COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2025/476

of 11 February 2025

laying down rules for the application of Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a request from the Netherlands not to apply certain requirements concerning the external sound pressure level of audible alert signals set out in Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014

(notified under document C(2025) 789)

(Only the Dutch text is authentic)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive (EU) 2016/797 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union (1), and in particular Article 7(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) On 18 April 2024, the Netherlands submitted to the Commission, in accordance with Article 7(4) of Directive (EU) 2016/797, a request not to apply point 4.2.2.3.2.(12) of the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 (2) with respect to the requirement on external sound pressure level of audible alert signals for external doors in the project of upgrading certain vehicles, which form part of the VIRM4 train fleet.

(2) Point 4.2.2.3.2.(12) of the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 specifies the requirements related to the passenger door audible signals for exterior doors, i.e. the signals for door opening, door closing and door finding). However, it follows from Appendix F to that Regulation that the application of the requirements to provide door opening and closing signals is only mandatory when the door control system is renewed or upgraded.

(3) The project referred to in the request concerns upgrading certain vehicles of the VIRM4 train fleet which consists of a type of interregional, electric multiple unit double-decker trains operated in the Netherlands. The scope of the project does not include the renewal or upgrade of the door control system and the application of the requirement set out in point 4.2.2.3.2.(12) of the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 is therefore not mandatory.

(4) Nonetheless, to improve the accessibility of the VIRM4 train fleet, the Netherlands intends to apply audible alert signals for the passenger doors that are identical to the signals already implemented in the rest of the fleet series, namely the VIRMm1 and VIRMm2 train fleets. Those audible alert signals will not fully comply with the technical specifications for the external sound pressure level set out in Appendix G of Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014, which are mandatory when the audible alert signals are used.

(5) According to the documents submitted by the Netherlands, complying with the required external sound pressure level for the VIRM4 fleet would entail an additional cost of approximately EUR 1 500 000 including maintenance and minimum spare parts inventory.

(6) In addition, full compliance with the specification for the door opening and closing signal, as defined in Appendix G of Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014, for the VIRM4 fleet would result in non-conformity with the VIRMm1 and VIRMm2 fleets. This would entail additional maintenance costs. At the same time, the cost associated with fully complying with the specification, as defined in Appendix G of Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014, for the entire fleet (VIRMm1, VIRMm2/3 and VIRM4) would amount to an additional cost of EUR 4 500 000, including minimum spare parts inventory, non-availability of the rolling stock for the period of retrofitting and maintenance.

(7) The user groups consulted by the Netherlands consider the equipping of the VIRM4 fleet with audible alert signals to be an improvement, although the external sound pressure levels would not reach the levels specified in Appendix G of Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014.

(8) As an alternative, the Netherlands proposes to implement non-adaptive devices for the audible alert signals providing an external sound pressure level of 65dB LA

eq,T

(+ 5dB/– 4dB), which is slightly lower than the 70 dB (+ 6dB/– 0dB) set out in Appendix G of Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014.

(9) In case of a future project including the renewal or upgrade of the door control system, point 4.2.2.3.2. (12) of the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 will apply. This notably includes the level of the external sound pressure level set out in Appendix G of that Regulation.

(10) In addition, the non-application will be strictly limited to the individual VIRM4 fleet vehicles covered by the Netherlands’ request. To avoid the need for a new decision, the Netherlands should be allowed to change the precise identification numbers of those vehicles by informing the Commission thereof. If such a change is made, it should be notified to the Commission without delay.

(11) Based on the justification for the request provided by the Netherlands and the alternative provisions proposed, the conditions set out in Article 7(1), point (c) and Article 7(4) of Directive (EU) 2016/797 can be considered as fulfilled for the VIRM4 fleet upgrade project. The request from the Netherlands should therefore be accepted.

(12) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 51(1) of Directive (EU) 2016/797,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The request of the Netherlands for non-application of point 4.2.2.3.2.(12) of the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 with respect to the required external sound pressure level of audible alert signals for external doors is accepted for the vehicles listed in the Annex to this Decision.

The Netherlands shall notify the Commission without delay of any changes to the identifiers of the vehicles listed in the Annex.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Done at Brussels, 11 February 2025.

