prEN 12299

Railway applications - Ride comfort for passengers - Measurement and evaluation

2007 04 30 Work item deleted due to 3YT - FV.
Tolerance of 6 months before enquiry requested by CEN/TC 256 resolution 37/2005. (Note by AE 2005-09-21)

Bahnanwendungen - Fahrkomfort für Fahrgäste - Messung und Auswertung

Diese Europäische Norm legt Methoden zur Bewertung der Auswirkungen von Bewegungen des Wagenkastens auf den Fahrkomfort für die Fahrgäste und für die Fahrzeugbemessung fest.
Die hier betrachteten Auswirkungen sind:
-   Unannehmlichkeiten in Verbindung mit relativ kleinen Beschleunigungen und Rollgeschwindigkeiten.
Andere Einflüsse in Zusammenhang mit höheren Beschleunigungspegeln sind nicht in dieser Norm erfasst:
-   Gesundheitsrisiko: körperliche Behinderung und psychische Störung.
Der Anwendungsbereich ist auf den öffentlichen Eisenbahnverkehr beschränkt, die Norm umfasst Schienenfahrzeuge, die zur Beförderung von Fahrgästen ausgelegt sind, einschließlich Neben- und Vorortstrecken. Sie kann aber auch als Leitfaden für andere Eisenbahnfahrzeuge, z. B. Lokomotiven, U Bahnen und Straßenbahnen usw. verwendet werden.
Diese Norm bezieht sich auf Fahrgäste, die sich in einem gesundheitlich guten Allgemeinzustand befinden.
Sie gilt für Bewegungsmessungen, kann aber auch für Simulationen angewendet werden

Applications ferroviaires - Confort de marche des voyageurs - Mesurage et évaluation

La présente Norme européenne spécifie des méthodes de détermination des effets des mouvements de la caisse sur le confort de marche des voyageurs et d’évaluation du véhicule du point de vue du confort de marche. L’effet considéré est :
-   l’inconfort, lié à des niveaux d’accélération et une vitesse de roulis relativement faibles.
Les autres effets, non couverts par la présente norme, sont liés à des niveaux d’accélération plus élevés :
-   risques pour la santé : Dommages physiques et psychologiques.
L’objet de la présente norme se limite au service ferroviaire public ; la norme concerne les véhicules ferroviaires de transport de voyageurs sur des lignes ferroviaires, incluant les lignes secondaires et les lignes de banlieue. Le présent document peut toutefois être utilisé comme guide pour d’autres véhicules ferroviaires comme par exemple les locomotives, les métros, les tramways, etc.
La norme s’applique à des voyageurs en bonne santé.
La présente norme s’applique aux mesurages des mouvements, mais elle peut également être utilisée pour des simulations.

Železniške naprave – Parametri za določanje udobnosti potnikov med vožnjo – Meritve in vrednotenje

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 256 - Railway applications
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 256/WG 7 - Ride comfort
• Current Stage: 4598 - Decision to abandon - Finalization for Vote
• Due Date: 30-Apr-2007
• Completion Date: 30-Apr-2007
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 12299:2006 - Railway applications - Ride comfort for passengers - Measurement and evaluation

Overview

prEN 12299 is a European draft standard focused on railway applications specifically addressing the ride comfort experienced by passengers. Developed under the auspices of CEN/TC 256, this standard outlines methodologies for the measurement and evaluation of ride comfort, providing structured guidance to assess vibrations and shocks impacting passengers during rail travel.

Key to ensuring passenger satisfaction and safety, this document incorporates objective metrics for assessing comfort, applicable to railway vehicles and infrastructure. It supersedes the earlier ENV 12299:1999 standard and includes comprehensive procedures for testing and data analysis.

Key Topics

• Passenger Vibration Exposure: Detailed assessment of human exposure to vibrations and shocks during travel, emphasizing health and comfort considerations.
• Measurement Methodologies: Techniques for capturing rail vehicle motion data, including accelerations and vibrations measured at critical locations within the carriage.
• Comfort Evaluation Metrics: Definition of quantitative comfort indices such as mean comfort, continuous comfort, and specific evaluations during curve transitions or discrete events.
• Test Conditions: Guidance on selecting test sections, appropriate speeds, wheel-rail contact geometry, and ensuring vehicle condition consistency for reliable results.
• Data Processing and Filtering: Procedures for handling raw signal data, applying relevant weighting filters, and determining percentile values to inform comfort assessments.
• Reporting Requirements: Standardized formats and content to be included in test reports, ensuring clarity and comparability across assessments.
• Reference Systems and Symbols: Normative annexes defining coordinate systems, symbols, and terms for standardized interpretation.
• Instrumentation: Guidelines for measurement equipment and seat sensor devices suitable for capturing dynamic passenger experience.
• Application to Vehicle Assessment: Recommendations for evaluating rail vehicles based on ride comfort data, linked to track geometric quality and operational parameters.

