Pál Paluska’s professional career began more than half a century ago. He started his career as a section engineer but before his retirement he worked for MÁV Zrt. as a Head of Department.

In 2019, RailCert Hungary Kft. had been invited to join the Certification Directorate of RailCert Hungary Kft. as a retired member of the company, with his highly valued professional experience, to the position of Head of Infrastructure.

His work had received wide professional recognition.

The railway was a constant companion in his life, which did not exclude his family from always being a special focus of attention.

We got to know a cheerful, interested and helpful person, with whom we could discuss our professional problems.

We also owe him a lot, as a leader, as his expertise was invaluable.

We will always remember him and the precious time we spent with him.

His knowledge and helpfulness will never be forgotten.

Since our establishment in 2018, we have been delighted to be able to fulfil the mandates of an increasing number of domestic and foreign Partners and to carry out our certification activities as an independent organisation. We ensure the timely completion of an increased number of projects and maintain the high quality of our certification work by increasing the number of our experts proportionally. Teamwork is of the utmost importance to us, otherwise we would not have been able to successfully close  milestone day of 22 August 2022.

One of our major projects this year was the full compliance assessment of the licensing plans for the Kiskunfélegyháza-Szeged-Rendező railway line section. The works related to this section included speed increase from the current 100 km/h to 160 km/h, sectional double track upgrading, renovation/conversion of level crossings, reconstruction of existing stations and stops, and upgrading of the overhead line and power supply system and the safety equipment. Taking into account the Feasibility Study prepared in the first phase of the project, the Designer had to prepare the permit plans for all railway and related, other sections of railway telecommunications and signalling, geotechnical, construction and demolition of elevated structures, railway construction, railway power installations and operation plans. In addition to conducting the EC (NoBo) and NSZ (DeBo) verification procedures for the authorisation design phase, we also provided a continuous project management and expert presence. For all three subsystems (Infrastructure, Energy and Track-side Control-Command and Signalling), we carried out the conformity assessment, and reported in detail the identified deficiencies and non-conformities to our Client and the Designer before issuing the Intermediate Statements of Verification (ISVs).

All this is also true for our other project, the Nagykáta-Újszász line, where our involvement as a Certifier was also indispensable. The main objectives of the design were to achieve a 120 km/h build-out speed on the entire electrified double track section (29 km) instead of the current 40/60/80 km/h, an increase in the axle load in stages (from 210 kN to 225 kN), the complete rebuilding of the safety equipment at Újszász station, the creation of the missing P+R and B+R parking areas, and the modernisation of the obsolete overhead line and power supply system. On the basis of the existing Feasibility Study, the Designer had to prepare the licensing plans for the railway telecommunications and signalling, geotechnics, construction and demolition of elevated structures, railway construction, railway power installations and operational plans.

As a NoBo and DeBo conformity assessment body, we fulfilled our certification tasks and obligations for both projects on time, issuing 12 Intermediate Statements of Verification (ISVs) for all subsystems on 22 August 2022.

Our company extended its existing designation at the beginning of 2022, and since February it has also been authorised to carry out DeBo conformity assessment in the Rolling Stock (RST) area. Our organisation has further progressed, as in June it has now also obtained the authorisation to assess the RST subsystem in the NoBo area.

Our tasks in the Rolling Stock (RST) subsystem

In relation to the verification of the interoperability requirements of the European Union, the following tasks and procedures concerning the Rolling Stock (RST) subsystem can be carried out:

• the procedure for issuing the EC certificate of verification or suitability for use of the interoperability constituents of the European rail system for the rolling stock subsystem,
• the EC verification procedure for the Rolling Stock subsystem of the subsystems of the European rail system.

Our role in EC procedures

Our company verifies, tests and certifies the conformity for use or suitability for use of the interoperability constituent, as defined in the relevant Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs), during the EC conformity or suitability for use procedure. In addition, it assesses the design and manufacture of the interoperability constituent and issues to the Client an EC certificate of verification or suitability for use in accordance with the applicable assessment module.

During the EC verification procedure, we check, examine and certify that the subsystem complies with the Directive and other requirements deriving from the Contract, thereby attesting its suitability for placing in service. We assess the design and manufacture of the subsystem and issue the EC certificate of verification to the Applicant.

Our aim is to harmonise the domestic rail system with EU standards of transport

Over the past 4 years, our organisation has grown dynamically, both in terms of the number of professionals and the scope of its activities. Since the beginning our aim was to provide a comprehensive certification service for the railway industry. We strive to promote the harmonisation of the national railway system with EU transport by means of high quality conformity assessment and independent assessment activities carried out by national and international experts. As an independent organisation, we carry out our tasks in a dedicated manner, with transparency and reproducibility in accordance with the relevant standards.

