INTEROPERABILITY OF THE RAIL SYSTEM REGULATIONS
Table of Provisions (29)
Statutory Text (29 Articles)
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 427.99
INTEROPERABILITY OF THE RAIL SYSTEM
REGULATIONS
16th June, 2019
LEGAL NOTICE 184 of 2019.
(1)
The title of these regulations
is
the
Interoperability of the Rail System Regulations.
(2)
These regulations transpose Directive (EU) 2016/797
and establish the conditions to be met to achieve interoperability
within the Union rail system in a manner compatible with the
provisions of Directive (EU) 2016/798 in order to define an optimal
level of technical harmonisation, to make it possible to facilitate,
improve and develop rail transport services within the Union and with
third countries and to contribute to the completion of the single
European railway area and the progressive achievement of the internal
market. These conditions concern the design, construction, placing in
service, upgrading, renewal, operation and maintenance of the parts of
that system as well as the professional qualifications of, and health and
safety conditions applying to, the staff who contribute to its operation
and maintenance.
(3)
These regulations concern the provisions relating to, for
each subsystem, the interoperability constituents, interfaces and
procedures, and the conditions of overall compatibility of the Union
rail system required in order to achieve its interoperability.
(4)
When a public or private entity submits an official
application for the purpose of building a new railway line which is to
be operated in Malta in accordance with the applicability of these
regulations and which will be regarded as forming part of the Union
rail system with a view to its operation by one or more railway
undertakings, but excluding a metro system, a tram, networks that are
functionally separate from the rest of the Union rail system and any
other light rail systems, Article 13, Article 14(1) to (8), (11) and (12),
Article 15(1) to (9), Article 16(1), Articles 19 to 26, Articles 45, 46
and 47, Article 49(1) to (4) and Article 54 of Directive (EU) 2016/797
shall apply.
ELEMENTS OF THE UNION RAIL SYSTEM
1. Network
For the purposes of these regulations, the Union's network shall
include the following elements
(a)
specially built high-speed lines equipped for speeds
generally equal to or greater than 250 km/h;
(b)
specially upgraded high-speed lines equipped for speeds
of the order of 200 km/h;
(c)
specially upgraded high-speed lines which have special
features as a result of topographical, relief or town-
planning constraints, to which the speed must be adapted
in each case. This category includes interconnecting
lines between high-speed and conventional networks,
lines through stations, accesses to terminals, depots, etc.
travelled at conventional speed by ‘high-speed’ rolling
stock;
(d)
conventional lines intended for passenger services;
(e)
conventional lines intended for mixed traffic (passengers
and freight);
(f)
conventional lines intended for freight services;
(g)
passenger hubs;
(h)
freight hubs, including intermodal terminals;
(i)
lines connecting the above-mentioned elements.
This network includes traffic management, tracking and
navigation systems, technical installations for data processing
and telecommunications intended for long-distance passenger
services and freight services on the network in order to
guarantee the safe and harmonious operation of the network and
efficient traffic management.
2. Vehicles
For the purposes of these regulations, Union vehicles shall
comprise all vehicles likely to travel on all or part of the Union's
network
—
locomotives and passenger rolling stock, including
thermal or electric traction units, self-propelling thermal
or electric passenger trains, and passenger coaches;
—
freight wagons, including low-deck vehicles designed for
the entire network and vehicles designed to carry lorries;
—
special vehicles, such as on-track machines
This list of vehicles shall include those which are specially
designed to operate on the different types of high-speed lines
described in point 1.
(1)
The following shall be excluded from the scope of
these regulations
(a)
metros;
(b)
trams and light rail vehicles, and infrastructure
used exclusively by those vehicles;
(c)
networks that are functionally separate from the
rest of the Union rail system and intended only for the operation
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of local, urban or suburban passenger services, as well as
undertakings operating solely on those networks;
(d)
privately owned railway infrastructure, including
sidings, used by its owner or by an operator for the purpose of
their respective freight activities or for the transport of persons
for non-commercial purposes, and vehicles used exclusively on
such infrastructure;
(e)
infrastructure and vehicles reserved for a strictly
local, historical or touristic use;
(f)
light rail infrastructure occasionally used by
heavy rail vehicles under the operational conditions of the light
rail system, where it is necessary for the purposes of
connectivity of those vehicles only; and
(g)
vehicles primarily used on light rail infrastructure
but equipped with some heavy rail components necessary to
enable transit to be effected on a confined and limited section of
heavy rail infrastructure for connectivity purposes only.
(2)
In case of tram-trains operating in the Union rail system,
where there are no TSIs that apply to those tram-trains, the following
shall apply
(a)
national rules or other relevant accessible
measures shall be adopted in order to ensure that such tram-
trains meet the relevant essential requirements;
(b)
national rules may be adopted in order to specify
the authorisation procedure applicable to such tram-trains. The
authority issuing the vehicle authorisation shall consult the
relevant national safety authority in order to ensure that mixed
operation of tram-trains and heavy rail trains meet all essential
requirements as well as relevant common safety targets;
(c)
by way of derogation from Article 21 of Directive
(EU) 2016/797, in the case of cross-border operation, the
relevant competent authorities shall cooperate with a view to
issuing the vehicle authorisations. This does not apply to
vehicles excluded from the scope of these regulations in
accordance with regulation 2(1).
SUBSYSTEMS
1. List of subsystems
For the purposes of these regulations, the system constituting the
Union rail system may be broken down into the following
subsystems, either
(a)
structural areas
—
infrastructure,
—
energy,
—
track-side
control-command
and
signalling,
—
on-board control-command and signalling,
—
rolling stock; or
(b)
functional areas
—
operation and traffic management,
—
maintenance,
—
telematics applications for passenger and
freight services.
2. Description of the subsystems
For each subsystem or part of a subsystem, the list of
constituents and aspects relating to interoperability is proposed
by the Agency at the time of drawing up the relevant draft TSI.
Without prejudging the choice of aspects and constituents
relating to interoperability or the order in which they will be
made subject to TSIs, the subsystems include the following
Infrastructure
The track, points, level crossings, engineering structures
(bridges, tunnels, etc.), rail-related elements of stations
(including entrances, platforms, zones of access, service venues,
toilets and information systems, as well as their accessibility
features for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced
mobility), safety and protective equipment.
Energy
The electrification system, including overhead lines and the
trackside electricity consumption measuring and charging
system.
Trackside control-command and signalling
All the trackside equipment required to ensure safety and to
command and control movements of trains authorised to travel
on the network.
On-board control-command and signalling
All the on-board equipment required to ensure safety and to
command and control movements of trains authorised to travel
on the network.
Operation and traffic management
The procedures and related equipment permitting coherent
operation of the various structural subsystems, during both
normal and degraded operation, including in particular train
composition and train driving, traffic planning and management.
The professional qualifications which may be required for
carrying out any type of railway service.
