recognised as a particularly sensitive area from a passenger perspective and a cross-industry workshop was therefore arranged in September 2015 to identify key problem areas and potential solutions. The output from this workshop will be discussed with groups such as Transport Focus before the content for inclusion in the KTR document is finalised. 5.2 RTS Rolling Stock Chapter Delivery Completed Work The RTS Rolling Stock Portfolio Working Group completed work on the preparation of Benefits Maps for the Rolling Stock Chapter of the RTS in February These maps, together with those prepared by other Portfolio Groups, were subsequently endorsed by RDG T&O Group. The seven Significant Programmes identified for rolling stock were as follows: Passenger Train Architecture Future Freight Trains Train Energy and Motion Passenger Environment and Experience Train Operability and Control Rolling Stock Support (RAMS) Rolling Stock Interfaces Further work has subsequently been undertaken to identify key projects that would be required to deliver the outputs identified for each of the Significant Programmes and to allocate, within the context of the Rolling Stock Portfolio, priorities. Having completed this activity during spring 2015, the Group responded to a request from FutureRailway to suspend further work whilst they assimilated output from the Portfolio Groups and synthesised it into possible programmes (feasibility studies, competitions, research - noting that some may potentially be cross-system) for further consideration. To date, the Rolling Stock Portfolio Group has met only once since this requested pause in its activities. TSLG 03 December 2015 Annual Report from Vehicle/Vehicle SIC Page 2 of 6

3 5.2.2 Planned Work It is anticipated that the next stage of activity for the Rolling Stock Portfolio Group will be to further develop those projects that are identified as delivering the greatest benefits when considered from a whole system perspective. As an example, the ability to achieve high performance, predictable, braking has already been identified as a key enabler to achieving closer running between trains and vehicles. This, in turn, offers the potential to significantly increase capacity without the requirement for major infrastructure investment; for example, through provision of additional tracks. Work is therefore progressing to identify and develop projects that may support the delivery of high performance, predictable, braking. 5.3 Other Industry Support Activities V/V SIC continues to lead other activities providing more tactical support for the rail industry. These include: Research Project T1024, Procedures for dealing with bodyside windows broken in service The objective of this research was to propose a common approach and guidance for dealing with bodyside windows broken in service. Research activities have now concluded and the findings offer significant potential benefits to train operators by enabling a relaxation of restrictions currently applied for trains which have suffered a broken outer pane of a bodyside window. The results from this research are scheduled to be presented to the next meeting of the ATOC Technical and Standards Forum. Research Project T1036, Performance specification and guidance for internal powered train doors to minimise injury potential This research project was initiated in response to concerns raised by Passenger Focus (now Transport Focus) regarding injuries sustained by passengers as a result of encounters with internal power operated doors on trains. There are currently no Standards or Codes of Practice in place relating to desirable design features or performance characteristics for these doors. The research, now completed, has assisted in determining the ideal operating characteristics for internal powered train doors, providing essential material for inclusion in the next issue of the Key Train Requirements document, pending a review of relevant standards. The report has also been shared with Transport Focus in order to demonstrate the responsiveness of the industry to safety concerns raised by passenger representatives. Research Project T1036, Performance specification and guidance for internal powered train doors to minimise injury potential This research project was initiated in response to concerns raised by Passenger Focus (now Transport Focus) regarding injuries sustained by passengers as a result of encounters with internal power operated doors on trains. There are currently no TSLG 03 December 2015 Annual Report from Vehicle/Vehicle SIC Page 3 of 6

