EN 16186-5:2021+A1:2023

Railway applications - Driver's cabs - Part 5: External visibility for tram vehicles

This document specifies the external front and rear visibility conditions from cabs of tram
vehicles and the associated assessment method.
This document applies to vehicles operating on tram networks.
This document does not apply to driver's auxiliary desks.
This standard is not intended to be applied for tram train.

Bahnanwendungen - Führerraum - Teil 5: Sichtbedingungen nach außen bei Straßenbahnfahrzeugen

Dieses Dokument legt die äußeren Sichtbedingungen nach vorn und nach hinten bei Fahrerräumen von Straßenbahnfahrzeugen und das zugehörige Bewertungsverfahren fest.
Dieses Dokument ist für Fahrzeuge anwendbar, die in Straßenbahnnetzen eingesetzt werden.
Dieses Dokument ist nicht für Hilfsfahrerpulte anwendbar.
Dieses Dokument ist für Tram-Train-Fahrzeuge anwendbar, die auf Straßenbahn- und Vorortnetzen eingesetzt werden

Applications ferroviaires - Cabines de conduite - Partie 5 : Visibilité extérieure depuis la cabine de tramways

Le présent document spécifie les conditions de visibilité extérieure avant et arrière depuis les cabines des tramways et la méthode d'évaluation associée.
Le présent document s'applique aux véhicules circulant sur les réseaux de tramways.
Le présent document ne s'applique pas aux pupitres auxiliaires.
Le présent document s'applique aux véhicules tram-train circulant sur les réseaux de tramway et de banlieue.

Železniške naprave - Voznikova kabina - 5. del: Zunanja vidljivost tramvajskih vozil (vključuje dopolnilo A1)

Ta dokument se uporablja vso življenjsko dobo dokumentacije. Ta dokument se uporablja za vse železniške organizacije in partnerje, ki se ukvarjajo s tehnično dokumentacijo, ter za dobavitelje, ki pripravljajo dokumentacijo v imenu železniških podjetjih ali uporabnikov železniškega omrežja.
Ta dokument opisuje osnovo za revizijo tehnične konstrukcijske dokumentacije za železniške naprave, brez upoštevanja dodatnih zahtev podjetja.
Te osnovne zahteve veljajo za vso tehnično konstrukcijsko dokumentacijo neodvisno od materialne oblike: npr. izvirniki prosojnic, ploskovne risbe, aperturne kartice, računalniško berljivi nosilci podatkov, fototiski, COM-fiši itd., tudi za računalniški nabor informacij.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 01-Aug-2023
• ICS: 45.060.10 - Tractive stock
• ICS: 45.140 - Metro, tram and light rail equipment
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 256 - Railway applications
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 256/WG 37 - Driver's cabs and windscreens
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 02-Aug-2023
• Due Date: 05-Mar-2024
• Completion Date: 02-Aug-2023
• Mandate: M/486 - Mandate for programming and standardisation addressed to the European standardisation bodies in the field of urban rail
• Ref Project: SIST EN 16186-5:2021+A1:2023 - Railway applications - Driver's cabs - Part 5: External visibility for tram vehicles

Relations

• Merged From: EN 16186-5:2021 - Railway applications - Driver's cabs - Part 5: External visibility for tram vehicles
• Effective Date: 07-Jun-2023
• Merged From: EN 16186-5:2021/FprA1 - Railway applications - Driver's cabs - Part 5: External visibility for tram vehicles
• Effective Date: 07-Jun-2023

Overview

EN 16186-5:2021+A1:2023 (CEN) specifies external front and rear visibility requirements and an assessment method for driver’s cabs of tram vehicles. It defines driver anthropometric data, sightlines, forward and rear visibility criteria, windscreen-related provisions (wipers, de-icing, glare protection) and test/assessment points used to demonstrate compliance. The document applies to vehicles operating on tram networks and, per Amendment A1, also to tram‑train vehicles when they operate on tram and suburban networks. It does not apply to driver auxiliary desks.

Keywords: EN 16186-5:2021+A1:2023, external visibility tram vehicles, driver’s cab visibility, tram cab design, visibility assessment method

Key topics and technical requirements

• Anthropometric basis: Two driver dummies representing minimum and maximum body dimensions are used for all visibility checks (see Clause 4). Eye-spacing and body measures are defined for assessment.
• Forward visibility field: The forward external field of vision shall cover a minimum angle of 165°, symmetrical to the sagittal plane. Assessment is done with standard eye points and on a straight, level track under design payload.
• Eye-to-windscreen distances: Horizontal eye-to-windscreen distance in seated position: minimum 500 mm, absolute maximum 1 715 mm.
• Visibility of external signals: Defined reference points for signal visibility: a high reference point at 6.30 m above top of rail at 10 m distance (lateral ±3.50 m) and a low reference point at rail level at 15 m distance (lateral ±3.15 m). Demonstration uses theoretical sightlines for both dummies.
• Upward visibility: Windscreen must permit upward visibility of 25° relative to horizontal at eye height in the sagittal plane.
• Close-range and rear visibility: Clauses address detection of near obstacles (e.g., pedestrians) and rear external visibility from the cab.
• Windscreen systems: Requirements for cleaning devices, de-icing/de-misting, glare and reflection protection are included to ensure operational visibility.
• Assessment aids: Annexes provide forward visibility reference surfaces and eye point locations (Annex A & B); Annex C gives guidance on deviations.

