Technical Guides

Design Guide - Roundabouts and Trams - Crossing a roundabout with a tram line

This new version of the guide is co-published by STRMTG and CEREMA.

It is an update to the 2008 guide on the recommendations for roundabout crossings by a tram line. Even though roundabouts remain the most accident-prone type of intersection when tram tracks cross them, improvements have been noted, both on newly designed roundabouts (in compliance with version 1 of the guide) and modified roundabouts that take into account the recommendations.

The aim of this new version is to clarify certain recommendations with the addition of numbers to make them clearer, but also to guide designers in configurations where it is still difficult to make recommendations.

The guide covers the geometric design, signage and signalling, surfacing and functioning of the roundabout, for roundabouts crossed by or tangent to a tramway track, but also for those where the tramway track intersects a branch.

An erratum (May 2018) updates paragraph “5.3.2.3 Lines of Effect of traffic signals” (only available in french).

Safety of tramway manoeuvring areas

Tramway systems are managed according to the “driving on sight” principle: drivers adapt their speed and drive according to what they see.

This principle remains applicable in all areas, but dynamic signalling to prevent train-to-train collisions or derailment on a switch may be necessary in some cases to meet safety objectives.

This guide proposes a methodology for the design, operation and maintenance of safe tramway manoeuvring areas. Field experience from manoeuvring areas currently in service (events and design) has been taken into account, both from the standpoint of certain functional principles of the areas, and in terms of the human factor (driver error and ability to recover).

Tramway vigilance function

The “Tramway vigilance function” guide was agreed at a meeting between operators, transport authorities and manufacturers.

The recommendations defined in this guide apply to all new tramway rolling stock on tracks or tyres, as well as to tram-trains when they are to be used in an urban environment in the same way as a tram.

Tram drivers must remain highly focused in urban environments, which can lead to cognitive overload resulting in failure to activate the vigilance device (Driver’s activity control actuator). This kind of emergency braking can cause some passengers to fall in the tram when there is no imminent danger.

The guide contains the design requirements of the vigilance system, and recommends time delay values and braking performance requirements to limit the severity of braking if the vigilance device is not activated.

Download the Technical Guide - Tramway vigilance function (link to Balise / only available in French)

Tramway front end design

The “Tramway front end design” guide was produced by the working group of manufacturers (Alstom, CAF, NTL), specialists in rolling stock structures (SNCF, RATP) and STRMTG.

It includes requirements for passive safety and for the design of the front ends of rolling stock operating in urban areas. The various collision partners were taken into account in order to limit the severity of the impacts of collisions.

The recommendations cover:

• collisions with a pedestrian: front end geometry and pedestrian anti-crush mechanisms (test protocol and test report);
• collisions with road vehicles: the scenario to be taken into account for the design of the rolling stock structure (driver safety) and the derailment sensitivity indicator;
• collisions between trains: the scenario to be taken into account for the design of the rolling stock structure (driver safety);
• feedback analysis: the expected field of view of front cameras.

Version 2 of the guide:

• deletes chapter 6 “Feedback enhancement: front camera” following the publication of Act no. 2021-646 of 25 May 2021 for overall security preserving freedoms (Article 61) and its Application Decree no. 2022-1672 of 27/12/2022;
• updates the regulatory references and STRMTG editorial charter.

Safety in tramway driver’s cab

A revision of the guide “Ergonomics in tramway driver’s cabs” led to the production of 2 guides:

1/The guide “Safety in tramway driver’s cab”, which focuses on tramways, is the result of work carried out by a working group including operators, transport authorities, the French union for public and rail transport (UTP), manufacturers, ergonomists and the inspection department.

It provides a set of recommendations on the design of the driver’s cab, taking into account the constraints related to the field of vision and position constraints.

Download the Technical Guide - Safety in tramway driver’s cab (link to Balise / available in English)

2/ The guide “Comfort of tramway drivers’ cabs" (co-published by GART and UTP). The guide can be found on the corresponding pages of the French union for public and rail transport (UTP) and the French association of transport authorities (GART)

Tramway data recorder

The tramway data recorder is a device present in all tramways used to record a certain amount of information related to the operation and various actions on the controls carried out in a tramway.

This guide specifies the objectives of the tramway data recorder, and the minimum configurations (definition of input variables, accuracy of data measurement, data storage and recording, etc.) to achieve them.

Download the Technical Guide - Tramway data recorder (link to Balise / only available in French)

Driving Assistance Signal

Most French tramway networks use a driving assistance signal to help drivers approach intersections with traffic lights in the best possible conditions by providing them with different information on the status of the traffic light cycle so that they can adapt their driving and speed.

This guide defines the operating and safety principles for the driving assistance signal for tramway or similar guided transport networks.

Download the Technical Guide - Driving assistance signal (link to Balise / only available in French)

Installation of fixed objects near tramway / road intersections

There are hundreds of collisions between light vehicles and trams at intersections every year on French tramway networks. In particular, when an object is located directly downstream of the intersection in relation to the tram’s direction of travel, the light vehicle may be crushed between the tram and the object.

This guide defines the concept of fixed objects and the rules for their installation in order to limit the impacts of a collision between a tram and a light vehicle at an intersection. Only the aggravation by a light vehicle being crushed between the tram and the fixed object is covered.

The new version of the guide (version 3) has been updated to take into account the remarks on the implementation of version 2 of the guide, and to integrate new problems encountered (new geometries of fixed object-free zones (ZLOF), platform edges, etc.).

Tramway line coding

The technical guide on tramway line coding was published on 8 November 2018 and updated on 20 December 2018, along with its Appendix.

It stems from the work of the line coding Working Group, made up of representatives of operators and Cerema, which met in 2016 and 2017.

This guide provides a more detailed description of the installations and introduces new features. In addition to the description of tramway networks, coding is now used to carry out studies linking installations with operating events.