12 Mar 2025

New standard sets direction for emerging technology

Rail operators are currently developing, designing, acquiring, testing and integrating battery electric rail vehicles into their fleets but up until now have lacked a standard set of requirements for the charging infrastructure.

Much of RISSB’s work historically has been about harmonising existing State-based Standards. Developing this new Standard AS 7655 Wayside Electrical Charging Interface for Low Emissions Rolling Stock has provided the opportunity for industry to proactively set the direction for an emerging technology – effectively to prevent future harmonisation and interoperability issues!

AS 7655 outlines a consistent approach to the electrical charging interfaces between wayside infrastructure and rolling stock to provide alignment between standards for traction power equipment, charging infrastructure design, solutions for different charging strategies and rolling stock with onboard traction energy storage systems for the purposes of charging onboard energy storage systems.

The Standard provides a consistent set of requirements for the electrical charging interfaces between rolling stock and infrastructure equipment as part of industry wide decarbonisation initiatives.

The aim is to promote seamless integration and interoperability across different rail networks across Australia and New Zealand to reduce cost and complexity for emerging sustainability initiatives.

A knowledgeable and diverse Development Group has worked with RISSB and an external author to develop this Standard. The Development Group members included rail operators, rail infrastructure managers, rolling stock suppliers and other industry experts.