This European Standard specifies the characteristics of railway wheels for all track gauges.
This document applies to heavy rail vehicles but can also apply to other applications such as light rail, tramway or metro vehicles.
Five steel grades, ER6, ER7, ER8, ERS8 and ER9 are defined in this standard.
NOTE 1 ERS8 has been integrated in this standard as an optimization of steel grades ER8 and ER9 in the context of RCF, and by taking into account European service experience e.g. BS 5892-3 in the UK.
Some characteristics are given as a function of a category 1 or of a category 2.
The requirements defined in this standard are applicable for cylindrical bores. Most of the requirements are also applicable for wheels with conical bores. Specific requirements for conical bores (e.g. geometrical dimensions…) are defined in the technical specification.
This standard is applicable to solid forged and rolled wheels which are made from vacuum degassed steel and have a chilled rim. They are to have already been used in commercial conditions on a European network in a significant quantity, or to have satisfied a technical approval procedure according to EN 13979-1:2019 for their design.
Annex A describes the assessment process for acceptance of new materials not mentioned in this standard.
The standard defines the wheel product requirements; the technical approval procedure is not within the scope of this standard.
NOTE 2 Rim-chilled describes heat treatment of the rim, the aim of which is to harden the rim and to create compressive residual stresses in the rim.