Authorization Concept in the 4th Railway Package

The procedure for placing in service (PinS) of railway subsystems is addressed in the European Interoperability Directive (EID). The aim of the new 4th Railway Package (4th RP) is to increase the efficiency and quality of rail transport by minimizing any administrative or legal obstacle in order to develop a single European railway area in the future. In the paper the concept of authorization is reviewed with the adoption of the 4th RP. A distinction of authorization before and following the 4th RP adoption is described. The main barriers or obstacles to address such harmonized process and procedure are identified. Another objective is to investigate how the Common Safety Methods for Risk Assessment (CSM-RA) are used and perceived within an authorization process.