Telematics applications
In accordance with Schedule I, this subsystem comprises two
elements
(a)
applications for passenger services, including systems
which provide passengers with information before and
during the journey, reservation and payment systems,
luggage management and management of connections
between trains and with other modes of transport;
(b)
applications for freight services, including information
systems (real-time monitoring of freight and trains),
marshalling and allocation systems, reservation, payment
and invoicing systems, management of connections with
other modes of transport and production of electronic
accompanying documents.
Rolling stock
Structural body, command and control system for all train
equipment, electric current collection devices, traction and
energy conversion units, on-board equipment for electricity
consumption measuring and charging, braking, coupling and
running gear (bogies, axles, etc.) and suspension, doors, man/
machine interfaces (driver, on-board staff and passengers,
including accessibility features for persons with disabilities and
persons with reduced mobility), passive or active safety devices
and requisites for the health of passengers and on-board staff.
Maintenance
The procedures, associated equipment, logistics centres for
maintenance work and reserves providing the mandatory
corrective and preventive maintenance to ensure the
interoperability of the Union rail system and guarantee the
performance required.
For the purposes of these regulations
"the Act" means the Product Safety Act;
"accreditation" means accreditation as defined in point
(10) of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008;
"the Agency" means the European Union Agency for
Railways as established by Regulation (EU) 2016/796;
"applicant" means a natural or legal person requesting an
authorisation, be it a railway undertaking, an infrastructure
manager or any other person or legal entity, such as a
manufacturer, an owner or a keeper; for the purpose of Article
15 of Directive (EU) 2016/797, the ‘applicant’ means a
contracting entity or a manufacturer, or its authorised
representatives; for the purpose of Article 19 of Directive (EU)
2016/797, the ‘applicant’ means a natural or legal person
requesting the Agency's decision for the approval of the
technical solutions envisaged for the ERTMS track-side
equipment projects;
"authorised representative" means any natural or legal
person established within the Union who has received a written
mandate from a manufacturer or a contracting entity to act on
behalf of that manufacturer or contracting entity in relation to
specified tasks;
"conformity
assessment"
means
the
process
demonstrating whether specified requirements relating to a
product, process, service, subsystem, person or body have been
fulfilled;
"conformity assessment body" means a body that has
been notified or designated to be responsible for conformity
assessment
activities,
including
calibration,
testing,
certification and inspection; a conformity assessment body is
classified as a ‘notified body’ following notification by the
Technical Regulations Division; a conformity assessment body
is classified as a ‘designated body’ following designation by a
the Technical Regulations Division;
"contracting entity" means a public or private entity
which orders the design and/or construction or the renewal or
upgrading of a subsystem;
"design operating state" means the normal operating
mode and the foreseeable degraded conditions (including wear)
within the range and the conditions of use specified in the
technical and maintenance files;
"ERTMS" means the European Rail Traffic Management
System;
"essential requirements" means all the conditions set out
in Schedule III which must be met by the Union rail system, the
subsystems, and the interoperability constituents, including
interfaces;
"European specification" means a specification which
INTEROPERABILITY OF THE RAIL SYSTEM
falls into one of the following categories
(a)
a common technical specification as
defined in Annex VIII of Directive 2014/25/EU;
(b)
a European technical approval as referred
to in Article 60 of Directive 2014/25/EU; or
(c)
a European standard as defined in point (b)
of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012;
"harmonised standard" means a European standard as
defined in point (c) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1025/
2012;
"infrastructure manager" means an infrastructure
manager as defined in point (2) of Article 3 of Directive 2012/
34/EU;
"interoperability" means the ability of a rail system to
allow the safe and uninterrupted movement of trains which
accomplish the required levels of performance;
"interoperability constituents" means any elementary
component, group of components, sub-assembly or complete
assembly of equipment incorporated or intended to be
incorporated into a subsystem, upon which the interoperability
of the rail system depends directly or indirectly, including both
tangible objects and intangible objects;
"keeper" means the natural or legal person that, being the
owner of a vehicle or having the right to use it, exploits the
vehicle as a means of transport and is registered as such in a
vehicle register referred to in Article 47 of Directive (EU)
2016/797;
"light rail" means an urban and/or suburban rail transport
system with a crash-worthiness of C-III or C-IV (in accordance
with EN 15227:2011) and a maximum strength of vehicle of
800 kN (longitudinal compressive force in coupling area); light
rail systems may have their own right of way or share it with
road traffic and usually do not exchange vehicles with long-
distance passenger or freight traffic;
"manufacturer" means any natural or legal person who
manufactures a product in the form of interoperability
constituents, subsystems or vehicles, or has it designed or
manufactured, and markets it under his name or trademark;
"national accreditation body" means a national
accreditation body as defined in point (11) of Article 2 of
Regulation (EC) No 765/2008;
"national rules" means all binding rules adopted in a
Member State, irrespective of the body issuing them, which
contain railway safety or technical requirements, other than
those laid down by Union or international rules which are
applicable within that Member State to railway undertakings,
infrastructure managers or third parties;
"national safety authority" means a safety authority as
defined in point (7) of Article 3 of Directive (EU) 2016/798;
"network" means the lines, stations, terminals, and all
kinds of fixed equipment needed to ensure safe and continuous
operation of the Union rail system;
"placing in service" means all the operations by which a
subsystem is put into its operational service;
"placing on the market" means the first making available
on the Union's market of an interoperability constituent,
subsystem or vehicle ready to function in its design operating
state;
"product" means a product obtained through a
manufacturing process, including interoperability constituents
and subsystems;
"railway undertaking" means a railway undertaking as
defined in point (1) of Article 3 of Directive 2012/34/EU, and
any other public or private undertaking, the activity of which is
to provide transport of goods and/or passengers by rail on the
basis that the undertaking is to ensure traction; this also
includes undertakings which provide traction only;
"renewal" means any major substitution work on a
subsystem or part of it which does not change the overall
performance of the subsystem;
"specific case" means any part of the rail system which
needs special provisions in the TSIs, either temporary or
permanent, because of geographical, topographical or urban
environment constraints or those affecting compatibility with
the existing system, in particular railway lines and networks
isolated from the rest of the Union, the loading gauge, the track
gauge or space between the tracks and vehicles strictly intended
for local, regional or historical use, as well as vehicles
originating from or destined for third countries;
"subsystems" means the structural or functional parts of
the Union rail system, as set out in Schedule II;
"Technical Regulations Division" means the entity as
established by article 19 of the Malta Competition and
INTEROPERABILITY OF THE RAIL SYSTEM
Consumer Affairs Authority Act;
"technical specification for interoperability" or "TSI"
means a specification adopted in accordance with Directive
(EU) 2016/797 by which each subsystem or part of a subsystem
is covered in order to meet the essential requirements and
ensure the interoperability of the Union rail system;
"tram-train" means a vehicle designed for combined use
on both a light-rail infrastructure and a heavy-rail
infrastructure;
"type" means a vehicle type defining the basic design
characteristics of the vehicle as covered by a type or design
examination certificate described in the relevant verification
module;
"the Union rail system" refers to the Elements of the
Union Rail System set out in Schedule I;
"upgrading" means any major modification work on a
subsystem or part of it which results in a change in the technical
file accompanying the ‘EC’ declaration of verification, if that
technical file exists, and which improves the overall
performance of the subsystem; and
"vehicle" means a railway vehicle suitable for circulation
on wheels on railway lines, with or without traction; a vehicle is
composed of one or more structural and functional subsystems.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
1. General requirements
Safety
1.1.1. The design, construction or assembly, maintenance and
monitoring of safety-critical components, and more particularly
of the components involved in train movements, must be such as
to guarantee safety at the level corresponding to the aims laid
down for the network, including those for specific degraded
situations.
