The proposal for a directive was aimed at guaranteeing the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system. It considered the European rail network in its entirety, breaking this down into its structural subsystems: infrastructure, energy, maintenance, control/command and signalling, rolling stock, environment, operation and users. For each subsystem an inventory was drawn up of the various components, constituents and interfaces which had a critical role to play in respect of interoperability. The proposal also contained a general definition of the obligations in respect of the main requirements relating to health, safety, environmental protection, consumer protection, technical compatibility and operating standards, which had to be met in order to ensure interoperability. As far as was necessary, the essential requirements for each subsystem were to be specified in the "Technical Specifications for Interoperability" (TSIs). These TSIs laid down the basic parameters (gauge, voltage, etc.) and established the components and interfaces which played a critical role in respect of interoperability, together with the procedures for assessing compliance and fitness for use. The TSIs were to be drawn up under a mandate from the Commission by experts from the rail companies and administrators from the infrastructure and industry sectors. For the components and conditions at the critical interfaces for interoperability, the necessary technical specifications would be drawn up by specialist organizations, particularly with regard to European CEN, CENELEC and ETSI standards. In this case the compliance assessment would be undertaken at the request of the manufacturer by bodies which have been notified by the Member States, and the manufacturer would make out the EC declaration of compliance in accordance with the modalities defined in the Directive and on the basis of the modules laid down in the corresponding TSIs. As far as subsystems were concerned, the verification of compliance with the TSIs would be carried out in accordance with an appropriate procedure defined in the proposal and prepared by a notified body at the request of an adjudicating entity which would draw up the EC declaration of compliance; this verification would then be used by Member States to authorize the commissioning of the subsystem.
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