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Railway Group Standard
GE/RT8014
Issue Two
Date June 2011

Axlebox Condition
Monitoring – Hot
Axlebox Detection

Synopsis
This document mandates requirements
for rolling stock and infrastructure
subsystems to be applied in the design
of new or altered rolling stock for the
detection of hot axleboxes, by trackside
hot axlebox detectors (HABDs) and
onboard axle bearing monitoring
systems.

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Published by:

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© Copyright 2011
Rail Safety and Standards Board Limited
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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Issue Two Axlebox Condition Monitoring
Date June 2011 – Hot Axlebox Detection

Issue record
Issue Date Comments
One June 2001 Original document
Supersedes GM/RT2242, GM/RT2243,
GM/TT0142, GO/OP0006 and GO/RT3207
Two 04 June 2011 Replaces issue one
Revised to align with BS EN 15437-1:2009

Revisions have not been marked by a vertical black line in this issue because the
document has been revised throughout

Superseded documents
The following Railway Group documents are superseded, either in whole or in part as
indicated:

Superseded documents Sections Date when

superseded sections are
superseded
GE/RT8014 issue one June 2001 All 03 September
Hot Axle Bearing Detection 2011

GE/RT8014 issue one ceases to be in force and is withdrawn as of 03 September 2011.

Supply
The authoritative version of this document is available at www.rgsonline.co.uk.
Uncontrolled copies of this document can be obtained from Communications, RSSB,
Block 2, Angel Square, 1 Torrens Street, London EC1V 1NY, telephone 020 3142 5400 or
e-mail [email protected]. Other Standards and associated documents can also be
viewed at www.rgsonline.co.uk.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Axlebox Condition Monitoring Issue Two
– Hot Axlebox Detection Date June 2011

Contents
Section Description Page

Part 1 Purpose and Introduction 4

1.1 Purpose 4
1.2 Introduction 4
1.3 Approval and authorisation of this document 5

Part 2 Requirements for the Rolling Stock Subsystem 6

2.1 The rolling stock interface for hot axlebox detection 6
2.2 The rolling stock interface to infrastructure 6
2.3 Rolling stock fitted with onboard axle bearing monitoring system 6

Part 3 Requirements for the Infrastructure Subsystem 7

3.1 The infrastructure interface to rolling stock 7
3.2 Provision of information on trackside HABDs 7

Part 4 Requirements for the Infrastructure Manager 8

4.1 Requirements when trackside HABDs are out of service 8

Part 5 Application of this document 9

5.1 Application - infrastructure managers 9
5.2 Application - railway undertakings 9
5.3 Health and safety responsibilities 10

Definitions 11

References 12

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Issue Two Axlebox Condition Monitoring
Date June 2011 – Hot Axlebox Detection

Part 1 Purpose and Introduction

1.1 Purpose
1.1.1 This document mandates requirements for rolling stock and infrastructure
subsystems to be applied in the design of new or altered rolling stock for the
detection of hot axleboxes, by trackside hot axlebox detectors (HABDs) and
onboard axle bearing monitoring systems.

1.2 Introduction
1.2.1 Background
1.2.1.1 The implementation of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs)
mandated through a series of European Directives has resulted in a review of all
requirements mandated in Railway Group Standards.

1.2.1.2 Under the Strategy for Standards Management, RSSB has given a commitment
to review all of its standards with a view to mandating only those requirements
that define the interface and the need for cooperation between different
categories of duty holder to manage risk safely.

1.2.1.3 A review of the requirements set out in standards associated with hot axlebox
detection has resulted in a revision of this Railway Group Standard.

1.2.1.4 GE/RT8270 mandates requirements and responsibilities for the assessment of

compatibility between infrastructure and rolling stock. Where existing
infrastructure has not been assessed as conforming to the applicable
Infrastructure TSIs, conformity with the requirements of GE/RT8014 is a method
of demonstrating compatibility between rolling stock and hot axlebox detection
systems.

1.2.1.5 The requirements in the TSIs for axlebox condition monitoring are supported by
BS EN 15437-1:2009. To align with Europe the relevant parts of
BS EN 15437-1:2009 that are appropriate for GB are incorporated within this
document.

