Traffic: TÃœV NORD Group Gets Jerusalem's Trams On Track

Online, September 27, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Rail experts from the company are currently working on an independent safety assessment of the total system; tracks, infrastructure, the trams themselves, the depot, operations control technology - everything is new. The safety documentation has to be assessed, and the unique aspect is that the assessment is based on standard EN 50126, which generally applies for railways. Its use for tram systems has certainly raised the bar as regards safety.

A railway system is only granted an operating licence if the safety assessment is completed successfully. Proofs of reliability, availability, maintainability and safety are verified based on EN 50126, which is issued by CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. "It is unusual to approve a tram system according to this railway standard", says Klaus-Dieter Laue from TÃœV NORD Group. "But it does enable us to provide proof of safety in a very systematic and transparent way. The standard will help to develop the state of technology in local passenger transport systems even further. That is why our activities in Jerusalem are at the cutting edge."

The tram system will provide the very first trams in Israel. The 14-kilometre route is intended to connect the Jewish west with the Palestinian north-east, and is almost complete. Soon, 46 modern Citadis trams will help to ease traffic congestion in the city. Three further routes are planned within the new tram system.

The trams must be integrated into the existing traffic concept. This is a particularly tough challenge, as people in Israel only know about trams from the television: but nothing and no-one must be endangered by this new and exciting means of transport.

Have all the risks that originate from the trams been identified and evaluated? Do the intended measures reduce the risk to an acceptable level? These are questions that concern the team from TÃœV NORD Group.

"We check if the measures that are planned in connection with safety management really are properly implemented", explains Reinhard Buhl from TÃœV NORD Group. These checks include looking through around 100 files, precise examination of central safety proofs and defined processes and random participation in practical safety tests in the form of so-called witnessing. "We want to know who bears responsibility for safe operation of the system and how this is organised, how signalling, control and maintenance are regulated and we also want to know about plans to cover emergencies, says Buhl. The work culminates in a final report, whose findings must be positive if the operating licence is to be granted.

This is not the first time that experts from TÃœV NORD Group have worked on a comprehensive rail transport system approval according to EN 50126. Projects to date include the safety concept for the planned Transrapid system in Munich and the approval process for putting new traction units of Danish Railways into operation. Laue: "We are excellently equipped to perform the exacting work which is demanded in this sector." The manager from TÃœV NORD Group would naturally also be very pleased if he and his team receive the order for safety assessment of the other three tram routes in Jerusalem. As he says: "That would be yet one more great opportunity for us, and we would relish the challenge."