Railway travel has long been celebrated for its efficiency and environmental benefits. Yet passenger experience, particularly ride comfort, remains a crucial aspect for improving rail systems. The European Standard EN 12299:2024, recently developed by CEN/TC 256, provides a groundbreaking methodology for evaluating and enhancing ride comfort in rail vehicles. This updated standard replaces the 2009 version, introducing advanced methods to ensure passenger comfort is measurable, repeatable, and aligned with modern rail technologies.
It is worth noting that this topic was first published as an experimental standard (ENV) back in 1999.
Why Ride Comfort Matters
Passenger ride comfort is a complex sensation influenced by vehicle vibrations, roll velocities, and lateral jerks transmitted through the body. EN 12299:2024 focuses exclusively on these physical factors, offering methods to assess how rail vehicle motions impact passengers. The standard does not address broader issues such as noise, temperature, or motion sickness, maintaining a specific scope for actionable insights.
The Heart of EN 12299: Comfort Indices
The standard introduces five core comfort indices:
- Mean Comfort: Evaluates long-term vibrations on passengers, offering a baseline measure for ride experience.
- Continuous Comfort: Monitors short-term accelerations using RMS (Root Mean Square) values.
- Comfort on Curve Transitions: Assesses passenger discomfort caused by track curvature and tilting dynamics.
- Comfort on Discrete Events: Captures discomfort from singular disturbances such as junction crossings or track irregularities.
- Vehicle Assessment: Focuses on the rail vehicle’s contribution to overall comfort, facilitating targeted improvements.
These indices ensure that passengers’ immediate as well as sustained experience is considered, providing actionable data for rail operators and vehicle manufacturers.
Technical Approach: Precision Measurements
The standard relies on indirect measurements, using accelerometers to capture vibrations in longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions. Strategic measurement points – such as vehicle floors and seats – help quantify motion effects accurately. Advanced data processing techniques, including frequency weighting and sliding window analysis, convert raw motion data into interpretable comfort scores.
Key Innovations in EN 12299:2024
Compared to its predecessor, the new standard incorporates significant updates:
- Broader Frequency Analysis: Captures a wider range of motions, particularly in lateral and vertical vibrations.
- Enhanced Guidelines: Includes improved methodologies for evaluating curved track transitions and discrete events.
- Simplified Reporting: Provides clearer instructions for documenting test conditions, aiding consistency across applications.
Additionally, simulation tools complement physical measurements, enabling cost-effective evaluations in early vehicle design stages.
Applications and Benefits
EN 12299:2024 serves diverse stakeholders across the rail industry:
- Rail Operators: Benchmark and enhance passenger comfort to attract more riders.
- Manufacturers: Optimize vehicle designs by identifying and mitigating comfort-affecting dynamics.
- Infrastructure Managers: Adjust track layouts and maintenance schedules based on comfort data.
For tilting trains, specific assessments of curve transition comfort also ensure smoother journeys on winding routes.
Driving Innovation in Rail Transport
By formalizing comfort measurement, EN 12299:2024 underscores the railway sector’s commitment to passenger-centric innovation. The standard aligns seamlessly with Europe’s broader goals of advancing sustainable and efficient transportation systems. Whether for high-speed trains or regional services, this standard sets the stage for the next generation of rail travel.
For more information, visit CEN-CENELEC’s website or contact Thierry Legrand at tlegrand@cencenelec.eu.
