EN 13481 Railway Applications - Performance Requirements for Rail and Fastening Systems

The European standard “EN 13481 Railway applications - Performance requirements for rail and coupling systems” consists of the following sub-sections published under the same title:

• The standard “EN 13481-1 Part 1: Definitions” explains the terms and definitions used in the EN 13146 and EN 13481 standard series.
• The standard “EN 13481-2 Part 2: Fastening systems for concrete sleepers in ballast” applies to fastening systems in categories AE as specified in EN 13481-1 and is intended for use on concrete sleepers in ballasted rails with the maximum axle loads and minimum radii of curvature shown in the table entitled “Fastening category criteria”.

These requirements apply to:

• Fastening systems that act on the foot or body of the rail, including direct and indirect fastening systems.
• Fastening systems for rail cross-sections as specified in EN 13674-1 or EN 13674-4 standards.

This standard does not apply to fastening systems for other rail cross-sections, rigid fastening systems, or special fastening systems used in bolted or glued connections. This standard is for type approval of complete fastening systems.

• The standard “EN 13481-3 Part 3: Fastening systems for timber and polymer composite sleepers” applies to fastening systems in timber or polymer composite sleepers of categories AE specified in EN 13481-1, including ballasted or unballasted rails and rails on open deck bridges, with the relevant maximum axle loads and minimum curve radii shown in the table entitled “Fastening category criteria”.

These requirements apply to:

• Fastening systems that act on the foot or body of the rail, including direct and indirect fastening systems.
• Fastening systems for rail sections according to EN 13674-1 or EN 13674-4 standards.

This standard does not apply to fastening systems for other rail sections, rigid fastening systems, special fastening systems used in bolted or glued connections, or special low-compression force fastenings used to reduce rail-bridge interaction effects. This standard is for type approval of complete fastening systems.

• The standard “EN 13481-4 Part 4: Fastening systems for steel sleepers in ballast” is applicable to fastening systems used in ballasted rails with linear steel sleepers in categories AE as specified in EN 13481-1, conforming to the maximum axle loads and minimum curve radii indicated in the table entitled “Fastening category criteria”. This standard does not apply to maintenance vehicles with maximum axle loads for categories A and B. The requirements apply to:
• Fastening systems acting on the rail foot and/or body, including direct and indirect fastening systems.
• Fastening systems for rail sections as specified in EN 13674-1 or EN 13674-4 standards.

This standard does not apply to connection systems for other rail sections, rigid connection systems, special connection systems used in bolted or glued connections, or special low-compression strength connections used to reduce rail-bridge interaction effects. This standard is intended for type approval of complete connection systems.

• The standard “EN 13481-5 Part 5: Fastening systems for ballastless rails” applies to fastening systems in categories AD of the EN 13481-1 standard and is applicable to the fastening of rails to the top surface of concrete or steel elements, including rails on open deck bridges, and to rails embedded in ballastless rails, according to the table entitled “Fastening category criteria” for maximum axle loads and minimum curve radii. This standard does not apply to maintenance vehicles for categories A and B, or for maximum axle loads. The requirements apply to:
• Fastening systems acting on the foot or body of the rail include direct fastening systems and indirect fastening systems.
• Fastening systems for rail sections as specified in EN 13674-1 or EN 13674-4 standards.

This standard does not apply to connection systems for wooden or polymer composite sleepers used in ballastless rails as specified in EN 13481-3. This standard also does not apply to rigid connection systems, special connection systems used in bolted or glued connections, or special low-compression strength connections used to reduce rail-bridge interaction effects.

This standard is for type approval of complete coupling systems. In rail formwork where rail seating blocks or sleepers are mounted into the boot (sleeppads), the concrete element and its flexible support are considered parts of the elastic coupling system. If the rail formwork contains floating plates (i.e., concrete elements with flexible supports having more than one coupling per rail), these concrete elements and their flexible supports are considered parts of the ballastless rail, not the coupling system.

• The standard “EN 13481-6 Part 6: Special coupling systems for vibration reduction” describes the requirements for the performance of coupling systems used to connect rails to sleepers or longitudinal bearings, or to the top surface of concrete or asphalt slabs in ballastless tracks. This standard applies to tracks with a minimum curve radius greater than 40 m and a maximum design axle load of 260 kN. It does not apply to buried rails.

The requirements apply to direct connection systems and systems containing a base plate. They do not apply to systems containing concrete elements or other high-mass elements, or to special connection systems used in bolted rail connections. This standard is for type approval only.

• The standard “EN 13481-7 Part 7: Fastening systems for switches and transitions, control rails, insulated rail connections and rail expansion devices” applies to fastening systems in categories AE as specified in EN 13481-1 and is intended for use in switches and transitions. It also provides guidance on the evaluation of fastening systems for control rails, expansion devices and insulated rail connections in switches and transitions or on straight tracks. This standard applies to five fastening categories used in rails, with the relevant maximum axle loads and minimum curve radii, as shown in the table entitled “Fastening category criteria”. The maximum axle load for categories A and B does not apply to maintenance equipment. The minimum curve radius does not apply to applications in switches and transitions. The requirements apply to fastening systems for rail sections included in the EN 13674 series of standards. This standard does not apply to rigid fastening systems used in other rail sections or on running rails. This standard is for type approval of complete fastening systems.
• The standard “EN 13481-8 Part 8: Fastening systems for rails with heavy axle loads” applies to fastening systems used on concrete, timber and steel sleepers in mainline ballasted rails with a radius of curvature greater than 80 m and subject to a maximum design axle load of 350 kN. The requirements apply to:
• Direct connection systems and systems including a base plate.
• Fastening systems for rail cross-sections according to EN 13674-1 and EN 13674-4 standards.

This standard does not apply to connection systems for other rail cross-sections, rigid connection systems, or special connection systems used in bolted connections. This standard is solely for the type approval of a complete connection assembly.

Overall, EN 13481 standards contribute to a safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective railway infrastructure by ensuring that coupling systems operate reliably under real-world conditions.

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