Ministry of Railways of China visits the IEC Central Office

Delegates from MOR,
China's Ministry of Railways with
Charles Jacquemart, IEC Technical Officer

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Delegates are given a presentation on
IEC TC 9

As rising fuel prices and fuel shortages, global warming and traffic congestion have brought the field of energy efficiency to the fore in recent years, rail transport has been making something of a comeback. Governments are looking to offer viable, affordable transport solutions and a rail-based revitalization of the Great Silk Road. Promotion of transport and economic ties between Asia and Europe have been the object of a number of international initiatives.

In light of these developments, it goes without saying that standardization of railways is of vital importance and the IEC has a key role to play.

On 11 June 2009 the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network comes into force, with China becoming the eighth country to have approved the agreement.

The Trans-Asian railway network comprises nearly 114 000 km of rail routes linking 28 countries in the region. The aim of the network is to offer efficient rail transport services for the movement of goods and passengers within the region as well as between Asia and Europe. The network will also provide improved access for landlocked countries to major ports. It has been developed under the auspices of the regional arm of the United Nations’ ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific).

IEC TC (Technical Committee) 9: Electrical equipment and systems for railways, is concerned with standardization of railways and railway equipment. Charles Jacquemart, IEC Technical Officer of IEC TC 9, on 21 April 2009, welcomed to the IEC Central Office, Geneva, a delegation from China’s MOR (Ministry of Railways).

The delegation was made up of:

• Yang Qi, Head of the Chinese Delegation and Vice Director, Standards & Metrology Research Institute of MOR
• Lu Jinning, Vice-head of the Chinese Delegation and Vice Director, Science and Technology Department of MOR
• Qu Jianping, Locomotive Leader Engineer, Standards & Metrology Research Institute of MOR
• Gao Junli, Material Leader Engineer, Standards & Metrology Research Institute of MOR
• Ma Wenjun, Secretary, National Technical Committee 278 on Electric Equipment and Systems for Railways of Standardization Administration of China
• Li Bing, Secretary, Diesel Locomotive Standardization Technology Committee of Railway Industry
• Wang Zuoxiang, Engineer, Standardization Technical Administrator on Electric Railway of MOR
• Fang Kejuan, Engineer, Standardization Technical Administrator on Rolling Stock of MOR
• Jiang Tianfang, Engineer, Standardization Technical Administrator on Locomotive & Rolling Stock Technology of MOR
• Hao Lina, Engineer, Standardization Technical Administrator on Signal Products of MOR
• Liang Yiru, Engineer, Standardization Technical Administrator on Construction Machinery of MOR
• He Bingzhe, Engineer, Standardization Technical Administrator on Occupational Health and Environmental Protection of MOR.

Jacquemart introduced the IEC, explaining its mission and objectives and the procedures of technical work. He also covered the structure and system of IEC Standards, the relationship between the IEC and other kinds of standards, including national standards, European Directives, UIC (Union Internationale des Chemins de fer, the worldwide organization of cooperation for railway companies) standards and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards.

Going on to discuss the situation in the field of railways, Jacquemart drew attention to TC 9 and its relationship with CENELEC (the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) TC9X: Railway applications. He explained that, at present, according to a unique strategy agreed between IEC TC 9 and CENELEC TC9X, endorsed by the IEC SMB (Standardization Management Board), some two-thirds of projects currently under consideration by IEC TC 9 are derived from European Standards. Since non-European countries are excluded from the standards development process in CENELEC TC9X, the strategy needs to be reconsidered for them to be better able to contribute NWIPs (New Work Item Proposals) in this field.

Finally, Jacquemart outlined the ways in which the Ministry of Railways of China can participate more fully in the IEC's work and particularly as the Chinese NC is a P-member (Participating) of TC 9.

China is a Full Member of the IEC and enjoys participation rights (P-member) in 172 TCs and SCs (Subcommittees), including TC 9. It may comment and vote on all TC 9 working drafts and can participate in TC 9 plenary meetings and in TC 9 WG (Working Group) meetings. Appointments of WG members are made by the NC (National Committee). It may submit NWIPs in the field of TC 9 and take leadership in related projects. A TC 9 meeting was hosted by China in Shanghai, in October 2004 and a meeting to take place in autumn 2010 is currently under discussion.

Charles Jacquemart

In the Lord Kelvin Room

Further explanations from Charles Jacquemart