The profession joins forces to renew technical railway regulation

New Hungarian technical regulations for railways will be more modern, uniform and harmonised with EU standards. All market segments of the Hungarian railway sector are involved in the drafting of the Railway Technical Specifications. Following the planned introduction of the new rules in October, the Railway Technical Committee, which is part of Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium (ÉKM), will assist market players with technical presentations and consultations. 

According to Thursday's announcement by Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium, interested parties can comment on the new regulations between 27 June 2024 and 7 July 2024 at this address.

Requirements are set for each discipline

According to the ministry, the 30-year-old National Railway Regulations Volume I (OVSZ I) will be replaced by the Technical Railway Regulations (VME), which is a milestone in the history of Hungarian railway regulation. "It not only sets out more uniform, precise and detailed expectations and requirements for a modern railway system, but also harmonises with EU legislation, ensuring interoperability and the most efficient use of EU funds," ÉKM stresses.

They added that the new regulation sets out requirements for all disciplines in the fields of design, construction, operation and conformity assessment, from infrastructure to rolling stock and equal opportunities, i.e. it affects everyone directly or indirectly involved in or linked to railway investments.   

Railway trade shows are organised

All market segments of the domestic rail sector are involved in the drafting of the new requirements, and the drafts have been developed in eight sub-committees, with the input of nearly 100 experts from designers, contractors, manufacturers, operators, universities, public authorities and rail stakeholders.

The Railway Technical Committee set up by ÉKM to develop technical railway standards and technical opinions and the non-profit Kft. of the Hungarian Institute of Transport Science and Logistics (CTI), which is responsible for coordination, will organise webinars to present the draft TSIs and new opportunities in the form of railway technical presentations to operators and organisations that register on the above website, the Ministry said.