4 Standards or Codes of Practice in place relating to desirable design features or performance characteristics for these doors. The research, now completed, has assisted in determining the ideal operating characteristics for internal powered train doors, providing essential material for inclusion in the next issue of the Key Train Requirements document, pending a review of relevant standards. The report has also been shared with Transport Focus in order to demonstrate the responsiveness of the industry to safety concerns raised by passenger representatives. Knowledge Search S096, Rolling stock interior noise This Knowledge Search reviewed work undertaken to manage, and identify appropriate limits for, interior noise levels across a range of transport modes, including rail, automotive and aviation. The results are currently being reviewed with a view to including relevant material in the next issue of the Key Train Requirements document. Following a presentation to V/V SIC of innovative train suspension configurations used for trams and by some mainline railways in other countries, it was concluded that further investigations were required to determine the potential whole system benefits. A subsequent meeting involving representatives from V/V SIC, V/T SIC and ORR concluded there would be benefits from commissioning a research project to use the algorithms in VTISM to identify what reductions in track maintenance and renewal costs might be achievable. Results from this research should inform decisions as to where rolling stock innovation funding might best be focused to support delivery of key outputs identified through the RTS Portfolio Groups. This is now being progressed as a Research Idea. 5.4 Activities of Other V/V-SIC Working Groups X-Industry RCM Strategy Group (XI-RCMSG) Chair Amanda Hall (Network Rail). Meetings scheduled every three months The remit for this group is to identify and, where appropriate, put in place the enablers necessary to achieve the objectives of the Rail Technical Strategy for train-to-infrastructure and infrastructure-to-train Remote Condition Monitoring (RCM) Over the last year, work has been carried out on some of these enablers. T1010 has been completed and is formed of the following four work packages: T RCM data sharing architecture principles and interface specifications; T RCM data sharing business process mapping and commercial framework; TSLG 03 December 2015 Annual Report from Vehicle/Vehicle SIC Page 4 of 6

5 T Standards review and guidance on how to use the products in the work packages; T Cross-industry RCM Business Case Decision Support Tool The outputs of T1010 have been presented at various events, including: a RSSB dissemination event, the RIA Information Management Group and TSLG The response has been positive and, at the request of stakeholders and TSLG, work has commenced on scoping the next steps beyond the deliverables in T1010. This is likely to be in the form of a demonstrator to provide more detail on a practical application of the T1010 approach to the sharing of remote condition monitoring data across different parties An output from T was to recommend standards which need to be produced. Of those submitted to the T&RS Subject Committee, the Automatic Vehicle Identification standard has been accepted as a development priority Automatic Vehicle Identification trials have been carried out by Network Rail in conjunction with some suppliers, TOCs, FOCs and ROSCOs and with the support of the Group. The trials report is at final draft stage and will be issued shortly Diesel Systems Working Group (DSWG) Chair Bryan Donnelly (ATOC). Meetings scheduled quarterly The diesel systems working group meets quarterly and provides industry expertise and exchange of information for: Diesel emissions legislation(especially monitoring proposed changes to Non Road Mobile Machinery Regulations) Changes to fuel specification and quality to include impact assessment, with a particular interest in renewables New technology for reducing fuel consumption and emissions Of particular interest is the NRMM stage 5 proposals and the group is being used to provide expertise into our arguments for a CER position on the proposed changes to the directive Fire Forum Chair Phil Hinde (CrossRail) This Group continues to meet on an approximately annual basis; the last meeting taking place in December Due to pressure of work the next meeting is not expected to take place until early in Whilst other forums, such as BSI Committee and FSH19, are able to provide an overview for fire related standards, Fire Forum provides a unique opportunity to undertake a cross-industry review of fire safety from a rolling stock industry point of view. This includes a review of previous incidents, including not only fire performance but also incident management. TSLG 03 December 2015 Annual Report from Vehicle/Vehicle SIC Page 5 of 6

6 The most noteworthy element from the trends and incident reviewed in December 2014 was the number of occasions when a minor, and technically speaking well-contained, event caused disproportionate disruption and panic behaviour including uncontrolled self-evacuation by passengers. Such outcomes generally appeared to have created greater hazard than the original combustion (e.g. arcing from shoegear damaged by contact with debris) It has been recommended to V/V SIC that RSSB s wider safety expertise is used to review this, with a view to strengthening staff training around understanding of fire risks, incident response, emergency communications with passengers, and evacuation. 6. Future Challenges 6.1 Whilst recognising the importance of continuing its role of providing tactical support for the rail industry where required, and continuing to develop the Key Train Requirements document, the principle focus for V/V SIC over the coming year is expected to be on developing and assisting in the delivery of key projects from the Significant Programmes defined by the Rolling Stock Portfolio Group that have been identified as offering the greatest whole system benefits in delivering the vision described in the RTS. TSLG 03 December 2015 Annual Report from Vehicle/Vehicle SIC Page 6 of 6