Practical applications - who uses it

• Tram vehicle manufacturers and cab designers - to shape cab geometry, glazing layout and sightlines.
• Human factors and ergonomics engineers - to validate driver eye points and seating/controls layout.
• Regulatory and certification bodies - for conformity assessment and safety approvals.
• Operators and system integrators - for procurement specifications, retrofit projects and maintenance planning.
• Infrastructure planners - to align signal placement and sighting distances with vehicle visibility envelopes.

Related standards

• EN 15152:2019 (Windscreens for trains)
• EN 15227 (Crashworthiness)
• EN 15663 (Vehicle reference masses)
• EN 17343:2020 (General terms and definitions)

EN 16186-5:2021+A1:2023 is part of the EN 16186 series on driver’s cabs, providing the tram‑specific external visibility requirements essential for safe on‑sight tram operation.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2023
Železniške naprave - Voznikova kabina - 5. del: Zunanja vidljivost tramvajskih vozil
(vključuje dopolnilo A1)
Railway applications - Driver's cabs - Part 5: External visibility for tram vehicles
Bahnanwendungen - Führerraum - Teil 5: Sichtbedingungen nach außen bei
Straßenbahnfahrzeugen
Applications ferroviaires - Cabines de conduite - Partie 5 : Visibilité extérieure depuis la
cabine de tramways
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 16186-5:2021+A1:2023
ICS:
45.060.10 Vlečna vozila Tractive stock
45.140 Oprema za podzemne vlake, Metro, tram and light rail
tramvaje in lahka tirna vozila equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 16186-5:2021+A1
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 2023
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 45.060.10; 45.140 Supersedes EN 16186-5:2021
English Version
Railway applications - Driver's cabs - Part 5: External
visibility for tram vehicles
Applications ferroviaires - Cabines de conduite - Partie Bahnanwendungen - Führerraum - Teil 5:
5 : Visibilité extérieure depuis la cabine de tramways Sichtbedingungen nach außen bei
Straßenbahnfahrzeugen
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 21 June 2021 and includes Amendment approved by CEN on 26 June 2023.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2023 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 16186-5:2021+A1:2023 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Driver's anthropometric data . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Data . 7
5 Forward visibility . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Forward visibility requirements . 9
5.2.1 Objectives . 9
5.2.2 General . 9
5.2.3 Visibility of external signals . 10
5.2.4 Close outside visibility . 10
5.2.5 Forward visibility . 12
5.2.6 Visibility of couplers . 13
5.3 Windscreen and side windscreen related requirements . 13
5.3.1 General . 13
5.3.2 Front windscreen cleaning device . 13
5.3.3 Windscreen glare protection . 14
5.3.4 Front Windscreen de-icing and de-misting . 15
5.3.5 Side Windscreen de-icing and de-misting . 15
5.3.6 Reflection protection . 15
6 External rear visibility . 16
Annex A (normative) Forward visibility reference surfaces . 17
Annex B (normative) Forward visibility reference eye points — Adjustable foot rest and
adjustable seat . 18
Annex C (informative) A–deviations . 19
Bibliography . 20

European foreword
This document (EN 16186-5:2021+A1:2023) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 256
“Railway applications”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 2024, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by February 2024.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes !EN 16186-5:2021".
This document includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 26 June 2023.
The start and finish of text introduced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags !".
EN 16186 Railway applications — Driver’s cab consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Anthropometric data and visibility;
— Part 2: Integration of displays, controls and indicators;
— Part 3: Design of displays;
— Part 4: Layout and access;
— Part 5: External visibility for tram vehicles;
— Part 6: Integration of displays, controls and indicators for tram vehicles ;
— Part 7: Design of displays for tram vehicles ;
— Part 8: Tram vehicle layout and access .
NOTE Part 1 to 4 above-mentioned standard are only applicable for heavy rail vehicles.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
Under development.
1 Scope
This document specifies the external front and rear visibility conditions from cabs of tram vehicles and
the associated assessment method.
This document applies to vehicles operating on tram networks.
This document does not apply to driver's auxiliary desks.
!This document applies for tram-train vehicles operating on the tram and suburban networks."
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 15152:2019, Railway applications - Windscreens for trains
EN 15227, Railway applications - Crashworthiness requirements for rail vehicles
EN 15663, Railway applications - Vehicle reference masses
!EN 17343:2020, Railway applications - General terms and definitions"
3 Terms and definitions
!For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 17343:2020 and the
following apply."
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
auxiliary desk