1.1.2. The parameters involved in the wheel/rail contact must meet the
stability requirements needed in order to guarantee safe
movement at the maximum authorised speed. The parameters of
brake equipment must guarantee that it is possible to stop within
a given brake distance at the maximum authorised speed.
1.1.3. The components used must withstand any normal or exceptional
stresses that have been specified during their period in service.
The safety repercussions of any accidental failures must be
limited by appropriate means.
1.1.4. The design of fixed installations and rolling stock and the choice
of the materials used must be aimed at limiting the generation,
propagation and effects of fire and smoke in the event of a fire.
1.1.5. Any devices intended to be handled by users must be designed
in such a way as not to impair the safe operation of the devices
or the health and safety of users if used in a foreseeable manner,
albeit not in accordance with the posted instructions.
Reliability and availability
The monitoring and maintenance of fixed or movable
components that are involved in train movements must be
organised, carried out and quantified in such a manner as to
maintain their operation under the intended conditions.
Health
1.3.1. Materials likely, by virtue of the way they are used, to constitute
a health hazard to those having access to them must not be used
in trains and railway infrastructures.
1.3.2. Those materials must be selected, deployed and used in such a
way as to restrict the emission of harmful and dangerous fumes
or gases, particularly in the event of fire.
Environmental protection
1.4.1. The environmental impact of establishment and operation of the
rail system must be assessed and taken into account at the design
stage of the system in accordance with Union law.
1.4.2. The materials used in the trains and infrastructures must prevent
the emission of fumes or gases which are harmful and dangerous
to the environment, particularly in the event of fire.
1.4.3. The rolling stock and energy-supply systems must be designed
and manufactured in such a way as to be electromagnetically
compatible with the installations, equipment and public or
private networks with which they might interfere.
1.4.4. The design and operation of rail system must not lead to an
inadmissible level of noise generated by it
—
in areas close to railway infrastructure, as defined in
point (3) of Article 3 of Directive 2012/34/EU, and
—
in the driver's cab.
1.4.5. Operation of the rail system must not give rise to an
inadmissible level of ground vibrations for the activities and
areas close to the infrastructure and in a normal state of
maintenance.
Technical compatibility
The technical characteristics of the infrastructure and fixed
installations must be compatible with each other and with those
of the trains to be used on the rail system. This requirement
includes the safe integration of the vehicle's subsystem with the
infrastructure.
If compliance with these characteristics proves difficult on
certain sections of the network, temporary solutions, which
ensure compatibility in the future, may be implemented.
Accessibility
1.6.1. The ‘infrastructure’ and ‘rolling stock’ subsystems must be
accessible to persons with disabilities and persons with reduced
mobility in order to ensure access on an equal basis with others
by way of the prevention or removal of barriers, and by way of
other appropriate measures. This shall include the design,
construction, renewal, upgrade, maintenance and operation of
the relevant parts of the subsystems to which the public has
access.
1.6.2. The ‘operations’ and ‘telematics applications for passengers’
subsystems must provide for the necessary functionality
required to facilitate access for persons with disabilities and
persons with reduced mobility on an equal basis with others by
way of the prevention or removal of barriers, and by way of
other appropriate measures.
2. Requirements specific to each subsystem
Infrastructure
2.1.1. Safety
Appropriate steps must be taken to prevent access to, or
undesirable intrusions into, installations.
Steps must be taken to limit the dangers to which persons are
exposed, particularly when trains pass through stations.
Infrastructure to which the public has access must be designed
and made in such a way as to limit any human safety hazards
(stability, fire, access, evacuation, platforms, etc.). Appropriate
provisions must be laid down to take account of the particular
safety conditions in very long tunnels and viaducts.
2.1.2. Accessibility
Infrastructure subsystems to which the public has access must be
accessible for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced
mobility in accordance with point 1.6.
Energy
2.2.1. Safety
Operation of the energy-supply systems must not impair the
safety either of trains or of persons (users, operating staff, track-
side dwellers and third parties).
2.2.2. Environmental protection
The functioning of the electrical or thermal energy-supply
systems must not interfere with the environment beyond the
specified limits.
2.2.3. Technical compatibility
The electricity/thermal energy-supply systems used must
—
enable trains to achieve the specified performance levels,
—
in the case of electricity energy-supply systems, be
compatible with the collection devices fitted to the
trains.
Control-command and signalling
2.3.1. Safety
The control-command and signalling installations and
procedures used must enable trains to travel with a level of
safety which corresponds to the objectives set for the network.
The control-command and signalling systems must continue to
provide for safe passage of trains permitted to run under
degraded conditions.
2.3.2. Technical compatibility
All new infrastructure and all new rolling stock manufactured or
developed after adoption of compatible control-command and
signalling systems must be tailored to the use of those systems.
The control-command and signalling equipment installed in the
train drivers' cabs must permit normal operation, under the
specified conditions, throughout the rail system.
Rolling stock
2.4.1. Safety
The rolling-stock structures and those of the links between
vehicles must be designed in such a way as to protect the
passenger and driving compartments in the event of collision or
derailment.
The electrical equipment must not impair the safety and
functioning of the control-command and signalling installations.
The braking techniques and the stresses exerted must be
compatible with the design of the tracks, engineering structures
and signalling systems.
Steps must be taken to prevent access to electrically-live
constituents in order not to endanger the safety of persons.
In the event of danger, devices must enable passengers to inform
the driver and accompanying staff to contact them.
The safety of passengers boarding and alighting from trains
must be ensured. The access doors must incorporate an opening
and closing system which guarantees passenger safety.
Emergency exits must be provided and indicated.
Appropriate provisions must be laid down to take account of the
particular safety conditions in very long tunnels.
An emergency lighting system having a sufficient intensity and
duration is an absolute requirement on board trains.
Trains must be equipped with a public address system which
provides a means of communication to the public from on-board
staff.
Passengers must be given easily understandable and
comprehensive information about rules applicable to them both
in railway stations and in trains.