Applications

prEN 12299 serves multiple practical applications in the railway sector, including:

• Passenger Comfort Monitoring: Rail operators and manufacturers can quantitatively evaluate ride quality to improve vehicle design and service.
• Vehicle Certification: Compliance testing for new or refurbished rolling stock to meet mandated ride comfort standards.
• Infrastructure Maintenance: Identifying track sections that contribute to passenger discomfort to prioritize track rehabilitation efforts.
• Research and Development: Supporting innovation in suspension systems, seating ergonomics, and noise reduction measures through validated assessment protocols.
• Safety and Health Compliance: Ensuring that ride vibrations conform to thresholds that minimize adverse health effects on passengers.

By providing harmonized procedures and comfort indices, the standard facilitates benchmarking and continuous improvement in passenger travel experience across European rail networks and beyond.

Related Standards

• ENV 12299:1999 – Previous European standard on the same subject, now superseded by prEN 12299.
• CEN/TC 256 family of standards – Encompassing related railway vehicle and infrastructure standards, ensuring integration of comfort with safety and technical requirements.
• ISO 2631 Series – International standards on vibration and shock evaluation relevant for human exposure assessments.
• UIC Leaflets – Guidelines from the International Union of Railways addressing aspects of ride quality and passenger comfort.
• EN 14363 – Wheelset-rail interface and dynamic testing methods complementing comfort evaluation efforts.

By aligning with these established standards, prEN 12299 promotes interoperability and consistent evaluation criteria for passenger ride comfort in railway applications.

---

Keywords: railway ride comfort, passenger vibration measurement, rail vehicle evaluation, comfort indices, vibration shock assessment, railway standards, CEN prEN 12299, passenger experience, ride quality metrics, railway vehicle testing

