Functional safety in the railway industry refers to the measures and processes implemented to ensure that safety-related risks associated with the operation of railway systems are reduced to an acceptable level. This is particularly important as railway systems become increasingly complex, with various hardware and software components interacting with one another.
Functional safety in this sector is governed by standards and regulations to ensure a consistent and structured approach. The CENELEC EN 5012X series, which is based on relevant IEC standards, plays a crucial role in this context. Key standards include:
EN 50126 – RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety):
This standard defines the requirements for managing reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety in railway systems. It forms the foundation for the development and operation of safe railway systems.
EN 50657 (EN 50128) – Software:
This standard outlines requirements for the integrity and safety of software used in railway systems. It specifies how software should be developed, tested, and maintained to meet the necessary safety criteria.
EN 50129 – System Safety:
This standard addresses system-level safety in railway applications. It sets requirements for hardware and system architecture to ensure that the overall system complies with safety standards.
These standards support the industry in identifying, assessing, and mitigating the risks associated with railway systems. They promote the use of proven practices in functional safety to prevent accidents and disruptions or reduce them to an acceptable level. Adherence to these standards ensures that railway systems meet the highest safety requirements and can be operated reliably and securely.
Our Safety Services in the Railway Sector: