EN 15654-1:2018/FprA1

Railway applications - Measurement of vertical forces on wheels and wheelsets - Part 1: On-track measurement sites for vehicles in service

Publication date:   Feb 23, 2023

Scope

The scope of this European Standard is restricted to the measurement of vertical wheel forces and calculation of derived quantities on vehicles in service. Measurements of a train in motion are used to estimate the static forces.
Derived quantities can be:
- axle loads;
- side to side load differences of a wheel set, bogie, vehicle;
- overall mass of vehicle or train set;
- mean axle load of a vehicle or train set.
This standard is not concerned with the evaluation of:
- dynamic wheel force or derived quantities;
- wheel condition (i.e. shape, profile, flats);
- lateral wheel force;
- combination of lateral and vertical wheel forces.
The standard defines accuracy classes for measurements to be made at any speed greater than 5 km/h within the calibrated range, which may be up to line speed.
The aim of this standard is to obtain measurement results that give representative values for the distribution of vertical wheel forces of a running vehicle, which under ideal conditions will be similar to those that can be obtained from a standing vehicle.
This standard does not impose any restrictions on the types of vehicles that can be monitored, or on which networks or lines the measuring system can be installed.
The standard lays down minimum technical requirements and the metrological characteristics of a system for measuring and evaluating a range of vehicle loading parameters. Also defined are accuracy classes for the parameters measured and the procedure for verifying the calibration.
The measuring system proposed in this standard should not be considered as safety critical. If the measuring system is connected to a train traffic command and control system then requirements that are not part of this standard may apply.
Measuring systems complying with this standard have the potential to enhance safety in the railway sector. However, the current operating and maintenance procedures rather than this standard are mandatory for ensuring safety levels in European rail networks.