CETEST is able to perform Braking performance and functionality tests according to international standards and TSI

The main objective of brake testing is to determine the braking performance of railway vehicles. Braking performance may be assessed by determining stopping distances, brake weights or equivalent decelerations.

CETEST´s expertise includes the following:

  • Functional requirement tests according to UIC547 and UIC540 standards
  • Braking performance assessment tests according to UIC544-1 and TSI LOC&PAS standards
  • Wheel slide protection tests according to EN15595:2020 standard
  • Determination of braked weight percentage and braking distance according to UIC544-1 standard

Since stopping distance varies according to vehicle condition (load level) and brake type (service brake, emergency brake, electrodynamic brake), then vehicles should be tested under combinations of vehicle condition and brake type.

Measurements involve speed, brake pad temperatures, air pressures, acceleration, brake activation and other parameters, in order to fully understand the vehicle’s braking behaviour under each test configuration.

Note that test vehicle can be a full test consist, or a single trailer car/wagon and can be tested via slip tests.

Wheel Slide Protection:CETEST is accredited to perform WSP tests according to standard EN15595.
The scope of the WSP tests is to validate the WSP system on a vehicle by means of on-track tests. This is made by the evaluation of different parameters, such as initial adherence, air consumption, wheel slide criteria, etc.

These tests are made under different adhesion conditions: low adhesion, extremely low adhesion, sudden adhesion change, etc. The generation of those conditions is made by CETEST, employing water and soap/oil mixtures according to standard EN15595 during the on-track test campaigns.

The test instrumentation consists of an irrigation system, vehicle speed and axle speed measurements, reservoir/cylinder pressures, brake forces, WSP variables, etc