2.4.2. Reliability and availability
The design of the vital equipment and the running, traction and
braking equipment as well as the control- command system
must, in a specific degraded situation, be such as to enable the
train to continue without adverse consequences for the
equipment remaining in service.
2.4.3. Technical compatibility
The electrical equipment must be compatible with the operation
of the control-command and signalling installations.
In the case of electric traction, the characteristics of the current-
collection devices must be such as to enable trains to travel
under the energy-supply systems for the rail system.
The characteristics of the rolling stock must be such as to allow
it to travel on any line on which it is expected to operate, taking
account of relevant climatic conditions.
2.4.4. Controls
Trains must be equipped with a recording device. The data
collected by that device and the processing of the information
must be harmonised.
2.4.5. Accessibility
Rolling-stock subsystems to which the public has access must be
accessible for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced
mobility in accordance with point 1.6.
Maintenance
2.5.1. Health and safety
The technical installations and the procedures used in the
centres must ensure the safe operation of the subsystem and not
constitute a danger to health and safety.
2.5.2. Environmental protection
The technical installations and the procedures used in the
maintenance centres must not exceed the permissible levels of
nuisance with regard to the surrounding environment.
2.5.3. Technical compatibility
The maintenance installations for rolling stock must be such as
to enable safety, health and comfort operations to be carried out
on all stock for which they have been designed.
Operation and traffic management
2.6.1. Safety
Alignment of the network operating rules and the qualifications
of drivers and on-board staff and of the staff in the control
centres must be such as to ensure safe operation, bearing in
mind the different requirements of cross-border and domestic
services.
The maintenance operations and intervals, the training and
qualifications of the maintenance and control centre staff and
the quality assurance system set up by the operators concerned
in the control and maintenance centres must be such as to ensure
a high level of safety.
2.6.2. Reliability and availability
The maintenance operations and periods, the training and
qualifications of the maintenance and control centre staff and
the quality assurance system set up by the operators concerned
in the control and maintenance centres must be such as to ensure
a high level of system reliability and availability.
2.6.3. Technical compatibility
Alignment of the network operating rules and the qualifications
of drivers, on-board staff and traffic managers must be such as
to ensure operating efficiency on the rail system, bearing in
mind the different requirements of cross-border and domestic
services.
2.6.4. Accessibility
Appropriate steps must be taken to ensure that operating rules
provide for the necessary functionality required to ensure
accessibility for persons with disabilities and persons with
reduced mobility.
Telematics applications for freight and passengers
2.7.1. Technical compatibility
The essential requirements for telematics applications guarantee
a minimum quality of service for passengers and carriers of
goods, particularly in terms of technical compatibility.
Steps must be taken to ensure
—
that the databases, software and data communication
protocols are developed in a manner allowing maximum
data interchange between different applications and
operators, excluding confidential commercial data,
—
easy access to the information for users.
2.7.2. Reliability and availability
The methods of use, management, updating and maintenance of
these databases, software and data communication protocols
must guarantee the efficiency of these systems and the quality of
the service.
2.7.3. Health
The interfaces between these systems and users must comply
with the minimum rules on ergonomics and health protection.
2.7.4. Safety
Suitable levels of integrity and dependability must be provided
for the storage or transmission of safety-related information.
2.7.5. Accessibility
Appropriate steps must be taken to ensure that telematics
applications for passenger subsystems provide for the necessary
functionality required to ensure accessibility for persons with
disabilities and persons with reduced mobility.
(1)
The Technical Regulations Division may allow
the applicant not to apply one or more TSIs or parts of them in the
following cases
(a)
for a proposed new subsystem or part of it, for the
renewal or upgrading of an existing subsystem or part of it, or
for any element referred to in Regulation 1(2) which is at an
advanced stage of development or which is the subject of a
contract in the course of performance on the date of application
of the TSI(s) concerned;
(b)
where, following an accident or a natural disaster,
the conditions for the rapid restoration of the network do not
economically or technically allow for partial or total application
of the relevant TSIs, in which case the non-application of the
TSIs shall be limited to the period before the restoration of the
network;
(c)
for any proposed renewal, extension or upgrading
of an existing subsystem or part of it, when the application of
the TSI(s) concerned would compromise the economic viability
of the project and/or the compatibility of the rail system in
Malta, for example in relation to the loading gauge, track
gauge, space between tracks or electrification voltage;
(d)
for vehicles arriving from or going to third
countries the track gauge of which is different from that of the
main rail network within the Union;
(e)
for a proposed new subsystem or for the proposed
renewal or upgrading of an existing subsystem in Maltese
territory when its rail network is separated or isolated by the sea
or separated as a result of special geographical conditions from
the rail network of the rest of the Union.
(2)
In the case referred to in sub-regulation (1)(a), Malta
shall communicate to the Commission, within one year of entry into
force of each TSI, a list of projects that are taking place within its
territory and which, in the view of the Technical Regulations Division,
are at an advanced stage of development.
(3)
In the cases referred to in sub-regulation (1)(a) and (b),
the Technical Regulations Division shall communicate to the
Commission its decision not to apply one or more TSIs or parts of
them.
(4)
In the cases referred to in sub-regulation (1) (a), (c), (d)
and (e), the Technical Regulations Division shall submit to the
Commission the request for non-application of the TSIs or parts of
them, accompanied by a file containing the justification for the
request, and specifying the alternative provisions that the Technical
Regulations Division intends to apply instead of the TSIs. In the case
referred to in sub-regulation (1)(e), the Commission shall analyse the
request and decide whether or not to accept it on the basis of the
completeness and coherence of the information contained in the file.
In the cases referred to in sub-regulation (1)(c) and (d), the
Commission shall adopt its decision by means of implementing acts on
the basis of such analysis. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in
accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 51(3)
of Directive (EU) 2016/797. In the cases referred to in the third sub-
paragraph of Article 21(6) of Directive (EU) 2016/797, the applicant
shall submit the file to the Agency. The Agency shall consult the
relevant safety authorities and give its final opinion to the
Commission.
(5)
Pending the decision of the Commission, the Technical
Regulation Division may apply the alternative provisions referred to in
sub-regulation (4) without delay.
‘EC’ VERIFICATION PROCEDURE FOR SUBSYSTEMS
1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
‘"EC" verification’ means a procedure carried out by the
applicant within the meaning of Article 15 to Directive (EU)
2016/797 to demonstrate that the requirements of the relevant
Union law and any relevant national rules relating to a
subsystem have been fulfilled and the subsystem may be
authorised to be placed in service.
2. CERTIFICATE OF
VERIFICATION
ISSUED
BY
A
NOTIFIED BODY
Introduction
For the purpose of these regulations, the verification by
reference to TSIs is the procedure whereby a notified body
checks and certifies that the subsystem complies with the
relevant technical specifications for interoperability (TSI).
This is without prejudice to the obligations of the applicant to
comply with the other applicable legal acts of the Union and any
verifications by the assessment bodies required by the other
rules.