For the Commission

Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS

Member of the Commission

(1)

OJ L 138, 26.5.2016, p. 44

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/797/oj

(2) Commission Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 of 18 November 2014 on the technical specifications for interoperability relating to accessibility of the Union’s rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (

OJ L 356, 12.12.2014, p. 110

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/1300/oj

ANNEX

Vehicle type	Trainset Number	Vehicle Number (EVN)
VIRM 4-IV	9547	948449212596
VIRM 4-IV	9547	948449212604
VIRM 4-IV	9547	948449251479
VIRM 4-IV	9547	948449151281
VIRM 4-IV	9548	948449212612
VIRM 4-IV	9548	948449212620
VIRM 4-IV	9548	948449251487
VIRM 4-IV	9548	948449151299
VIRM 4-IV	9549	948449212638
VIRM 4-IV	9549	948449212646
VIRM 4-IV	9549	948449251495
VIRM 4-IV	9549	948449151307
VIRM 4-IV	9550	948449212653
VIRM 4-IV	9550	948449212661
VIRM 4-IV	9550	948449251503
VIRM 4-IV	9550	948449151315
VIRM 4-IV	9551	948449212679
VIRM 4-IV	9551	948449212687
VIRM 4-IV	9551	948449251511
VIRM 4-IV	9551	948449151323
VIRM 4-IV	9552	948449212695
VIRM 4-IV	9552	948449212703
VIRM 4-IV	9552	948449251529
VIRM 4-IV	9552	948449151331
VIRM 4-IV	9553	948449212711
VIRM 4-IV	9553	948449212729
VIRM 4-IV	9553	948449251537
VIRM 4-IV	9553	948449151349
VIRM 4-IV	9554	948449212737
VIRM 4-IV	9554	948449212745
VIRM 4-IV	9554	948449251545
VIRM 4-IV	9554	948449151356
VIRM 4-IV	9555	948449212752
VIRM 4-IV	9555	948449212760
VIRM 4-IV	9555	948449251552
VIRM 4-IV	9555	948449151364
VIRM 4-IV	9556	948449212778
VIRM 4-IV	9556	948449212786
VIRM 4-IV	9556	948449251560
VIRM 4-IV	9556	948449151372
VIRM 4-IV	9557	948449212794
VIRM 4-IV	9557	948449212802
VIRM 4-IV	9557	948449251578
VIRM 4-IV	9557	948449151380
VIRM 4-IV	9558	948449212810
VIRM 4-IV	9558	948449212828
VIRM 4-IV	9558	948449251586
VIRM 4-IV	9558	948449151398
VIRM 4-IV	9559	948449212836
VIRM 4-IV	9559	948449212844
VIRM 4-IV	9559	948449251594
VIRM 4-IV	9559	948449151406
VIRM 4-IV	9560	948449212851
VIRM 4-IV	9560	948449212869
VIRM 4-IV	9560	948449251602
VIRM 4-IV	9560	948449151414
VIRM 4-IV	9561	948449212877
VIRM 4-IV	9561	948449212885
VIRM 4-IV	9561	948449251610
VIRM 4-IV	9561	948449151422
VIRM 4-IV	9562	948449212893
VIRM 4-IV	9562	948449212901
VIRM 4-IV	9562	948449251628
VIRM 4-IV	9562	948449151430
VIRM 4-IV	9563	948449212919
VIRM 4-IV	9563	948449212927
VIRM 4-IV	9563	948449251636
VIRM 4-IV	9563	948449151448
VIRM 4-IV	9564	948449212935
VIRM 4-IV	9564	948449212943
VIRM 4-IV	9564	948449251644
VIRM 4-IV	9564	948449151455
VIRM 4-IV	9565	948449212950
VIRM 4-IV	9565	948449212968
VIRM 4-IV	9565	948449251651
VIRM 4-IV	9565	948449151463
VIRM 4-IV	9566	948449212976
VIRM 4-IV	9566	948449212984
VIRM 4-IV	9566	948449251669
VIRM 4-IV	9566	948449151471
VIRM 4-IV	9567	948449212992
VIRM 4-IV	9567	948449213008
VIRM 4-IV	9567	948449251677
VIRM 4-IV	9567	948449151489
VIRM 4-IV	9568	948449213016
VIRM 4-IV	9568	948449213024
VIRM 4-IV	9568	948449251685
VIRM 4-IV	9568	948449151497
VIRM 4-IV	9569	948449213032
VIRM 4-IV	9569	948449213040
VIRM 4-IV	9569	948449251693
VIRM 4-IV	9569	948449151505
VIRM 4-IV	9570	948449213057
VIRM 4-IV	9570	948449213065
