SIST EN 16494:2025
(Main)Railway applications - Requirements for ERTMS Trackside Boards
Railway applications - Requirements for ERTMS Trackside Boards
This document is applicable to the heavy rail system.
This document defines the requirements for the provision, visibility, readability, maintenance and testing of a specific set of ERTMS trackside boards associated with the following DMI and ETCS track conditions:
— ETCS stop marker
— ETCS location marker
— level transition, corresponding to transitions between ETCS levels
— lower pantograph
— pantograph lowered
— raise pantograph
— neutral section announcement
— neutral section
— end of neutral section
— GSM-R network border marker
— no traction system fitted announcement
— no traction system fitted indication
— traction system AC 25 kV 50 Hz announcement
— traction system AC 25 kV 50 Hz indication
— traction system AC 15 kV 16,7 Hz announcement
— traction system AC 15 kV 16,7 Hz indication
— traction system DC 3 kV announcement
— traction system DC 3 kV indication
— traction system DC 1,5 kV announcement
— traction system DC 1,5 kV indication
— traction system DC 600/750 V announcement
— traction system DC 600/750 V indication
— activate the audible warning device (horn) indication
— safe stopping area announcement
— safe stopping area indication for start
— safe stopping area indication for end
— inhibition of brake announcement/indication for start/indication for revocation
— level crossing marker
NOTE 1 the brake MBs apply for any of the three brake types (eddy current, magnetic shoe, regenerative), whereas the exact type concerned would be known by the driver via existing Route knowledge.
The following ETCS track conditions are outside the scope of this Standard:
— Safe stopping area semi-continuous indication for in-between
— Non-stopping area announcement
— Non-stopping area announcement
— Non stopping area indication for start
— Non stopping area indication for end
— Non stopping area semi-continuous indication for in-between
— Close air conditioning intake announcement
— Close air conditioning intake indication
— Open air conditioning intake announcement
— Open air conditioning intake indication
This document includes the arrangement of the boards and their interface with existing systems (track, cab design including cab sight lines, visibility by the driver and train head lamps).
Mobile, backlit and temporary signs are not within the scope of this document.
The application of ERTMS trackside boards is not within the scope of this document.
Sighting requirements are not within the scope of this document. The sighting process needs to be implemented in accordance with national rules.
Bahnanwendungen - Anforderungen an ERTMS-Strecken- und Signaltafeln
Applications ferroviaires - Exigences relatives aux pancartes ERTMS
Le présent document s'applique au système ferroviaire lourd.
Le présent document définit les exigences pour la mise à disposition, la visibilité, la lisibilité, la maintenance et les essais d'un ensemble spécifique de pancartes ERTMS associées avec les conditions de voie DMI et ETCS suivantes :
— repère « STOP » ETCS,
— repère de localisation ETCS,
— transition de niveau, correspondant aux transitions entre les niveaux ETCS,
— baissez le pantographe,
— pantographe abaissé,
— levez pantographe,
— signal d’annonce « Coupez courant »,
— signal d’exécution « Coupez courant »,
— signal de fin de parcours « Coupez courant »,
— repère de limite de réseau GSM-R,
— signal d’annonce « Absence d’alimentation électrique »,
— signal « Absence d’alimentation électrique »,
— signal d’annonce « Alimentation CA 25 kV 50 Hz »,
— signal « Alimentation CA 25 kV 50 Hz »,
— signal d’annonce « Alimentation CA 15 kV 16,7 Hz »,
— signal « Alimentation CA 15 kV 16,7 Hz »,
— signal d’annonce « Alimentation CC 3 kV »,
— signal « Alimentation CC 3 kV »,
— signal d’annonce « Alimentation CC 1,5 kV »,
— signal « Alimentation CC 1,5 kV »,
— signal d’annonce « Alimentation CC 600/750 V »,
— signal « Alimentation CC 600/750 V »,
— signal « Activez le dispositif d'avertissement sonore » (sifflet),
— signal d’annonce « Zone d'arrêt sécurisée »,
— signal de début de zone d'arrêt sécurisée,
— signal de fin de zone d'arrêt sécurisée,
— signal d’annonce « Inhibition du frein » / signal de début / signal de fin de zone d’inhibition,
— repère de passage à niveau.
