INTRODUCTION OF EUROCODES (EUROPEAN STANDARDS) IN THE DESIGN OF RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION WORKS: EFFECTS ON THE INTEROPERABILITY OF RAIL TRANSPORT IN EUROPE

The EUROCODES are standards containing common methods for calculating the mechanical strength of structures or parts of structures. They cover actions, steel, concrete, composite steel and concrete structures, timber, masonry, aluminium, geotechnical design and earthquake resistance. The history of the EUROCODES is outlined and the development of EUROCODE 1 Part 2 'Actions on structures - Traffic loads on bridges' is described. The link between national and European standards is considered. For railway companies in Europe, there are few changes in dimensional requirements as the UIC leaflets were taken as the basis for producing railway-related requirements. The introduction and enforcement of European standards in Germany are described. The application of Technical Specifications for Interoperability on high-speed lines is discussed.