Intermediate statement of verification (ISV)
2.2.1 Principles
At the request of the applicant the verifications may be done for
parts of a subsystem or may be limited to certain stages of the
verification procedure. In these cases, the results of verification
may be documented in an ‘intermediate statement of
verification’ (ISV) issued by the notified body chosen by the
applicant. The ISV must provide reference to the TSIs with
which the conformity has been assessed.
2.2.2 Parts of the subsystem
The applicant may apply for an ISV for any part into which he
decides to split the subsystem. Each part shall be checked at
each stage as set out in point 2.2.3.
2.2.3 Stages of the verification procedure
The subsystem, or certain parts of the subsystem, shall be
checked at each of the following stages
(a)
overall design;
(b)
production: construction, including, in particular, civil-
engineering activities, manufacturing, constituent
assembly and overall adjustment;
(c)
final testing.
The applicant may apply for an ISV for the design stage
(including the type tests) and for the production stage for the
whole subsystem or for any part into which the applicant
decided to split it (see point 2.2.2).
Certificate of verification
2.3.1. The notified bodies responsible for the verification assess the
design, production and final testing of the subsystem and draw
up the certificate of verification intended for the applicant who
in turn draws up the ‘EC’ declaration of verification. The
certificate of verification must provide reference to the TSIs
with which the conformity has been assessed.
Where a subsystem has not been assessed for its conformity with
all relevant TSI(s) (e.g. in the case of a derogation, partial
application of TSIs for upgrade or renewal, transitional period in
a TSI or specific case), the certificate of verification shall give
the precise reference to the TSI(s) or their parts whose
conformity has not been examined by the notified body during
the verification procedure.
2.3.2. Where ISV have been issued, the notified body responsible for
the verification of the subsystem takes these ISV into account,
and, before issuing its certificate of verification
(a)
verifies that the ISV cover correctly the relevant
requirements of the TSI(s);
(b)
checks all aspects that are not covered by the ISV; and
(c)
checks the final testing of the subsystem as a whole.
2.3.3. In the case of a modification to a subsystem already covered by
a certificate of verification, the notified body shall perform only
those examinations and tests that are relevant and necessary, i.e.
assessment shall relate only to the parts of the subsystem that are
changed and their interfaces to the unchanged parts of the
subsystem.
2.3.4 Each notified body involved in the verification of a subsystem
shall draw up a file in accordance with Article 15(4) of Directive
(EU) 2016/797 covering the scope of its activities.
Technical file
accompanying
the
‘EC’
declaration
of
verification.
The technical file accompanying the ‘EC’ declaration of
verification shall be assembled by the applicant and must
contain the following
(a)
technical characteristics linked to the design including
general and detailed drawings with respect to execution,
electrical and hydraulic diagrams, control-circuit
diagrams, description of data-processing and automatic
systems to the level of detail sufficient for documenting
the verification of conformity carried out, documentation
on operation and maintenance, etc., relevant for the
subsystem concerned;
(b)
a list of interoperability constituents, referred to in point
(d) of Article 4(3) of Directive (EU) 2016/797,
incorporated into the subsystem;
(c)
the files referred to in Article 15(4) of Directive (EU)
2016/797, compiled by each of the notified bodies
involved in the verification of the subsystem, which shall
include
—
copies of the ‘EC’ declarations of verification
and, where applicable, ‘EC’ declarations of
suitability for use established for interoperability
constituents referred to in point (d) of Article 4(3)
of Directive (EU) 2016/797 and accompanied,
where appropriate, by the corresponding
calculation notes and a copy of the records of the
tests and examinations carried out by the notified
bodies on the basis of the common technical
specifications,
—
where available, the ISV that accompany the
certificate of verification, including the result of
verification by the notified body of the ISV
validity,
—
the certificate of verification, accompanied by
corresponding calculation notes and signed by the
notified body responsible for the verification,
stating that the subsystem complies with the
requirements of the relevant TSI(s) and
mentioning any reservations recorded during
performance of the activities and not withdrawn;
the certificate of verification should also be
accompanied by the inspection and audit reports
drawn up by the same body in connection with its
task, as specified in points 2.5.2 and 2.5.3;
(d)
certificates of verification issued in accordance with
other legal acts of the Union;
(e)
when verification of safe integration is required pursuant
to point (c) of regulation 12(4) and point (c) of Article
21(3) of Directive (EU) 2016/797, the relevant technical
file shall include the assessors' report(s) on the CSMs on
risk assessment referred to in Article 6(3) of Directive
2004/49/EC.
2.5.
Surveillance by notified bodies.
2.5.1. The notified body responsible for checking production must
have permanent access to building sites, production workshops,
storage areas and, where appropriate, prefabrication or testing
facilities and, more generally, to all premises which it considers
necessary for its task. The notified body must receive from the
applicant all the documents needed for that purpose and, in
particular, the implementation plans and technical
documentation concerning the subsystem.
2.5.2. The notified body responsible for checking implementation
must periodically carry out audits in order to confirm
compliance with the relevant TSI(s). It must provide those
responsible for implementation with an audit report. Its presence
may be required at certain stages of the building operations.
2.5.3. In addition, the notified body may pay unexpected visits to the
work-site or to the production workshops. At the time of such
visits the notified body may conduct complete or partial audits.
It must provide those responsible for implementation with an
inspection report and, if appropriate, an audit report.
2.5.4. The notified body shall be able to monitor a subsystem on which
an interoperability constituent is mounted in order to assess,
where required by the corresponding TSI, its suitability for use
in its intended railway environment.
Submission
A copy of the technical file accompanying the ‘EC’ declaration
of verification must be kept by the applicant throughout the
service life of the subsystem. It must be sent to any Member
State or the Agency, upon request.
The documentation submitted for an application for an
authorisation for placing in service shall be submitted to the
authority where the authorisation is sought. The national safety
authority or the Agency may request that part(s) of the
documents submitted together with the authorisation is/are
translated into its own language.
Publication
Each notified body must periodically publish relevant
information concerning
(a)
requests for verification and ISV received;
(b)
request for assessment of conformity and suitability for
use of ICs;
(c)
ISV issued or refused;
(d)
certificates of verification and ‘EC’ certificates for
suitability for use issued or refused;
(e)
certificates of verification issued or refused.
Language
The files and correspondence relating to the ‘EC’ verification
procedure must be written in Maltese or English.
3. CERTIFICATE OF VERIFICATION
ISSUED
BY
A
DESIGNATED BODY
Introduction
In the case where national rules apply, the verification shall
include a procedure whereby the body designated pursuant to
Article 15(8) of Directive (EU) 2016/797, (the designated body)
checks and certifies that the subsystem complies with the
national rules notified in accordance with Article 14 of Directive
(EU) 2016/797 for each Member State in which the subsystem is
intended to be authorised to be placed in service.
Certificate of verification
The designated body draws up the certificate of verification
intended for the applicant.
