Establishing the conformities of interoperability components in railway traffic

The interoperability component is each basic component, a group of components, a sub-set or entire set of equipment, installed or intended for the installation in a sub-system. Interoperability is the ability of the trans-European railway system to ensure safe and continuous transport of trains at the required level of capacity utility of the tracks.

Establishing the conformities of interoperability components in railway traffic is operated by the legal entity registered at the Ministry of Infrastructure. The process of establishing conformity is initiated based on the application for the approval of the use of components which is lodged by the producer or their representative at the authority.

Each interoperability component is the subject to the conformity or suitability establishment procedure for the use with an individual technical specification for interoperability (TSI) and must have an EC declaration of conformity and suitability for use.

The task of the registered authority is initiated in the planning phases and entails the entire production period until the phase of takeover before the sub-system starts operating. The registered authority certifies interfaces that enable the inclusion of interoperability or sub-system components in the existing system.

The registered authority performs verification with audits to be certain that the performed works conform. Verification can also be implemented as a random visit to the work site or production plants. Authorised persons for construction or implementation of the sub-system must receive an inspection report and, if appropriate, an audit report.