1.2.2 Principles
1.2.2.1 The requirements of this document are based on one or more of the following
principles:

a) This document mandates those requirements that define the interface and
the need for cooperation between different categories of duty holder to
manage risk safely.

b) This document mandates requirements that are necessary to support an

open point in a TSI and meet an essential requirement of the relevant
European Directive.

1.2.3 Support to essential requirements

1.2.3.1 The European Directives applicable to interoperability mandate that each TSI is
required to address a number of essential requirements. In supporting specific
open points in Rolling Stock TSIs, including the as yet unpublished Conventional
Rail Locomotives and Passenger Rolling Stock TSI, the essential requirements
set out in 1.2.3.2 are addressed.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Axlebox Condition Monitoring Issue Two
– Hot Axlebox Detection Date June 2011

1.2.3.2 The Directive 2008/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
17 June 2008 on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community
contains within Annex 3 ‘Essential Requirements’ the following relevant essential
requirements:

‘1. General requirements

1.1 Safety

1.1.1 The design, construction or assembly, maintenance and monitoring of

safety critical components, and more particularly of the components involved in
train movement must be such as to guarantee safety at the level corresponding to
the aims laid down for the network, including those for specific degraded
situations.

1.2 Reliability and availability

The monitoring and maintenance of fixed or moveable components that are

involved in train movements must be organised, carried out and quantified in
such a manner as to maintain their operation under the intended conditions.

1.5 Technical compatibility

The technical characteristics of the infrastructure and fixed installations must be

compatible with each other and with those of the trains to be used on the rail
system’.

1.2.4 Supporting documents

1.2.4.1 The following Railway Group document supports this Railway Group Standard:

GE/GN8614 Guidance on Axlebox Condition Monitoring – Hot Axlebox Detection

1.3 Approval and authorisation of this document

1.3.1 The content of this document was approved by Rolling Stock Standards
Committee on 21 January 2011.

1.3.2 This document was authorised by RSSB on 15 March 2011.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Issue Two Axlebox Condition Monitoring
Date June 2011 – Hot Axlebox Detection

Part 2 Requirements for the Rolling Stock Subsystem

2.1 The rolling stock interface for hot axlebox detection
2.1.1 Rolling stock as a minimum shall:

a) Be designed in accordance with the rolling stock requirements for the target
zone set out in clause 5.1 of BS EN 15437-1:2009.

Or

b) Be fitted with an onboard axle bearing monitoring system which shall monitor
all of the affected axle journal bearings.

2.1.2 Rolling stock that have an operating speed equal to or greater than 250 km/h
shall be fitted with an onboard axle bearing monitoring system which shall
monitor all of the axle journal bearings.

2.2 The rolling stock interface to infrastructure

2.2.1 Rolling stock shall be designed in accordance with the rolling stock prohibited
zone requirements set out in clause 5.2 of BS EN 15437-1:2009, and have either:

a) No heat source, other than that generated by an in-service axle journal

bearing, located within the boundaries of the prohibited zone.

Or

b) Thermal shielding of any heat source, other than that generated by an

in-service axle journal bearing, located within the boundaries of the
prohibited zone.

2.2.2 To facilitate the setting of temperature alarm levels for trackside HABDs, the
railway undertaking shall make available to the infrastructure manager when
requested, the normal maximum temperatures of the target zones for the rolling
stock that they operate (see 3.1.3).

2.3 Rolling stock fitted with onboard axle bearing monitoring system
2.3.1 The onboard axle bearing monitoring system shall be set to initiate an alarm to
indicate that acceptable conditions are exceeded.

2.3.2 The conditions that trigger alarms shall be determined and set by the railway
undertaking responsible for the rolling stock on which the onboard axle bearing
monitoring system is fitted.

2.3.3 When an alarm is triggered, the onboard axle bearing monitoring system shall
provide an indication of which axle journal bearing(s) triggered the alarm and
shall initiate the following actions:

a) On passenger carrying rolling stock the driver shall be alerted.

b) On non-passenger carrying rolling stock either the driver shall be alerted or

the train brakes shall be automatically applied to bring the train to a stand in
a controlled manner.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Axlebox Condition Monitoring Issue Two
– Hot Axlebox Detection Date June 2011

Part 3 Requirements for the Infrastructure Subsystem

3.1 The infrastructure interface to rolling stock
3.1.1 Trackside HABDs shall be designed to:

a) Meet the requirements of the following clauses from BS EN 15437-1:2009

for:

i) The interface as set out in clause 6.1.

ii) The temperature measuring zone as set out in clause 6.2.

iii) Installation as set out in clause 6.3.

iv) Functions as set out in clauses b), d), e) and f) of 7.1.

v) Temperature alarms as set out in clauses a) and c) of 7.2.

b) Trigger an immediate alarm in the appropriate signalling centre or operations

control centre when temperature alarm levels are exceeded.