The certificate shall contain a precise reference to the national
rule(s) whose conformity has been examined by the designated
body in the verification process.
In the case of national rules related to the subsystems composing
a vehicle, the designated body shall divide the certificate into
two parts, one part including the references to those national
rules strictly related to the technical compatibility between the
vehicle and the network concerned, and the other part for all
other national rules.
File
The file compiled by the designated body and accompanying the
certificate of verification in the case of national rules must be
included in the technical file accompanying the ‘EC’ declaration
of verification referred to in point 2.4 and shall contain the
technical data relevant for the assessment of the conformity of
the subsystem with those national rules.
Language
The files and correspondence relating to the ‘EC’ verification
procedure must be written in Maltese or English.
4. VERIFICATION OF PARTS OF SUBSYSTEMS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 15(7) OF DIRECTIVE (EU)
2016/797
If a certificate of verification is to be issued for certain parts of a
subsystem, provisions for this Schedule shall apply mutatis
mutandis for those parts.
(1)
The Technical Regulations Division shall take all
necessary steps to ensure that interoperability constituents are
(a)
placed on the market only if they enable
interoperability to be achieved within the Union rail system
while at the same time meeting the essential requirements
(b)
used in their area of use as intended and suitably
installed and maintained.
Provided that sub-regulation 1(a) and (b) shall not
prevent the placing on the market of those constituents for other
applications.
(2)
The Technical Regulations Division shall not, in Maltese
territory and on the basis of Directive (EU) 2016/797, prohibit, restrict
or hinder the placing on the market of interoperability constituents for
use in the Union rail system where these constituents comply with
these Regulations. In particular, they shall not require checks which
have already been carried out as part of the procedure for ‘EC’
declaration of conformity or suitability for use as provided for in
regulation 7.
The Technical Regulations Division and the Agency
shall consider that an interoperability constituent meets the essential
requirements if it complies with the conditions laid down in the
corresponding TSI or the corresponding European specifications
developed to comply with those conditions. The ‘EC’ declaration of
conformity or suitability for use shall attest that the interoperability
constituents have been subject to the procedures laid down in the
corresponding TSI for assessing conformity or suitability for use.
If the Technical Regulations Division finds that the ‘EC’
declaration has been drawn up improperly, it shall ensure that the
interoperability constituent is not placed on the market. In such a case,
the manufacturer or his authorised representative shall be required to
restore the interoperability constituent to a state of conformity under
the conditions laid down by the Technical Regulations Division.
(1)
Where the Technical Regulations Division finds
that an interoperability constituent covered by the ‘EC’ declaration of
conformity or suitability for use and placed on the market is, when
used as intended, unlikely to meet the essential requirements, the
Technical Regulations Division shall take all necessary steps to restrict
its field of application, prohibit its use, withdraw it from the market or
recall it. The Technical Regulations Division shall forthwith inform
the Commission, the Agency and the other Member States of the
measures taken and give reasons for its decision, stating in particular
whether the failure to conform is due to
(a)
failure to meet the essential requirements;
(b)
incorrect application of European specifications
where application of such specifications is relied upon;
(c)
inadequacy of European specifications.
(2)
Where the decision referred to in sub-regulation 1 results
from an inadequacy of European specifications, the Technical
Regulations Division, the Commission or the Agency, as appropriate,
shall apply one or more of the following measures
(a)
partial or total withdrawal of the specification
concerned from the publications containing them;
(b)
if the relevant specification is a harmonised
standard, restriction or withdrawal of that standard in
accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012;
(c)
review of the TSI in accordance with Article 6 of
Directive (EU) 2016/797.
(3)
Where an interoperability constituent bearing the ‘EC’
declaration of conformity fails to comply with the essential
requirements, the Technical Regulations Division shall take
appropriate measures against any entity which has drawn up the
declaration and shall inform the Commission and the other Member
States thereof.
Without prejudice to the provisions of Chapter V of
Directive (EU) 2016/797, the Technical Regulations Division shall
not, in Maltese territory and on grounds relating to Directive (EU)
2016/797, prohibit, restrict or hinder the construction, placing in
service and operation of structural subsystems constituting the rail
system which meet the essential requirements. In particular, the
Technical Regulations Division shall not require checks which have
already been carried out
(a)
as part of the procedure leading to the ‘EC’
declaration of verification; or;
(b)
in other Member Stats, before or after the entry
into force of Directive (EU) 2016/797, with a view to verifying
compliance with identical requirements under identical
operational conditions.
(1)
Draft national rules and national rules referred to
in paragraph 1 of Article 14 of Directive (EU) 2016/797 shall be
examined by the Agency in accordance with the procedures laid down
in Articles 25 and 26 of Regulation (EU) 2016/796.
(2)
The Commission shall establish, by means of
implementing acts, the classification of the notified national rules in
different groups with the aim of facilitating cross-acceptance in
different Member States and the placing on the market of vehicles,
including compatibility between fixed and mobile equipment. Those
implementing acts shall build on the progress achieved by the Agency
in the field of cross-acceptance and shall be adopted in accordance
with the examination procedure referred to in Article 51(3) of
Directive (EU) 2016/797.
The Agency shall classify, in accordance with the implementing
acts referred to in the first sub-paragraph, the national rules which are
notified in accordance with this Article 14 of Directive (EU) 2016/797.
(3)
National rules not notified in accordance with this
Article 14 of Directive (EU) 2016/797 shall not apply for the purposes
of these regulations.
(1)
Technical Regulations Division shall forthwith
inform the Commission of any additional checks requested and set out
the reasons therefor. The Commission shall consult the interested
parties.
(2)
Technical Regulations Division shall state whether the
failure to fully comply with these regulations is due to
(a)
non-compliance with the essential requirements or
with a TSI, or incorrect application of a TSI, in which case the
Commission shall forthwith inform the Technical Regulations
Division where the person who drew up the ‘EC’ declaration of
verification in error resides and shall request that Technical
Regulation Division to take the appropriate measures;
(b)
inadequacy of a TSI, in which case the procedure
for amending the TSI as referred to in Article 6 of Directive
(EU) 2016/797 shall apply.
(1)
The track-side control-command and signalling,
energy and infrastructure subsystems shall be placed in service only if
they are designed, constructed and installed in such a way as to meet
the essential requirements, and the relevant authorisation is received in
accordance with sub-regulations (3) and (4).
(2)
The national safety authority shall authorise the placing
in service of the energy, infrastructure and track-side control-
command and signalling subsystems which are located or operated in
the Maltese territory.
(3)
National safety authorities shall provide detailed
guidance on how to obtain the authorisations referred to in this
regulation. An application guidance document describing and
explaining the requirements for those authorisations and listing the
documents required shall be made available to applicants free of
charge. The Agency and the national safety authorities shall cooperate
in disseminating such information.