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2006
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0HULWYHLQYUHGQRWHQMH
Railway applications - Ride comfort for passengers - Measurement and evaluation
Bahnanwendungen - Fahrkomfort für Fahrgäste - Messung und Auswertung
Applications ferroviaires - Confort de marche des voyageurs - Mesurage et évaluation
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12299
ICS:
13.160 Vpliv vibracij in udarcev na Vibration and shock with
ljudi respect to human beings
45.060.20 Železniški vagoni Trailing stock
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
DRAFT
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2006
ICS Will supersede ENV 12299:1999
English Version
Railway applications - Ride comfort for passengers -
Measurement and evaluation
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 256.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN 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 Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and
shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2006 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 12299:2006: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword.6
1 Scope .7
2 Normative references .7
3 Terms and definitions .7
3.1 Definitions .7
3.2 Reference system .8
3.3 List of symbols.9
4 General description .11
4.1 General.11
4.2 Passenger exposure to vibrations.12
4.3 Application .12
4.4 Characteristics of railway vehicle motions.13
4.5 Ride comfort for passengers.13
4.6 Direct and indirect measurements.13
4.7 Summary table of procedures .13
4.8 Application of comfort indices .14
5 Mean comfort and continuous comfort.15
5.1 General.15
5.2 Base of the method.16
5.3 Methodology.16
5.4 Test conditions .16
5.4.1 General.16
5.4.2 Selection of test sections .16
5.4.3 Test speed .17
5.4.4 Wheel-rail contact geometry.17
5.4.5 Vehicle condition .17
5.5 Parameters to be measured.17
5.5.1 General.17
5.5.2 Location of measuring points .17
5.5.3 Filtering.18
5.6 Definition of intermediate quantities .18
5.6.1 Symbols and indices .18
5.6.3 R.m.s.-values of weighted accelerations .19
th th
5.6.3 95 and 50 percentiles .20
5.7 Definition of comfort indexes .20
5.7.1 Continuous comfort.20
5.7.2 Mean comfort standard method.21
5.7.3 Mean comfort complete method .21
5.8 Test report .21
6 Comfort on curve transitions .21
6.1 General.21
6.2 Base of the method.22
6.3 Methodology.22
6.4 Test conditions .22
6.4.1 General.22
6.4.2 Selection of test sections .23
6.4.3 Test speed .23
6.4.4 Wheel-rail contact geometry.23
6.4.5 Vehicle condition .23
6.5 Parameters to be measured.23
6.5.1 General.23
6.5.2 Location of measuring points .23
6.5.3 Filtering.23
6.6 Definition of intermediate quantities .23
6.6.1 Symbols and indices.23
6.6.2 Averaging procedure.24
6.6.3 Identification of transition intervals.25
6.6.4 Intermediate quantities .25
P
6.7 Definition of comfort index .25
CT
6.8 Test report .26
6.9 Example diagrams .26
7 Comfort on discrete events .28
7.1 General.28
7.2 Base of the method .28
7.3 Methodology .28
7.4 Test conditions .29
7.4.1 General.29
7.4.2 Selection of test sections .29
7.4.3 Test speed .29
7.4.4 Wheel-rail contact geometry .29
7.4.5 Vehicle condition .29
7.5 Parameters to be measured .29
7.5.1 General.29
7.5.2 Location of measuring points .29
7.5.3 Filtering.29
7.6 Definition of intermediate quantities .30
7.6.1 Symbols and indices.30
7.6.2 Averaging procedure.30
7.6.3 Intermediate quantities .30
P
DE
7.7 Definition of comfort index .31
7.8 Test report .31
7.9 Example diagrams .31
8 Guide for the interpretation of the results (Informative) .32
8.1 General.32
8.2 Mean Comfort.32
8.3 Continuous Comfort.32
8.4 Comfort on curve transitions .33
8.5 Comfort on discrete events .33
Annex A (normative) Reference system.34
Annex B (normative) Measurement techniques .36
B.1 General.36
B.2 Measuring equipment.36
B.3 Seat measuring devices and their applications .37
Annex C (normative) Weighting curves .40
C.1 General.40
C.2 Filter functions.40
C.3 Tolerances.42
C.4 Diagrams .44
Annex D (informative) Presentation of test report .47
D.1 General.47
D.2 Aim of test .47
D.3 Test performer .47
D.4 References .47
D.5 Test conditions .47
D.6 Measurements and processing.48
D.7 Report on mean comfort and continuous comfort .49
D.8 Report on comfort in curve transitions.53
D.9 Reporting on comfort on discrete events .53
Annex E (normative) Guidelines for application to vehicle assessment with respect to Mean Comfort
Standard Method .55
E.1 General.55
E.2 Track geometric quality .55
E.3 Possible modifications of the methods for mean comfort evaluation.56
E.4 Test conditions .56
E.5 Test report .57
Annex F (informative) Guideline for the application of direct tests .58
Annex G (informative) Workflow for numerical integration .59
Annex H (informative) D e t e r m i n i n g quantities .60
Bibliography .62

Bilder
Figure 1 — Locations of measuring points Passenger coach (Conventional or articulated).18
Figure 2 — Location of measuring points Double-Deck train (Conventional or articulated) .18
&&
y &y&&
1s P
1s
max CT
max
Figure 3 — Interpretation of the terms, and in the in formula.26
ϕ&
P
1s
CT
max
Figure 4 — Figure 4 — Interpretation of the term in the formula.27
Figure 5 — Relevant time intervals on curve transition .27
&& &&
Figure 6 — Interpretation of y (t) and y (t) for calculation of P .31
2s pp DE
Figure A.1 — Local reference system for a carbody.34
Figure A.2 — Local reference systems for a person in a seated position.35
Figure A.3 — Local reference system for a person in standing position .35
Figure B.1 — Seat pan measuring device (for y- and z-direction).37
Figure B.2 — Seat pan measuring device .38
Figure B.3 — Seat back measurement device .38
W
b
Figure C.1 — Tolerances for .42
W
c
Figure C.2 — Tolerances for .43
W
d
Figure C.3 — Tolerances .43
Figure C.4 — Tolerances for W .44
p
W
b
Figure C.5 — Magnitude of the alternative frequency weighting for vertical vibration along the z-axis
on the floor and seat pan .44
W
c
Figure C.6 — Magnitude of the frequency weighting for horizontal vibration along the x-axis, for the
seat back.45
W
d
Figure C.7 — Magnitude of the frequency weighting for horizontal vibration along the x- or y-axis on
the floor, or along the y-axis on the seat pan .45
W
P
P
p
CT
DE
Figure C.8 — Magnitude of the frequency weighting for lateral acceleration for and , and
P
CT
for roll velocity for evaluation.46
Figure D.1 — Continuous Comfort - Collection of five-minute periods (selected periods marked grey)50
Figure D.2 — Example of Continuous Comfort and statistical distribution for a five-minute period.51
Figure D.3 — Example of weighted (bold line) and un-weighted (thin line) power spectral density of floor
level acceleration in x, y and z directions (Duration: 307,2 s / Sampling rate: 400 Hz / FFT :
2048 points).52
P
DE
Figure D.4 — of time series for evaluation .54