NOTE Les panneaux indicateurs de freinage concernent n’importe lequel des trois types de freins (frein à courants de Foucault, frein à sabots magnétiques, frein à récupération). Le type exact concerné est connu du conducteur grâce à sa connaissance de l’itinéraire.
Les conditions de voie ETCS suivantes ne font pas partie du domaine d’application du présent document :
— signal intermédiaire semi-continu de zone d'arrêt sécurisée,
— signal d’annonce de zone d’arrêt interdit,
— signal de début de zone d’arrêt interdit,
— signal de fin de zone d’arrêt interdit,
— signal intermédiaire semi-continu de zone d’arrêt interdit,
— signal d’annonce « Fermez l’entrée d’air conditionné »,
— signal « Fermez l’entrée d’air conditionné »,
— signal d’annonce « Ouvrez l’entrée d’air conditionné »,
— signal « Fermez l’entrée d’air conditionné ».
Le présent document comprend la mise en place des systèmes embarqués et leur interface avec les systèmes existants (voie, cabine, y compris les lignes de visibilité de la cabine, visibilité par le conducteur et lampes frontales des trains).
Les panneaux mobiles, rétroéclairés et temporaires n'entrent pas dans le domaine d'application du présent document.
La mise en application des pancartes ERTMS est en dehors du domaine d’application du présent document.
Les exigences relatives à l’observation ne font pas partie du domaine d’application du présent document. Le processus d'observation a besoin d’être mis en œuvre conformément à la règlementation nationale.
Železniške naprave - Zahteve za signalne/opozorilne table ERTMS vzdolž proge
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2025
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 16494:2015
Železniške naprave - Zahteve za signalne/opozorilne table ERTMS vzdolž proge
Railway applications - Requirements for ERTMS Trackside Boards
Bahnanwendungen - Anforderungen an ERTMS-Strecken- und Signaltafeln
Applications ferroviaires - Exigences relatives aux pancartes ERTMS
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 16494:2025
ICS:
03.220.30 Železniški transport Transport by rail
93.100 Gradnja železnic Construction of railways
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN 16494
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
April 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 03.220.30; 33.070.50 Supersedes EN 16494:2015
English Version
Railway applications - Requirements for ERTMS Trackside
Boards
Applications ferroviaires - Exigences relatives aux Bahnanwendungen - Anforderungen an ERTMS-
pancartes ERTMS Strecken- und Signaltafeln
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 24 February 2025.
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
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 16494:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Symbols and abbreviations . 7
5 Requirements . 8
5.1 General. 8
5.2 Physical requirements for ERTMS trackside boards . 8
5.2.1 General. 8
5.2.2 Design . 8
5.2.3 Dimensions. 25
5.3 Optical properties . 29
5.3.1 Optical properties of trackside boards . 29
5.3.2 Optical properties of the rear of trackside boards . 30
5.4 Durability in environmental conditions . 30
5.5 Maintenance requirements . 30
5.6 Location and alignment of trackside boards . 30
6 Test methods . 31
6.1 Test samples . 31
6.2 Test for dimensions . 31
6.3 Test for optical properties . 31
6.4 Test for environmental properties . 31
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential
Requirements of EU Directive (EU) 2016/797 aimed to be covered . 32
Bibliography . 34
European foreword
This document (EN 16494:2025) 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 October 2025, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by October 2025.
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 16494:2015.
This document includes the following changes with respect to EN 16494:2015:
— clarification of the scope to exclude mobile, backlit and temporary signs;
— dimensional corrections to the ETCS Stop Marker and ETCS Location Marker;
— new trackside boards were introduced (traction system 25 kV, 15 kV, 3000 V, 1500 V and 750 V,
audible warning device, safe stopping area, non-stopping area, inhibition of magnetic shoe brake,
inhibition of eddy current brake, inhibition of regenerative brake and level crossing marker);
— an option for diamond-shaped trackside boards (electric traction MBs only);
— clarification to existing maintenance requirements;
— revision of the options for standard dimensions.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN and CENELEC by
the European Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these
requests for its Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
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, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
This document was produced for the specification and harmonization of a specific set of ERTMS trackside
boards to support ETCS and GSM-R operations.