(4)
The applicant shall submit a request for authorisation of
the placing in service of fixed installations to the national safety
authority. The application shall be accompanied by a file which
includes documentary evidence of
(a)
the declarations of verification referred to in
Article 15 of Directive (EU) 2016/797;
(b)
the technical compatibility of the subsystems with
the system into which they are being integrated, established on
the basis of the relevant TSIs, national rules and registers;
(c)
the safe integration of the subsystems, established
on the basis of the relevant TSIs, national rules, and the
common safety methods (‘CSMs’) set out in Article 6 of
Directive (EU) 2016/798;
(d)
in the case of track-side control-command and
signalling subsystems involving European Train Control
System (ETCS) and/or Global System for Mobile
Communications - Railway (GSM-R) equipment, the positive
decision of the Agency issued in accordance with Article 19 of
Directive (EU) 2016/797; and, in the case of a change to the
draft tender specifications or to the description of the envisaged
technical solutions that occurred after the positive decision, the
compliance with the result of the procedure referred to in
Article 30(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/796.
(5)
Within one month of receipt of the applicant's request,
the national safety authority shall inform the applicant that the file is
complete or ask for relevant supplementary information, setting a
reasonable deadline for the provision thereof.
The national safety authority shall verify the completeness,
relevance and consistency of the file, and, in the case of track-side
ERTMS equipment, compliance with the positive decision of the
Agency issued in accordance with Article 19 of Directive (EU) 2016/
797 and, where appropriate, compliance with the result of the
procedure referred to in Article 30(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/796.
Following such verification, the national safety authority shall issue
the authorisation for placing in service of fixed installations, or inform
the applicant of its negative decision, within a pre-determined,
reasonable time, and, in any case, within four months of receipt of all
relevant information.
(6)
In the event of renewal or upgrading of existing
subsystems, the applicant shall send a file describing the project to the
national safety authority. Within one month of receipt of the
applicant's request, the national safety authority shall inform the
applicant that the file is complete or ask for relevant supplementary
information, setting a reasonable deadline for the provision thereof.
The national safety authority, in close cooperation with the Agency in
the case of track-side ERTMS projects, shall examine the file and shall
decide whether a new authorisation for placing in service is needed, on
the basis of the following criteria
(a)
the overall safety level of the subsystem
concerned may be adversely affected by the works envisaged;
(b)
it is required by the relevant TSIs;
(c)
it is required by the national implementation plans
established by Malta; or
(d)
changes are made to the values of the parameters
on the basis of which the authorisation was already granted.
The national safety authority shall take its decision within a
predetermined, reasonable time, and, in any case, within four months
of receipt of all relevant information.
(7)
A decision refusing a request for an authorisation for the
placing in service of fixed installations shall be duly substantiated by
the national safety authority. The applicant may, within one month of
receipt of the negative decision, submit a request that the national
safety authority review its decision. The request shall be accompanied
by a justification. The national safety authority shall have two months
from the date of receipt of the request for review in which to confirm
or reverse its decision. If the negative decision of a national safety
authority is confirmed, the applicant may bring an appeal before the
appeal body designated by Malta under Article 18(3) of Directive (EU)
2016/798.
The Technical Regulations Division established by
article 19 of the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority
Act shall be the notifying authority for the purposes of articles 27, 28
and 29 of the Directive (EU) No. 2016/797
(1)
The procedures for assessment and notification of
conformity assessment bodies, and the monitoring of notified bodies
shall be those prescribed in the Method for Designating Conformity
Assessment bodies Regulations. In addition, a conformity assessment
body shall meet the requirements laid down in these regulations.
(2)
The Technical Regulations Division shall notify the
bodies responsible for carrying out the procedure for the assessment of
conformity referred to in sub-regulation (1), to the Commission and
the other Member States using the electronic notification tool
developed and managed by the Commission and in accordance with the
provisions of Article 37 of Directive (EU) 2016/797.
(3)
A conformity assessment body shall be capable of
carrying out all the conformity assessment tasks assigned to it by the
relevant TSI and in relation to which it has been notified, whether those
tasks are carried out by the conformity assessment body itself or on its
behalf and under its responsibility.
At all times and for each conformity assessment procedure and
each kind or category of product in relation to which it has been notified,
a conformity assessment body shall have at its disposal
(a)
the necessary personnel with technical knowledge
and sufficient and appropriate experience to perform the
conformity assessment tasks;
(b)
the relevant descriptions of procedures in
accordance with which conformity assessment is to be carried
out, ensuring the transparency and the ability to apply those
procedures. It shall have in place appropriate policies and
procedures that distinguish between tasks it carries out as a
notified conformity assessment body and other activities;
(c)
the proper procedures for the performance of
activities which take due account of the size of an undertaking,
the sector in which it operates, its structure, the degree of
complexity of the product technology in question and the mass or
serial nature of the production process.
It shall have the means necessary to perform in an
appropriate manner the technical and administrative tasks
concerned with the conformity assessment activities and shall
have access to all necessary equipment or facilities.
(4)
Conformity assessment bodies shall participate in, or
ensure that their assessment personnel are informed of, the relevant
standardisation activities and the activities of the notified conformity
bodies ‘coordination group established under the relevant Union Law,
and shall apply as a general guidance the administrative decisions and
documents produced as a result of the work of that group.
(5)
Conformity assessment bodies that are notified for track-
side and/or on-board control-command and signalling subsystems
shall participate in, or shall ensure that their assessment personnel are
informed of, the activities of the ERTMS group referred to in Article
29 of Regulation (EU) 2016/796. They shall follow the guidelines
produced as a result of the work of that group. In the event that they
consider it inappropriate or impossible to apply them, the conformity
assessment bodies concerned shall submit their observations for
discussion to the ERTMS group for the continuous improvement of the
guidelines.
(6)
Where a notified body subcontracts specific tasks
connected with conformity assessment or has recourse to a subsidiary,
it shall ensure that the subcontractor or the subsidiary meets the
requirements set out in Articles 30 to 32 of Directive (EU) 2016/797
and shall inform the Technical Regulations Division accordingly.
(7)
Notified bodies shall take full responsibility for the tasks
performed by subcontractors or subsidiaries wherever these are
established. Activities of notified bodies may be subcontracted or
carried out by a subsidiary only with the agreement of the client.
(8)
Notified bodies shall keep at the disposal of the
Technical Regulations Division the relevant documents concerning the
assessment of the qualifications of the subcontractor or the subsidiary
and the work carried out by them under the relevant TSI.
(9)
A conformity assessment body, its top-level management
and the personnel responsible for carrying out the conformity
assessment tasks shall not be the designer, manufacturer, supplier,
installer, purchaser, owner, user or maintainer of the products which
they assess, or the authorised representative of any of those parties. This
shall not preclude the use of assessed products that are necessary for the
operations of the conformity assessment body or the use of such
products for personal purpose.