Tabellen
Table 1 — Items considered by this standard .12
Table 2 — Motion quantities and measurement position of estimation of ride comfort.14
Table 3 — Motion Specification of different comfort indices for estimations of ride comfort and Vehicle
assessment with respect to ride comfort.14
Table 4 — Guidance to use the different comfort indices for other applications.15
Table 5 — Constants for P comfort index.25
CT
Table 6 — Constants for P comfort index.31
DE
Table 7 — Scale for the N comfort index .32
MV
C (t) C (t)
Table 8 — Preliminary scale for the and comfort indexes .32
Cy Cz
Table C.1 — Weighting curves .40
Table C.2 — Parameters and transfer functions of the frequency weightings .40
Table C.3 — Tolerances on weighting curves .42
Table H.1 — Determining quantities for Mean Comfort.60
Table H.2 — Determining quantities for Comfort in curve transitions and discrete events.61

Foreword
This document (prEN 12299:2006) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 256 “Railway applications”,
the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede ENV 12299:1999.
1 Scope
This European Standard specifies methods for quantifying the effects of car body motions on ride comfort for
passengers and vehicle assessment with respect to ride comfort. The effect considered is:
 discomfort, associated with relatively low levels of acceleration and roll velocity.
Other effects, not included in the standard, are associated with higher acceleration levels:
 health risk effect: physical damage and psychological deterioration.
The scope of the standard is limited to public railway services; the standard includes railway vehicles designed for
carrying passengers travelling on railway lines, including secondary and suburban lines. However, this standard can
be used as a guide for other railway vehicles, for example locomotives, metros, trams, etc.
The standard applies to passengers in good health.
This standard applies to measurements of motions, but can also be used for simulations.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 14363:2005, Railway applications — Testing for the acceptance of running characteristics of railway vehicles —
Testing of running behaviour and stationary tests
ISO 2631-1, Mechanical vibration and shock — Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration —
Part 1: General requirements
ISO 5348, Mechanical vibration and shock — Mechanical mounting of accelerometers
ISO 5353, Earth-moving machinery, and tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry — Seat index point
ISO 8002, Mechanical vibrations — Land vehicles — Method for reporting measured data
ISO 8041, Human response to vibration — Measuring instrumentation
3 Terms and definitions
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1.1
passengers
people travelling in a railway vehicle, without specific activities related to the transport
3.1.2
ride comfort
the complex sensation produced during the application of oscillations and/or inertia forces, via whole-body
transmission caused by the railway vehicle’s car body motions
3.1.3
interfaces
the contact parts between the car body or seat and the passenger with the function of sustaining and guiding the
passenger and of transmitting the weight of the same to the car body itself, e.g. floor-feet
3.1.4
mean comfort
a mean feeling, continuously adjusted, as evaluated through measurement on a long-time basis (at least some
minutes)
3.1.5
continuous comfort
a level of accelerations, ISO frequency weighted continuously evaluated as a set of root mean square values in
vertical, lateral and longitudinal direction over a short time interval (typical 5 s)
3.1.6
comfort on curve transition
discomfort, due to a perceived curve transition
3.1.7
comfort on discrete event
discomfort, due to a perceived transient oscillation
3.1.8
whole-body transmission
a motion transmitted to the whole body through the interfaces between car body and passenger
3.1.9
indirect measurement
measurement of motion environment by different motion quantities, such as acceleration or roll velocity
3.1.10
direct measurement
measurement of actual passenger reactions, for example by asking passengers to fill in a questionnaire
3.1.11
vehicle assessment with respect to ride comfort
identifying the vehicle’s contribution to the ride comfort by relating the measured ride comfort to the condition of the