VIRM 4-IV	9570	948449251701
VIRM 4-IV	9570	948449151513
VIRM 4-IV	9571	948449213073
VIRM 4-IV	9571	948449213081
VIRM 4-IV	9571	948449251719
VIRM 4-IV	9571	948449151521
VIRM 4-IV	9572	948449213099
VIRM 4-IV	9572	948449213107
VIRM 4-IV	9572	948449251727
VIRM 4-IV	9572	948449151539
VIRM 4-IV	9573	948449213115
VIRM 4-IV	9573	948449213123
VIRM 4-IV	9573	948449251735
VIRM 4-IV	9573	948449151547
VIRM 4-IV	9574	948449213131
VIRM 4-IV	9574	948449213149
VIRM 4-IV	9574	948449251743
VIRM 4-IV	9574	948449151554
VIRM 4-IV	9575	948449213156
VIRM 4-IV	9575	948449213164
VIRM 4-IV	9575	948449251750
VIRM 4-IV	9575	948449151562
VIRM 4-IV	9576	948449213172
VIRM 4-IV	9576	948449213180
VIRM 4-IV	9576	948449251768
VIRM 4-IV	9576	948449151570
VIRM 4-IV	9577	948449213198
VIRM 4-IV	9577	948449213206
VIRM 4-IV	9577	948449251776
VIRM 4-IV	9577	948449151588
VIRM 4-IV	9578	948449213222
VIRM 4-IV	9578	948449251784
VIRM 4-IV	9578	948449151596
VIRM 4-IV	9578	948449213610
VIRM 4-IV	9579	948449213230
VIRM 4-IV	9579	948449213248
VIRM 4-IV	9579	948449251792
VIRM 4-IV	9579	948449151604
VIRM 4-IV	9580	948449213255
VIRM 4-IV	9580	948449213263
VIRM 4-IV	9580	948449251800
VIRM 4-IV	9580	948449151612
VIRM 4-IV	9581	948449213271
VIRM 4-IV	9581	948449213289
VIRM 4-IV	9581	948449251818
VIRM 4-IV	9581	948449151620
VIRM 4-IV	9582	948449213214
VIRM 4-IV	9582	948449213305
VIRM 4-IV	9582	948449251826
VIRM 4-IV	9582	948449151638
VIRM 4-IV	9582	948449213297
VIRM 4-IV	9583	948449213313
VIRM 4-IV	9583	948449213321
VIRM 4-IV	9583	948449251834
VIRM 4-IV	9583	948449151646
VIRM 4-IV	9584	948449213339
VIRM 4-IV	9584	948449213347
VIRM 4-IV	9584	948449251842
VIRM 4-IV	9584	948449151653
VIRM 4-IV	9585	948449213354
VIRM 4-IV	9585	948449213362
VIRM 4-IV	9585	948449251859
VIRM 4-IV	9585	948449151661
VIRM 4-IV	9586	948449213370
VIRM 4-IV	9586	948449213388
VIRM 4-IV	9586	948449251867
VIRM 4-IV	9586	948449151679
VIRM 4-IV	9587	948449213396
VIRM 4-IV	9587	948449213404
VIRM 4-IV	9587	948449251875
VIRM 4-IV	9587	948449151687
VIRM 4-IV	9588	948449213412
VIRM 4-IV	9588	948449213420
VIRM 4-IV	9588	948449251883
VIRM 4-IV	9588	948449151695
VIRM 4-IV	9589	948449213438
VIRM 4-IV	9589	948449213446
VIRM 4-IV	9589	948449251891
VIRM 4-IV	9589	948449151703
VIRM 4-IV	9590	948449213453
VIRM 4-IV	9590	948449213461
VIRM 4-IV	9590	948449251909
VIRM 4-IV	9590	948449151711
VIRM 4-IV	9591	948449213479
VIRM 4-IV	9591	948449213487
VIRM 4-IV	9591	948449251917
VIRM 4-IV	9591	948449151729
VIRM 4-IV	9592	948449213495
VIRM 4-IV	9592	948449213503
VIRM 4-IV	9592	948449251925
VIRM 4-IV	9592	948449151737
VIRM 4-IV	9593	948449213511
VIRM 4-IV	9593	948449213529
VIRM 4-IV	9593	948449251933
VIRM 4-IV	9593	948449151745
VIRM 4-IV	9594	948449213537
VIRM 4-IV	9594	948449213545
VIRM 4-IV	9594	948449251941
VIRM 4-IV	9594	948449151752
VIRM 4-IV	9595	948449213552
VIRM 4-IV	9595	948449213560
VIRM 4-IV	9595	948449251958
VIRM 4-IV	9595	948449151760
VIRM 4-IV	9596	948449213578
VIRM 4-IV	9596	948449213586
VIRM 4-IV	9596	948449251966
VIRM 4-IV	9596	948449151778
VIRM 4-IV	9597	948449213594
VIRM 4-IV	9597	948449213602
VIRM 4-IV	9597	948449251974
VIRM 4-IV	9597	948449151786

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/476/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)