(10) A conformity assessment body, its top-level management
and the personnel responsible for carrying out the conformity
assessment tasks shall not be directly involved in the design,
manufacturer or construction, marketing, installation, use or
maintenance of those products, or represent the parties engaged in those
activities. They shall not engage in any activity that may conflict with
their independence of judgment or integrity in relation to conformity
assessment activities for which they are notified. This prohibition shall
apply, in particular, to consultancy services.
(11) Conformity assessment bodies shall ensure that the
activities of their subsidiaries or subcontractors do not affect the
confidentiality, objectivity or impartiality of their conformity
assessment activities.
Where a conformity assessment body demonstrates its
conformity with the criteria laid down in the relevant harmonised
standards or parts thereof, the references of which have been published
in the Official Journal of the European Union, it shall be presumed to
comply with the requirements set out in Articles 30 to 32 of Directive
(EU) 2016/797, in so far as the applicable harmonised standards cover
those requirements.
(1)
Applicants may use an accredited in-house body
to carry out conformity assessment activities for the purpose of
implementing the procedures set out in modules A1, A2, C1 or C2 laid
down in Annex II to Decision No 768/2008/EC and modules CA1 and
CA2 laid down in Annex I to Decision 2010/713/EU. That body shall
constitute a separate and distinct part of the applicant concerned and
shall not participate in the design, production, supply, installation, use
or maintenance of the product it assesses.
(2)
An accredited in-house body shall meet the following
requirements
(a)
it shall be accredited in accordance with
Regulation (EC) 765/2008;
(b)
the body and its personnel shall, within the
undertaking of which they form a part, be organisationally
identifiable and have reporting methods which ensure their
impartiality, and shall demonstrate it to the competent national
accreditation body;
(c)
neither the body nor its personnel shall be
responsible for the design, manufacture, supply, installation,
operation or maintenance of the products they assess, nor shall
they engage in any activity that might conflict with their
independence of judgement or integrity in relation to their
assessment activities;
(d)
the body shall supply its services exclusively to
the undertaking of which it forms a part.
(3)
An accredited in-house body shall not be notified to the
Member States or the Commission, but information concerning its
accreditation shall be given by the undertaking of which it forms a part
or by the national accreditation body to the Technical Regulations
Division at request.
(1)
Where the Technical Regulations Division has
ascertained or has been informed that a notified body no longer meets
the requirements laid down in Articles 30 to 32 of Directive (EU)
2016/797, or that it is failing to fulfil its obligations, the Technical
Regulations Division shall restrict, suspend or withdraw notification as
appropriate, depending on the seriousness of the failure to meet those
requirements or fulfil those obligations. It shall immediately inform
the Commission and the other Member States accordingly
(2)
In the event of restriction, suspension or withdrawal of
notification, or where the notified body has ceased its activity, the
Technical Regulations Division shall take appropriate steps to ensure
that the files of that body are either processed by another notified body
or kept available for the responsible notifying and market surveillance
authorities at their request.
The Technical Regulations Division shall provide the
Commission, on request, with all information relating to the basis for
the notification or the maintenance of the competence of the body
concerned.
(1)
Notified bodies shall carry out conformity
assessments in accordance with the conformity assessment procedures
provided for in the relevant TSI.
(2)
Conformity assessments shall be carried out in a
proportionate manner, avoiding unnecessary burdens for economic
operators. Notified bodies, when performing their activities, shall take
due account of the size of an undertaking, the sector in which it
operates, its structure, the degree of complexity of the product
technology in question and the mass or serial nature of the production
process.
In so doing, they shall nevertheless operate with the aim of
assessing the compliance of the product with these regulations.
(3)
Where a notified body finds that requirements laid down
in the relevant TSI or corresponding harmonised standards or technical
specifications have not been met by a manufacturer, it shall require
that manufacturer to take appropriate corrective measures and shall not
issue a conformity certificate.
(4)
Where, in the course of the monitoring of conformity
following the issue of a certificate, a notified body finds that a product
no longer complies with the relevant TSI or corresponding harmonised
standards or technical specifications, it shall require the manufacturer
to take appropriate corrective measures and shall suspend or withdraw
the certificate if necessary.
(5)
Where corrective measures are not taken or do not have
the required effect, the notified body shall restrict, suspend or
withdraw any certificates, as appropriate.
(1)
Notified bodies shall inform the notifying
authority of the following
(a)
any refusal, restriction, suspension or withdrawal
of a certificate;
(b)
any circumstances affecting the scope of, and
conditions for, notification;
(c)
any request for information which they have
received from market surveillance authorities regarding
conformity assessment activities;
(d)
on request, conformity assessment activities
performed within the scope of their notification and any other
activity performed, including cross-border activities and
subcontracting.
The competent national safety authorities shall also be
informed of any refusal, restriction, suspension or withdrawal
of a certificate under sub-regulation (1)(a).
(2)
Notified bodies shall provide the other bodies notified
under Directive (EU) 2016/797 carrying out similar conformity
assessment activities covering the same products with relevant
information on issues relating to negative and, on request, positive
conformity assessment results.
(3)
Notified bodies shall provide the Agency with ‘EC’
certificates of verification of subsystems, ‘EC’ certificates of
conformity of interoperability constituents and ‘EC’ certificates of
suitability of use of interoperability constituents.
Bodies notified by the Technical Regulations Division
shall participate in the work of sectoral groups of notified bodies as
established by the Commission under Directive (EU) 2016/797,
directly or by means of designated representatives. The Agency shall
support the activities of notified bodies in accordance with Article 24
of Regulation (EU) 2016/796.
(1)
Schedules IV, V, VII and IX to the Interoperability
of the Rail System Regulations shall apply until the date of application
of the corresponding implementing acts referred to in Article 7(5),
Article 9(4), Article 14(10) and Article 15(9) of Directive (EU) 2016/
797. (2)
Directive 2008/57/EC shall continue to apply in relation
to ERTMS track-side projects which are to be placed before 16 June
2019. (3)
Projects which have completed the tendering or
contracting phase prior to 16 June 2019 are not subject to the pre-
authorisation by the Agency referred to in Article 19 of Directive (EU)
2016/797.
(4)
Until 16 June 2031 options included in contracts which
were signed before 15 June 2016 shall not be subject to the pre-
authorisation by the Agency referred to in Article 19 of Directive (EU)
2016/797, even if they are exercised after 15 June 2016.
(5)
Before authorising the placing in service of any ERTMS
track-side equipment which was not subject to the pre- authorisation
by the Agency referred to in Article 19 of Directive (EU) 2016/797,
national safety authorities shall cooperate with the Agency in order to
ensure that the technical solutions are fully interoperable, in
accordance with Articles 30(3) and 31(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/
796.
The penalties and proceedings applicable for
infringement of any of the provisions of these regulations shall be
427. those provided for in Part IV of the Product Safety Act.
The Interoperability of the Rail System Regulations shall
be repealed with effect from 16 June 2020.