track (geometry, irregularities, turnout, bridges, etc.) and operation condition (speed, cant deficiency, etc.)
3.2 Reference system
The local reference system for a carbody is defined through:
Origin: on carbody floor, in the central position between the two body-bogie centre pivots (existing or ideally defined)
Axis:
 x-axis: longitudinal, in travelling sense, on floor plan;
 y-axis: lateral, right-oriented in travelling sense, on floor plan;
 z-axis: vertical downwards perpendicular to floor plan.
Roll motions ()ϕ are defined as rotation around the x-axis.
For human body reference system, right hand system is used with vertical direction defined upwards.
 A more detailed definition of the reference system is given in Annex A.
3.3 List of symbols
Parameter Direction for Symbol
measurements
Accelerations on running gear [m/s ]
Wheel set i Lateral
&y&
i
Accelerations in vehicle body [m/s ]
*
Body centre Longitudinal
&&
x
M
*
Leading end of passenger compartment Lateral
&y&
EI
*
Over leading bogie Lateral
&&
y
I
*
Body centre Lateral
&y&
M
*
Over trailing bogie Lateral
&&
y
II
*
Trailing end of passenger compartment Lateral
&y&
EII
*
Leading end of passenger compartment Vertical
&&
z
EI
*
Over leading bogie Vertical
&z&
I
*
Body centre Vertical
&&
z
M
*
Over trailing bogie Vertical
&z&
II
*
Trailing end of passenger compartment Vertical
&&
z
EII
Weighted accelerations [m/s ]
*
Seat back, weighted W Longitudinal
c &x&
D,Wc
*
Vehicle body, weighted W Longitudinal
d &&
x
P,Wd
*
Vehicle body, weighted W Lateral
d &y&
P,Wd
*
Vehicle body, weighted W Lateral
p &&
y
P,Wp
*
Seat pan, weighted W Vertical
b &z&
A,Wb
*
Vehicle body, weighted W Vertical
b &&
z
P,Wb
Seat back, weighted W , rms Longitudinal
w
c
c
a
XD
Floor, weighted W , rms
Longitudinal
w
d
d
a
XP
Floor, weighted W , rms Lateral
w
d
d
a
YP
Seat pan, weighted W , rms Vertical
w
b
b
a
ZA
Floor, weighted W , rms Vertical
w
b
b
a
ZP
Parameter Direction for Symbol
measurements
Seat back, weighted W , rms, 95 percentile Longitudinal
w
c
c
a
XD95
Weighted W , rms, 50 percentile Longitudinal
w
d
d
a
XP50
Floor, weighted W , rms, 95 percentile Longitudinal
w
d
d
a
XP95
Weighted W , rms, 50 percentile Lateral
w
d
d
a
YP50
Seat pan, weighted W , rms, 95 percentile Lateral
w
d
d
a
YA95
Floor, weighted W , rms, 95 percentile
Lateral
w
d
d
a
YP95
Weighted W , rms, 50 percentile Vertical
w
b
b
a
ZP50
Seat pan, weighted W , rms, 95 percentile Vertical
w
b
b
a
ZA95
Floor, weighted W , rms, 95 percentile Vertical
w
b
b
a
ZP95
One-second average Lateral
&y&
1s
Two-second average Lateral
&&
y (t)
2s
Peak to peak Lateral
&&
y (t)
pp
One-second average, maximum absolute value Lateral
&&
y
1s
max
Two-second average, absolute value Lateral
&y& (t)
2s
Jerk in vehicle body [m/s ]
One-second average Lateral
&&&
y (t)
1s
One-second average, maximum absolute value Lateral
&y&&
1s
max
Angular velocity in vehicle body [rad/s]
*
Body Roll
&
ϕ (t)
*
Weighted W Roll
&
p ϕ (t)
Wp
One-second average Roll
&
ϕ (t)
1s
One-second average, maximum absolute value Roll
ϕ&
1s
max
Comfort indexes [-]
Mean comfort standard method -
N
MV
Mean comfort standard method, partial index Longitudinal
N
MVx
Parameter Direction for Symbol
measurements
Mean comfort standard method, partial index Lateral
N
MVy
Mean comfort standard method, partial index Vertical
N
MVz
Mean Comfort Complete Method, seated -
N
VA
Mean Comfort Complete Method, standing -
N
VD
Continuous comfort Longitudinal
C
Cx
Continuous comfort Lateral
C
Cy
Continuous comfort Vertical
C
Cz
Comfort on Curve Transitions -
P
CT
Comfort on Discrete Events Lateral
P
DE
4 General description
4.1 General
The comfort of passengers in a railway vehicle is influenced by a number of different factors (temperature, noise,
vibration etc.). This European Standard considers only that part of the comfort influenced by the vibrations and
motions of the vehicle. This is described as ride comfort or as passenger comfort. The standard can also be used for
vehicle assessment with respect to ride comfort.
This European Standard defines as the standard method:
 The standard method for Mean Comfort evaluation, taking into account the effects of vibration exposure
measured on the car body floor.
This European Standard also defines several methods for special applications:
 taking into account the short time effects of vibration exposure measured on the car body floor as Continuous
