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.
V/V SIC’s purpose is to assist the railway industry in managing tactical technical issues at the interfaces between vehicles and to help lead strategic improvements in rolling stock design, maintenance, and overhaul.
The committee provides expertise and strategic knowledge across rolling stock themes, including:
lineside equipment to assess various aspects of rolling stock condition, such as hot axle box detection equipment and wheel load impact detection
opportunities for reducing train mass, lowering impact and track damage
monitoring legislation on noise to ensure that the rail aspects are addressed
a holistic approach to train emissions and energy use issues
methods to optimise aerodynamics (and pressure waves)
methods to optimise rolling stock evacuation, normal access and egress, and anti-terrorist designs and measures
methods to optimise on train facilities, communication, information, comfort, and personal security for passengers.
V/V SIC is made up of representatives from passenger train and freight operators, infrastructure managers, maintainers, suppliers, academia, and rolling stock owners. There is also one representative from RSSB.
It has three sub-groups:
Independently Powered Traction Working Group (IPTWG)
Cross Industry Remote Condition Monitoring Steering Group (XIRCMSG)
Wheel Impact Load Detector Working Group (WILD WG).
V/V SIC has the following membership vacancies:
The IPTWG is seeking a non-passenger TOC representative. Contact Roisin.Mulvany@rssb.co.uk or the Chair Simon.Jarrett@chilternrailways.co.uk to find out more.
The XIRCMSG is seeking a rolling stock company representative. Contact Roisin.Mulvany@rssb.co.uk or the Chair Amanda.Hall@networkrail.co.uk to find out more.
The Committee also welcomes interest from observers who can offer specialist skills in the subject matter or would like to attend and contribute as part of their professional development.
Further information on V/V SIC’s work is available on the RSSB website. Contact Roisin Mulvany, Lead Industry Group Manager, with any queries:
Roisin.Mulvany@rssb.co.uk
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.