3.1.2 Temperature alarm levels shall be set by the infrastructure manager for each
alarm type (hot temperature alarm and differential temperature alarm).

3.1.3 To facilitate the setting of temperature alarm levels for each alarm type, the
infrastructure manager shall request relevant information from the railway
undertaking (see 2.2.2).

3.2 Provision of information on trackside HABDs

3.2.1 The infrastructure manager shall make available to the railway undertaking, when
requested:

a) Details of the location of trackside HABD installations.

b) Information on the settings for trackside HABD installations.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Issue Two Axlebox Condition Monitoring
Date June 2011 – Hot Axlebox Detection

Part 4 Requirements for the Infrastructure Manager

4.1 Requirements when trackside HABDs are out of service
4.1.1 The infrastructure manager shall, in the event that a trackside HABD is out of
service, inform all railway undertakings that operate over the route as soon as it is
evident that it is likely to remain out of service.

4.1.2 The infrastructure manager shall reinstate the out-of-service trackside HABD at
the earliest opportunity, and inform all railway undertakings that operate over the
route when it is reinstated.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Axlebox Condition Monitoring Issue Two
– Hot Axlebox Detection Date June 2011

Part 5 Application of this document

5.1 Application - infrastructure managers
5.1.1 Scope
5.1.1.1 The requirements of this document apply to all trackside HABDs.

5.1.2 Compliance with Part 3 of this document

5.1.2.1 The requirements of sections 3.1 and 3.2 apply to the infrastructure manager for
trackside HABDs.

5.1.3 Compliance with Part 4 of this document

5.1.3.1 The requirements of sections 4.1 and 4.2 apply to the infrastructure manager
when trackside HABDs are out of service.

5.1.4 Exclusions from scope

5.1.4.1 There are no exclusions from the scope specified in 5.1.1 for infrastructure
managers.

5.1.5 General compliance date for infrastructure managers

5.1.5.1 This Railway Group Standard comes into force and is to be complied with from
03 September 2011.

5.1.5.2 After the compliance dates or the date by which compliance is achieved if earlier,
infrastructure managers are to maintain compliance with the requirements set out
in this Railway Group Standard. Where it is considered not reasonably
practicable to comply with the requirements, authorisation not to comply should
be sought in accordance with the Railway Group Standards Code.

5.1.6 Exceptions to general compliance date

5.1.6.1 There are no exceptions to the general compliance date specified in 5.1.5 for
infrastructure managers.

5.2 Application - railway undertakings

5.2.1 Scope
5.2.1.1 The requirements of this document apply to all new rolling stock and alterations to
rolling stock that affect the target zone on the axlebox.

5.2.2 Compliance with Part 2 of this document

5.2.2.1 The requirements of sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 apply to railway undertakings for
the design of new or altered rolling stock for the detection of hot axleboxes.

5.2.2.2 The requirements of sections 2.1 and 2.3 apply to railway undertakings for the
fitment of onboard axle bearing monitoring systems.

5.2.3 Exclusions from scope

5.2.3.1 The requirements in this document are not applicable to rolling stock authorised
for placing into service under the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2006 (as
amended), or any subsequent regulations replacing these regulations, unless the
requirements in this document are relevant notified national technical rules.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Issue Two Axlebox Condition Monitoring
Date June 2011 – Hot Axlebox Detection

5.2.3.2 The requirements in the document are not applicable to the following types of
vehicles:

a) On-track plant.

b) Steam locomotives as defined in GM/RT2003.

5.2.4 General compliance date for railway undertakings

5.2.4.1 This Railway Group Standard comes into force and is to be complied with from
03 September 2011.

5.2.4.2 After the compliance dates or the date by which compliance is achieved if earlier,
railway undertakings are to maintain compliance with the requirements set out in
this Railway Group Standard. Where it is considered not reasonably practicable
to comply with the requirements, authorisation not to comply should be sought in
accordance with the Railway Group Standards Code.