Comfort for the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical direction;
 taking into account the vibration exposure measured on the seat or other interfaces on ride comfort as the
complete method for Mean Comfort evaluation;
 taking into account the effects of:
 discrete events (Comfort on Discrete Events) and
 running on curve transitions (Comfort on Curve Transitions) on ride comfort.
 taking into account the vibration exposure measured on the car body floor for the purpose of vehicle assessment
with respect to ride comfort. Annex E provides guidance for vehicle assessment with respect to ride comfort.
4.2 Passenger exposure to vibrations
Railway transport exposes passengers to vibrations related to the dynamic motions of the car body.
The motions of the car body transmit their effects to the human body through the following interfaces:
 in the standing position:
 floor – feet
 in the seated position:
 headrest – neck
 arm rest – arms
 seat – hip
 backrest – back
 floor – feet
The type of transmission is whole-body transmission which acts on the whole body through the interfaces.
4.3 Application
The following Table 1 lists the items included or excluded from this EN standard:
Table 1 — Items considered by this standard
Item Included Excluded
Effects of vibration exposure
- on ride comfort - on health
- on vehicle assessment with - on activities
respect to ride comfort
- on motion sickness
Vibration transfer
- on whole body through - on single body part
interfaces
- on whole surface
- through floor interface
Type of vehicles
- railway vehicles designed for
carrying passengers
Test procedure
- definitions - notes or attributes related to
service quality and/or
- reference system
passenger expectation
- requirements
- limiting values
- measurement and evaluation
rules
- report guidance
Posture and activities of
- standing - laying
passenger
- seated - performing specific actions
(reading, writing etc.)
Type of measurement
- indirect measurement, i.e. - direct measurements (by
measurement of motion asking test subjects)
environment by different motion
- combined measurements
quantities
4.4 Characteristics of railway vehicle motions
The basic typical motion characteristics, referred to the type of measurement and evaluation, are:
 Different properties, depending on the type of evaluation:
 quasi-stationary (Mean Comfort)
 non-stationary (Comfort on Curve Transitions and Comfort on Discrete Events).
 The frequency range of motions expected in rail vehicles includes, in the lateral direction:
 up to 15 Hz: due to track profile, car body swing-roll and yaw in the lower frequencies, and suspensions
characteristics and car body modes in the higher ones;
 The frequency range of motions expected in rail vehicles includes, in the vertical direction:
 up to 40 Hz: due to track profile and geometry, suspensions characteristics, wheel defaults, car body
modes;
 Range of frequencies from 0 Hz to 2 Hz for Comfort on Curve Transitions and for Discrete Events.
4.5 Ride comfort for passengers
The ride comfort for passengers is the complex sensation, produced on the passenger by the car body motions of the
railway vehicle, transmitted to the whole body through the interfaces.
This sensation is classified as:
1. average sensation, based on the vibration applied on a long-time basis (several minutes);
2. instantaneous sensation: a sudden modification of the average sensation, due to a short-basis event (change of
mean lateral acceleration level with possible oscillation, roll motion at significant velocity and lateral jerk);
3. quasi-static lateral acceleration due to curving.
The first type of sensation is taken into account in the Mean Comfort evaluation.
The second and the third type of sensation are taken into account in the Comfort on Curve Transitions and in
Comfort on Discrete Events.
4.6 Direct and indirect measurements
The quantification of ride comfort for passengers is performed through indirect measurements, i.e. measuring and
post-processing the relevant motion quantities. Other types of tests and evaluation, such as direct tests based on the
assessment of the perceptions of tested passengers, and combined tests, including both direct and indirect tests, are
not defined in this European Standard. However, some guidance for direct tests is given in Annex F.
4.7 Summary table of procedures
The evaluation of ride comfort for passengers is taken into account in this European Standard by:
