TS EN 15380-4

TS EN 15380-4 is the standard for classifying railway vehicles by function groups. It provides a structured way to identify and organise the functions associated with a railway vehicle and its assemblies, with common examples such as wheelsets, bogies, doors, brakes and traction. In practice, this kind of functional classification supports clearer technical documentation and a shared vocabulary across vehicle projects.

How function groups support railway vehicle documentation

In railway engineering, classification is not only about listing parts; it is also about describing what those parts do. Function groups help align design, maintenance, system engineering and documentation around the same functional logic. That makes it easier to compare similar subsystems across different vehicle types and to keep terminology consistent when the same function appears in more than one assembly. The standard focuses on functions that are common to general railway vehicles.

Where the scope ends for special-purpose vehicles

The standard may also be applied to special-purpose railway vehicles such as track machines and snow ploughs, but only for the functions they share with general railway vehicles. Functions specific to their work processes are not included in this standard and are instead added for individual projects. This distinction matters because it separates common vehicle functions from mission-specific equipment behaviour, avoiding confusion in classification and documentation.

• Provides a functional classification framework for general railway vehicles and their assemblies.
• Covers common systems and equipment such as wheelsets, bogies, doors, brakes and traction.
• May also be applied to special-purpose vehicles like track machines and snow ploughs for shared functions.
• Does not include functions that are specific to the vehicle’s particular work process.