1 Scope
This document is applicable to the heavy rail system.
This document defines the requirements for the provision, visibility, readability, maintenance and testing
of a specific set of ERTMS trackside boards associated with the following DMI and ETCS track conditions:
— ETCS stop marker;
— ETCS location marker;
— level transition, corresponding to transitions between ETCS levels;
— lower pantograph;
— pantograph lowered;
— raise pantograph;
— neutral section announcement;
— neutral section;
— end of neutral section;
— GSM-R network border marker;
— no traction system fitted announcement;
— no traction system fitted indication;
— traction system AC 25 kV 50 Hz announcement;
— traction system AC 25 kV 50 Hz indication;
— traction system AC 15 kV 16,7 Hz announcement;
— traction system AC 15 kV 16,7 Hz indication;
— traction system DC 3 kV announcement;
— traction system DC 3 kV indication;
— traction system DC 1,5 kV announcement;
— traction system DC 1,5 kV indication;
— traction system DC 600/750 V announcement;
— traction system DC 600/750 V indication;
— activate the audible warning device (horn) indication;
— safe stopping area announcement;
— safe stopping area indication for start;
— safe stopping area indication for end;
— inhibition of brake announcement/indication for start/indication for revocation;
— level crossing marker.
NOTE The brake MBs apply for any of the three brake types (eddy current, magnetic shoe, regenerative),
whereas the exact type concerned would be known by the driver via existing Route knowledge.
The following ETCS track conditions are outside the scope of this document:
— safe stopping area semi-continuous indication for in-between;
— non-stopping area announcement;
— non-stopping area indication for start;
— non-stopping area indication for end;
— non-stopping area semi-continuous indication for in-between;
— close air conditioning intake announcement;
— close air conditioning intake indication;
— open air conditioning intake announcement;
— open air conditioning intake indication.
This document includes the arrangement of the boards and their interface with existing systems (track,
cab design including cab sight lines, visibility by the driver and train head lamps).
Mobile, backlit and temporary signs are not within the scope of this document.
The application of ERTMS trackside boards is not within the scope of this document.
Sighting requirements are not within the scope of this document. The sighting process needs to be
implemented in accordance with national rules.
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 12899-1:2007, Fixed, vertical road traffic signs - Part 1: Fixed signs
EN 50125-3:2003, Railway applications - Environmental conditions for equipment - Part 3: Equipment for
signalling and telecommunications
Document impacted by EN 50125-3:2003/AC:2010.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
cab sight lines
viewing directions achievable by the driver in the normal driving position
3.2
ETCS track conditions
ETCS operating conditions which include the normal and degraded mode
3.3
ERTMS trackside boards
fixed permanent boards which provide trackside visual information to train drivers operating under
ERTMS
3.4
readability
characteristic of a sign by which, when it is viewed under the conditions defined for the sign by a person
just meeting the relevant eyesight standard, the message it conveys is understandable
4 Symbols and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the following symbols and abbreviations apply:
DMI Driver-Machine Interface
ERTMS European Rail Traffic Management System
ETCS European Train Control System
GSM-R Global System for Mobile communication — Rail
LT Level Transition
MB Marker Board
TSI Technical Specification for Interoperability
5 Requirements
5.1 General
To assist in readability, the ERTMS trackside boards shall comply with the following:
— physical requirements for the trackside boards, as set out in 5.2;
— optical requirements, as set out in 5.3;
— mechanical performance in environmental conditions, as set out in 5.4;
— maintenance requirements, as set out in 5.5.
The installation of a given trackside board shall require an assessment to determine:
— location, as set out in 5.6;
— selection of the appropriate size from the alternatives given in Tables 4, 5 and 6;
— alignment, as set out in 5.6.
5.2 Physical requirements for ERTMS trackside boards
5.2.1 General
The design and dimensions of the ERTMS trackside boards shall be as specified in 5.2.2 and 5.2.3.
All characters shall be a sans-serif typeface the same as or equivalent
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