Introduction
Sir Peter Parker, Chairman of the British Rail Board in 1976–1983, famously said that ‘railways tend to fall down on their interfaces’. System Interface Committees (SICs) are senior cross-industry technical groups. Currently, there are six SICs, which help the railway industry manage these interfaces in an effective, safe, and cost-efficient way.
SICs act at a strategic and tactical level by identifying opportunities, commissioning studies, and championing research findings. They evaluate solutions and make recommendations in the best interest of the railway as a whole. Their recommendations inform decisions and standards.
Visit the RSSB website for further information on SICs.
The Vehicle/Train Energy System Interface Committee (V/TE SIC) assists the rail industry in evaluating and managing the system interfaces relating to traction power. It also promotes efficient energy use and develops longer-term, sustainable approaches to traction energy management.
The committee’s remit includes:
developing a strategic view of the future of electrified rail networks
initiating projects to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of electrified networks and rolling stock
contributing towards the implementation and development of the energy aspects of the Rail Technical Strategy
considering safety systems and processes relating to work in proximity to electrical equipment
considering vehicle-mounted collection devices, return circuit, and vehicle earthing and its interaction with the electrification system.
V/TE SIC is made up of representatives from passenger and freight train operators, rolling stock owners and leasing companies, infrastructure managers and owners, and suppliers and rolling stock manufacturers. It has one representative from RSSB and invites observers from the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail and Road.
V/TE SIC is looking for a supplier representative. Please get in touch to express your interest.
Have you used work that V/TE SIC initiated and steered? We welcome feedback, suggestions for improvement, and offers to champion wider application. We would also like to hear about your own work and challenges you are facing.
Further information on V/TE SIC’s work is available on the RSSB website.
Contact Roisin Mulvany, Lead Industry Group Manager, for further information or to get involved:
Roisin.Mulvany@rssb.co.uk
Find further invitations to take part in research projects or join steering groups in the following articles.
Many SIC activities are guided by and support the Rail Technical Strategy, which is made up of five functional priorities and three critical enablers. We have indicated which priority or enabler an activity supports using the following icons.
