Railway Technical Standards Northern Ireland
Railway technical standards for Northern Ireland are detailed in legislation and policy codes of practice.
Background
Railway technical standards for Northern Ireland are set by legal requirements, which consist of:
- European Union (EU) Technical Standards for Interoperability (TSIs)
- Notified National Rules (NRs)
and by policy codes of practice, which include:
- Northern Ireland Railway Industry Standards
- Company Standards
Rail Interoperability
Rail Interoperability is a European Union (EU)-wide technical standards and authorisations regime for rail infrastructure and vehicles, aiming for safe and compatible railway systems across Europe.
The core regime is set by Directive 2008/57/EC – transposed into United Kingdom (UK) law through The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 (RIR 2011) – which has been superseded by Directive (EU) 2016/797 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union (Directive (EU) 2016/797).
The Windsor Framework commits the UK government to implementing Directive (EU) 2016/797 in Northern Ireland. This ensures that there is continued movement of railway goods and that Northern Ireland remains part of the EU interoperable rail system.
While Directive (EU) 2016/797 is being transposed we are implementing it administratively alongside the existing provisions of RIR 2011.
As part of the interoperability regulations a project entity is required to obtain an authorisation for all new and upgraded infrastructure from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) as the National Safety Authority (NSA), and for new or upgraded vehicles from either the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) or DfI.
European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs)
European Union (EU) TSIs set the technical standards that rail components, vehicles and infrastructure must meet to satisfy the essential requirements of Directive (EU) 2016/797. These are: safety, reliability and availability, health, environmental protection, technical compatibility, and accessibility.
EU TSIs are applicable in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, ensuring the movement of railway goods and maintaining integration with the EU's rail system without divergence from Europe.
The TSIs can be viewed here:
National Technical Specification Notice (NTSN) for Northern Ireland
NTSNs replace the TSIs in Britain and set mandatory technical requirements and procedures for the design, build, operation and maintenance of rail vehicles, infrastructure and components applying to both passenger rail and freight.
The UK’s Secretary of State for Transport has published a NTSN for Northern Ireland. This NTSN states that EU TSIs are applicable in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework and provides a legal basis for the continued application of RIR 2011 in Northern Ireland whilst the regulations to implement Directive (EU) 2016/797 are being transposed.
The NTSN for Northern Ireland is available here:
National Rules
There are various technical differences between Member States’ rail networks for historic and geographic reasons. Though interoperability seeks to progressively reduce these differences, the EU’s technical standards framework accounts for them by leaving certain areas in TSIs as open points to be filled by the National Rules of a Member State, or by allowing Specific Cases for alternate requirements in individual countries.
National Rules supplement TSIs with network or country-specific requirements. RIR 2011 sets out the regime for compliance with National Rules.
National Rules for Northern Ireland can be accessed here:
Please contact railsafety@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk if you require any further information.