5.2.5 Exceptions to general compliance date

5.2.5.1 There are no exceptions to the general compliance date specified in 5.2.4 for
railway undertakings.

5.3 Health and safety responsibilities

5.3.1 Users of documents published by RSSB are reminded of the need to consider
their own responsibilities to ensure health and safety at work and their own duties
under health and safety legislation. RSSB does not warrant that compliance with
all or any documents published by RSSB is sufficient in itself to ensure safe
systems of work or operation or to satisfy such responsibilities or duties.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Axlebox Condition Monitoring Issue Two
– Hot Axlebox Detection Date June 2011

Definitions
Axle journal bearing
A bearing or bearing assembly on a rail vehicle axle journal that transmits a proportion of
the weight of the rail vehicle directly to the wheelset. For the purpose of this definition
bearings associated with the mounting of traction motors or traction drives are excluded.

Axlebox
A structure, including for example a cartridge bearing adaptor, which houses, or is in
contact with, the axle journal bearing and provides an interface with the bogie and / or
suspension arrangement.

Differential temperature alarm

An indication that a calculated temperature difference, between the left and right axleboxes
of a wheelset, has exceeded a preset differential temperature level.

Heat source
Part of the rolling stock that has the potential to have a temperature above the in-service
running temperature of the underside of the axlebox, such as a hot load or an exhaust
pipe.

Hot axlebox
An axlebox that is overheated, or in the process of overheating, due to failure of, or
damage to the axle journal bearing.

Hot axlebox detector (HABD)

A trackside device which monitors and reports the axlebox temperature of in-service rolling
stock.

Hot temperature alarm

An indication that a calculated axlebox temperature has exceeded a preset hot
temperature level.

Onboard axle bearing monitoring system

A system, onboard rolling stock, that monitors the axle journal bearing condition.

On-track plant
Vehicles with rail wheels capable of running on railway track, limited by their engineering
acceptance to running within a possession only.

Prohibited zone
Area surrounding the target zone in which heat sources such as exhausts, which might
influence the behaviour of a trackside HABD, are excluded or thermally shielded.

Target zone
Area on the underside of an axlebox that is designed to have its temperature monitored by
a trackside HABD.

Temperature measuring zone

Virtual cuboid shape fixed in size and space relative to the track in which a trackside HABD
system focuses to measure thermal radiation.

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Railway Group Standard

GE/RT8014
Issue Two Axlebox Condition Monitoring
Date June 2011 – Hot Axlebox Detection

References
The Catalogue of Railway Group Standards and the Railway Group Standards CD-ROM
give the current issue number and status of documents published by RSSB. This
information is also available from www.rgsonline.co.uk.

RGSC 01 Railway Group Standards Code

RGS02 The Standards Manual

Documents referenced in the text

Railway Group Standards
GE/RT8270 Assessment of Compatibility of Rolling Stock and
Infrastructure
GM/RT2003 Certification Requirements for Registration of Steam
Locomotives
RSSB documents
GE/GN8614 Guidance on Axlebox Condition Monitoring – Hot Axlebox
Detection
Other references
BS EN 15437-1:2009 Railway applications — Axlebox condition monitoring —
Interface and design requirements ― Part 1: Track side
equipment and rolling stock axlebox
CR LOC&PAS TSI Conventional Rail Locomotives and Passenger Rolling
Stock TSI
SI 2006/397 The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2006
2008/57/EC Directive of the European Parliament and the Council of
17 June 2008

Other relevant documents

Railway Group Standards
GE/RT8047 Reporting of Safety Related Information
GO/RT3053-F Working Manual for Rail Staff, Handling and Carriage of
Dangerous Goods - Section F - Fires and Incidents
involving Dangerous Goods
GO/RT3437 Defective On-Train Equipment
Other references
HS RST TSI High Speed Rolling Stock TSI, Decision 2008/232/CE
(OJ L84 26.3.2008, p.132)
CR WAG TSI Conventional Rail Freight Wagons TSI, Decision
2006/861/EC (OJ L344 8.12.2006, p.1)

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