UIC 500:2000-12

This leaflet is the reference document for use by the Technical and Research Committee, its working bodies and ERRI in rolling stock standardisation work. It lays the foundations for the following: series of leaflets in section 4 insofar as the managing body for the various leaflets is the Technical and Research Committee, series of leaflets in section 5, series of leaflets in section 6, series of leaflets in section 8, The appendices to the leaflet provide a concise overview of vehicles and bogies already standardised. A prerequisite for developing a uniform railway image, enhancing the productivity of railways and improving their competitiveness is the standardisation of rolling stock in line with the UIC general objectives. This standardisation is an essential condition for: trouble-free organisation of international traffic, unrestricted rolling stock utilisation, offering uniform product range to customers, safe railway operations, staff work facilitation, ensuring uniform technical quality, uniform vehicle maintenance, guaranteeing product quality, joint procurement, rationalisation. Standardisation must be based on a differentiated approach, with sufficient flexibility to ensure application of the optimum solution in each case without jeopardising technical development. Standardisation must be started at the earliest possible development stage to avoid parallel developments and duplication.