additional control desk with limited functionality generally located in the passenger area
3.2
windscreen
glazing in front of a driver through which the track ahead can be observed
[SOURCE: EN 15152:2019, 3.2, modified — “or passengers” is removed.]
3.3
sagittal plane
XZ plane passing in the middle of the dummy
Note 1 to entry: The XZ directions are defined in EN 15227.
3.4
side windscreen
additional glazing positioned at the side of a windscreen that is predominately positioned transversely
to the running direction
[SOURCE: EN 15152:2019, 3.2.2]
3.5
tram network
urban rail network with its own right of way or shared with road traffic
Note 1 to entry: !Typically, on sight driving operation."
Note 2 to entry: A tram network can be linked to other rail networks.
3.6
tram vehicle
!rail vehicle operated with on sight driving and designed to run on a tram network
Note 1 to entry: An assembly of one or more coupled tram vehicles is usually called a tram."
3.7
primary vision area
area of the windscreen through which track and signals are visible from the driving position
Note 1 to entry: Defined as “vision area A” by EN 16186-1:2014+A1:2018, 3.1.3.
[SOURCE: EN 15152:2019, 3.3, modified — The current Note 1 to entry was added.]
3.8
secondary vision area
area of the windscreen outside the primary vision area, through which the driver can also look from the
driving position
Note 1 to entry: Defined as “vision area B” by EN 16186-1:2014+A1:2018, 3.1.4.
[SOURCE: EN 15152:2019, 3.4, modified — The current Note 1 to entry was added. “May” has been
replaced with “can”]
3.9
driver dummies
models referring to the min and max anthropometric data
Note 1 to entry: The anthropometric data are provided in Clause 4.
!
3.10
direct line of sight
straight line between the observer and the object being observed unobstructed by any physical barrier
that materially obstructs a view of the object being observed
3.11
indirect line of sight
line between the observer and the object being observed with the help of a device when a direct line of
sight is not given
3.12
on sight driving operation
operating mode where a driver should be able to stop the vehicle before a reasonably visible stationary
obstruction ahead from the intended speed of operation using the service brake
3.13
tram-train vehicle
rail vehicle designed to run on an urban rail network and a heavy rail network
Note 1 to entry: The present document applies for tram-train vehicles operating on the tram and suburban
networks.
[SOURCE: EN 17343:2020, 3.1.6.1, modified, note 1 to entry added]
"
4 Driver's anthropometric data
4.1 General
This Clause defines the anthropometric data on which the requirements in this document are based.
The background on these anthropometric data are provided in CEN/TR 16823.
4.2 Data
Figure 1 and Figure 2 give the body size measures.
Dimensions in millimetres
Measure Min. Max.
a
a 1 580 1 940
a
b 1 480 1 815
d 710 860
e 545 665
a
g 405 510
h 120 180
i 440 525
a
j 107 126
k 353 457
l 377 473
m 403 498
n 257 312
o 223 266
p 170 221
t 104 131
x 232 261
a
Includes 30 mm allowance for
shoes.
Figure 1 — Principal body size measures
Dimensions in millimetres
Min. Max.
d see Figure 1
a
f 510 635
l see Figure 1
q 78 90
r 75 101
s 105 121
t see Figure 1
u 295 387
v 450 to 600 to
550 700
w 390 to 470 to
405 510
x see Figure 1
z 220 290
a
Includes 30 mm
allowance for shoes.
Key
a) sitting upright
b) sitting inclined
1 hip point
2 seat reference point
3 heel point (lowest rear point of the heel)
z/4 non-flexible part of the shoe pad
Figure 2 — Additional body size measures
The minimum distance between the eyes is 53 mm and the maximum distance between the eyes is
70 mm.
The minimum dimensions shall be used together with the minimum requirements listed in Figure 2.
The maximum dimensions shall be used together with the maximum requirements listed in Figure 2.
5 Forward visibility
5.1 General
For the seated driving position, the forward visibility requirements of 5.2.1 shall be ensured (see also
Annex A and Annex B, Figure B.1).
The horizontal distance from the driver's eye to the windscreen in seated position shall be a minimum of
500 mm and an absolute maximum of 1 715 mm.
The sightlines as defined in 5.2 shall not be infringed by any permanent equipment of the rolling stock
(except for the wiper), whether inside or outside the cab.
All visibility criteria shall be applied using both dummies defined in 4.2.
The visibility criteria do not apply to driver instructor locations.
5.2 Forward visibility requirements
5.2.1 Objecti
...