 procedure for the quantification of comfort index “Mean Comfort” by the Standard method (N ), see clause 5
MV
and Annex H;
 procedure for the quantification of comfort index “Mean Comfort” by the Complete method (N , ), see
N
VA VD
clause 5 and Annex H;
 procedure for the quantification of comfort index “Comfort on Curve Transitions” ( ), see clause 6 and Annex
P
CT
H;
 procedure for the quantification of comfort index “Comfort on Discrete Events” (P ), see clause 7 and Annex H;
DE
 procedure for the quantification of Continuous Comfort (C ,C ,C ), see clause 5 and Annex H.
Cx Cy Cz
This standard also provides guidance for assessment of vehicle with respect to ride comfort by Continuous Comfort
and the Standard method ( ) with acceptable deviations; see Annex E.
N
MV
Motion quantities and position of measurement for the different comfort indices are listed in Table 2.
Table 2 — Motion quantities and measurement position of estimation of ride comfort
Mean Comfort Mean Comfort Continuous Comfort on Comfort on
Standard Complete Comfort Curve Discrete
Method Method Transitions Events
Comfort index
N N N , , , P
C C C P
MV VD
VA Cx Cz CT
Cy DE
Motion Accelerations in Accelerations in Accelerations in Lateral Lateral
quantities three directions three directions three directions acceleration, acceleration
Lateral jerk,
Roll velocity
Measuring floor floor floor and floor floor floor
position interfaces
4.8 Application of comfort indices
The different procedures for ride comfort estimation and their applications are summarised in Table 3.
Table 3 — Motion Specification of different comfort indices for estimations of ride comfort and Vehicle
assessment with respect to ride comfort
Mean Comfort Mean Comfort Continuous Comfort on Comfort on
Standard Complete Comfort Curve Discrete
Method Method Transitions Events
C C
Cy
Cx
, ,
N
N N
Comfort Index P P
VA VD
MV
CT DE
,
C
Cz
Passenger comfort √ √ (√) √ √
√ (tilting
Vehicle assessment √ √
trains)
All procedures are normative. The mean comfort standard method is normative for mean comfort applications. If
used, the mean comfort complete method shall be used together with the mean comfort standard method.
Certain other applications where it is possible to use the different comfort indices are shown in Table 4.
Table 4 — Guidance to use the different comfort indices for other applications
Mean Comfort Mean Comfort Continuous Comfort on Comfort on
Standard Complete Comfort Curve Discrete
Method Method Transitions Events
Comfort Index
N N
N C P
C C P
MV VA VD
Cx Cy Cz CT
DE
,
, ,
Track geometry  √
Maintenance
(√) (√) √
- track
Maintenance
√ √
- vehicle
5 Mean comfort and continuous comfort
5.1 General
Mean ride comfort is divided in two methods; the standard method taking into account the vibration on the floor
interface and the complete method (seat and standing) taking into account vibrations in seat and/or floor interfaces.
The formula of the standard method is a simplification of the more general but more complicated complete method.
The complete method is more highly correlated with the passenger's perception of comfort than the standard method.
The continuous comfort is a quadratic average (r.m.s.) of the frequency weighted accelerations measured to evaluate
the mean comfort.
These methods can be applied on straight and curved lines.
NOTE 1 Caution shall be taken regarding for use on lines with many curves, when the methods are validated on fairly straight
lines.
NOTE 2 The application of the standard method is constrained by the condition that the longitudinal vibration shall not be
excessive.
NOTE 3 On curves, consideration may be taken to discomfort caused by lateral acceleration, lateral jerk and roll velocity, for
example in curve transitions ( ) or discrete events in circular curves (P ).
P
CT DE
NOTE 4 When the complete method is used, the standard method shall also be applied, for reference purposes.
The object is to define:
 the conditions for carrying out running tests to assess mean comfort (standard and the complete method) and
continuous comfort;
 the parameters to be measured and the methods to be used to obtain the assessment values.
This clause constitutes an application document for the railway field covering the measurement, analysis and
evaluation of vibration, taking into accoun
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