"Application of European conformity assessment standards for the reconstruction of railway infrastructure on the Mostyska–Sknyliv section within the CEF project "
Students Name: Borysovskyi Oleh
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: Functional Safety of Railway Transport
Institute: Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Transport
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2025-2026 н.р.
Language of Defence: ukrainian
Abstract: The master’s qualification thesis is devoted to a comprehensive study of the methods for assessing the conformity of railway infrastructure elements with the requirements of the European Union’s Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) and the practical application of these methods to the reconstruction of the Mostyska–Sknyliv railway section, which forms part of the TEN-T international transport corridor within the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme. The relevance of the research is determined by Ukraine’s strategic course toward integration into the European Union and the need to adapt the national railway system to the interoperability, safety, and technical compatibility requirements established by EU regulations, Directive (EU) 2016/797, TSI INF, TSI CCS, TSI ENE, TSI PRM, and harmonised EN standards. The reconstruction of the Mostyska–Sknyliv section is one of the key infrastructure projects, the implementation of which directly influences border-crossing capacity, the possibility of international passenger operations, compliance with EU recommendations, and the overall integration of the Ukrainian railway network into the European transport area. The thesis examines the legal foundations of the EU technical regulation system, the structure of the TSIs, the requirements for the Infrastructure subsystem, conformity assessment processes, the modular approach, and the roles of Notified Bodies (NoBo), Designated Bodies (DeBo), independent Assessment Bodies (AsBo), and national conformity assessment entities. The current Ukrainian technical regulations and DSTU standards are analysed with regard to their degree of harmonisation with EU law. The subject of the research is the conformity assessment process applied to infrastructure elements (track, subgrade, civil structures, overhead contact line, signalling systems, level crossings, and platforms) in relation to the requirements of TSI INF and harmonised EN standards. The object of the study is the Mostyska–Sknyliv railway section, for which a technical compliance analysis was performed and a methodological framework for its modernisation in line with interoperability parameters was developed. The thesis proposes a systematic methodology for conformity assessment, which includes: • the development of a TSI INF — EN — DSTU EN compliance matrix; • the selection of conformity assessment modules according to the nature of each subsystem or component: o SH1 — as the main module for verifying reconstructed infrastructure; o SG — for the assessment of bridges and unique structures; • the integration of the CSM-RA methodology (Regulation (EU) 402/2013) for hazard identification, risk analysis, and the creation of a project-specific Hazard Log; • the definition of KPIs for interoperability, safety, and operational efficiency. In the practical part, based on the technical data of the reconstruction project, an EC Verification Plan was developed, the conformity of the design solutions with TSI INF requirements was assessed, infrastructure parameters were analysed, and recommendations were formulated for bringing the section into full compliance with European standards. It was demonstrated that the parameters of the 1435 mm track correspond to TSI requirements for speeds up to 160 km/h, while the upgraded 1520 mm track meets operational requirements for speeds up to 120 km/h. The parameters of bridges, culverts, and other civil structures are aligned with Eurocodes and load category D4. The developed Hazard Log for the Mostyska–Sknyliv section includes risks associated with the transition to the 1435 mm gauge, reconstruction of bridges, interaction with operating traffic on the 1520 mm track, signalling and interlocking systems, DMR-based communication, and dynamic loads in transition curves. For each hazard, CAPA measures were defined, risk tables were created, and monitoring and control procedures were established. The research results show that the reconstruction project of the Mostyska–Sknyliv section: • complies with the main requirements of TSI INF, CCS, PRM, and ENE; • can be certified under module SH1 with additional application of module SG; • ensures technical compatibility with the EU railway system; • meets the requirements for inclusion of the section into the RINF database in accordance with ERA principles; • demonstrates the readiness of Ukrainian infrastructure projects for the application of EC Verification procedures. The practical value of the thesis lies in the development of a complete algorithm for assessing the conformity of Ukrainian infrastructure projects with EU requirements, which can be applied to the modernisation of other railway sections within the CEF and TEN-T programmes and supports Ukraine’s integration into the European transport area. The results of the thesis can be used by JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia”, conformity assessment bodies, design and construction organisations, as well as in educational programmes in specialty J7 “Railway Transport”.