Channel Tunnel
Intergovernmental Commission
Unified Safety Rules
Unified safety rules
The Intergovernmental Commission began, in 2009, a review of the safety rules relating to passenger trains that are specific to the Channel Tunnel, to ensure that these are not an unnecessary barrier to new services who might be operating through the tunnel. This included a review of requirements for passenger trains to be "splittable" and to have a locomotive at each end.
Specific Safety Rules relating to passenger trains transiting the Tunnel
The Commission wrote to major stakeholders, to seek their views, on 21 July 2009, seeking responses by 15 September. 20 responses were received and a consultation meeting with those involved was held in London on 16 November 2009. A further meeting took place on 26 February 2010.
Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC): National rule for LOC & PAS TSI, clause 7.3.2.21
The new “Rolling stock – locomotives and passenger rolling stock” (LOC&PAS) Technical Specification for Interoperability (TSI) came into force in January 2015. The TSI includes a specific case for the Channel Tunnel requiring trains to have 30 minutes running capability and fire protection in case of fire, instead of the standard TSI requirement for category B passenger trains of 15 minutes running capability and fire protection. However, the specific case also states that a running capability of 15 minutes may be permitted “under the conditions specified in the national rule notified by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority for this purpose". The IGC sought the views of stakeholders on the additional risk analysis to be provided by applicants as included in Appendix 2 of the document below.
Paper for consultation - National rule for LOC & PAS TSI, clause 7.3.2.21
Further to consultation responses the IGC accepted the following rule at its meeting on 1 October 2015 and asked the two Member States to notify the European Commission accordingly.
"For passenger trains with 15 minutes’ running capability, a further risk assessment will be required. This will demonstrate that using them maintains or improves the level of safety in the Channel Tunnel. This additional risk analysis must analyse the consequences for passengers of having insufficient running capability to exit the Tunnel and shall be provided by the applicant. This further risk assessment must guarantee evacuation of the train into the service tunnel in less than 15 minutes from detection of the fire. It will consider the operating rules defined in paragraph 4.4 of the tunnel safety TSI (except clause 4.4.1.c), the features of the passenger train (layout and number of passengers) and the criteria specified by the IGC in annexe 2. The applicant will have to draw up this analysis using the information supplied by the manager of the Channel Tunnel infrastructure. It will undergo verification by an accredited/appointed third assessment body, as defined in the CSM for risk assessment and appraisal. The IGC will examine the safety assessment report during the authorisation process. Due to the specific risks relating to trains which carry both road vehicles and passengers, the current national rule does not apply to them."
Safety Rules specific to freight trains transiting the Tunnel
A second consultation, this time on freight trains, was published on 30 March 2011 (consultation ended 31 May 2011), again seeking the views of stakeholders on a number of safety-related issues. The IGC aims to be able to reach its conclusions and undertake the necessary work of amendment of the tunnel regulations on freight trains before the end of the first half of 2011.
30 March 2011 consultation letter on safety rules for freight trains
Consultation on the rules for freight trains transiting the Tunnel
The IGC’s project is already underway, under the leadership of the CTSA and with the involvement of Eurotunnel and the knowledge of ERA.
Update September 2012: New operating rules
Following a review of the rules, the IGC accepted, in a letter dated 21 September 2012, that the specific rules regarding smoke tightness, traction performance and diesel traction for rolling stock using the Channel Tunnel were no longer required.