European Approach to Fire Safety in Rolling Stock

Public surface transport (which includes rail) is considered relatively safe. However, in the event of a fire, conditions for people inside the vehicles deteriorate rapidly, particularly due to the emission of smoke and its toxic components, which make evacuation very difficult and cause panic. The increased fire risk in rail vehicles has increased with the expansion of plastics used in their construction and equipment, which occurred in the second half of the 20th century, along with increased travel speeds and increased passenger interest in this mode of transport. The measures taken in the 1980s to ensure fire safety in the railway industry are undergoing systematic changes resulting from advances in vehicle design and production technologies, the introduction of new power sources, and safety systems. The aim of this article was to summarize the current knowledge regarding fire hazards in rail vehicles and methods for preventing them. The causes of fires occurring in trains are discussed, taking into account also the potential threats resulting from the introduction of alternative power sources. We also present efforts to develop tools for assessing the severity of the threat and then preventing it, including the contribution of the Railway Research Institute to the development of research methods and Polish and European standardization. Passive and active safety measures required by applicable regulations (TSI, EN standards) aimed at limiting the occurrence of fire and minimizing its consequences were described. As part of passive protection measures, the results of tests carried out at the Railway Institute regarding the fire properties of materials according to current European requirements are presented and discussed. The RAMS approach to risk assessment is also described. Furthermore, the impact of these measures on improving fire safety in rolling stock is analyzed, and new challenges that the development of new technologies poses to the railway industry and related fire protection engineering are presented.