Since the establishment of interoperability requirements in the European Union, there have been a number of changes in the life of interoperability and related national regulations. In addition to the increasingly well-known NoBo (Notified Body) and DeBo (Designated Body) conformity assessment procedures, a new procedure has appeared which, unlike the usual certification of subsystems or constituents, provides a legal basis for the safe implementation of planned changes. As one of the few organisations in Hungary, RailCert Hungary Kft. has all three types of designation and notification.

Risk assessment in the railway area

Rail transport is one of the safest modes of transport and in order to maintain this, the European Union is continuously reviewing, developing and harmonising rail safety and interoperability standards.

As a result, Implementing Regulation No 402/2013/EU (hereinafter: the CSM Regulation) has been adopted, which provides the legal basis for the safe implementation of the planned changes. The Regulation harmonises the assessment of the impact of changes to security levels, the risk management procedures used and the interpretation of the results of their application and allows for the exchange of security-related information between participants of the industry.

Why is it important to manage change?

Change management is a structured process that should be applied to all changes that significantly affect security. It allows for systematic and proactive hazard identification and the definition of appropriate hazard level reduction measures. Continuous and proactive hazard identification is essential, as the implementation of changes might introduces new hazards into the system, influence the effectiveness of existing safety measures and the compliance of procedures, processes, products and services.

What is a significant change under the CSM regulation?

According to Article 4 of the CSM Regulation, if there is no national regulation and the change affects safety, it should be the Proposer’s own decision (with the assistance of an expert or experts) to decide whether the change can be considered significant or not. In all cases, the decision taken must be properly documented and supported.

Who are the actors of the Regulation?

The Proposer is responsible for the application of the CSM Regulation and for determining the significance of the change, and for ensuring that the risk posed by suppliers and service providers – and their subcontractors – is managed in accordance with the regulation. The Proposer can be a railway organisation which implements risk managment measures, or a body in charge of maintenance implementing measures, or a contracting entity or manufacturer which operates under the Directive, or an applicant for authorisation for placing in service of structural subsystems.

An important actor in the procedure is the independent risk assessment organisation, the AsBo organisation, which is designated in Hungary according to Government Decree 390/2020 (VIII. 12.). It is important to highlight the fact that the activities of AsBo are different from the conformity assessment activities of DeBo and NoBo designated organisations, however, independence and impartiality are essential for these organisations as well. AsBo acts as an independent actor for the entire process of risk assessment during a major change. It’s role is not to take operational decisions, carry out the risk assessment and perform the related activities, but to verify that the requirements of Annex I. of the CSM Regulation are correctly met and that the outcome of the risk assessment is appropriate. The risk assessment process does not end with a certificate, but with a safety assessment report, in which AsBo draws it’s final conclusions on the adequacy of the application of the CSM Regulation. At the end of the risk assessment of a significant change, it is the responsibility of the Proposer to decide how and to what extent to take into account the conclusions of the safety assessment report.

The risk assessment process set out in the CSM Regulation provides an opportunity to develop safer, more efficient and harmonised rail transport. Therefore, it is important that all the above-mentioned actors are aware of the tasks they are involved in with regard to the major railway investments and reconstructions that are being carried out.

Social responsibility is already an important task for a well-functioning company in Hungary.

Every year, RailCert Hungary Kft. supports an organisation whose activities are consistent with our company’s approach to social responsibility.

We believe that the full and equal enjoyment, protection and safeguarding of all human rights and fundamental freedoms is the right of all visually impaired persons.

In selecting a non-profit organisation, we considered the social visibility, recognition and sustainability of its activities to be important

The above mentioned facts made our choice -and in line with the tradition-building action we started in 2020- last year to support an organisation whose activities and whose daily work we consider essential to achieve our common goal.

In 2021, we contributed to the maintenance of the guide dog training centre run by the National Association of the Hungarian Blind and Visually Impaired, and thus to the training of a guide dog.

Why guide dogs are important?

For a visually impaired person, a guide dog is not only a faithful companion, but also a supportive and independent living help, with whom they can move around more confidently, run errands, work and socialise. Its role is to guide the visually impaired person safely, for example in road traffic. He or she can indicate obstacles by stopping and then safely avoiding them, find his or her way around more complex obstacles such as road blocks or parking cars on the pavement, and help the person find their way around by looking for specific objects such as pedestrian crossings, steps, doors, bus stops, seats, etc.As well as providing safe and fast transport, they also provide ongoing support for the social integration of visually impaired people. This special knowledge is the result of the hard work of trainers and training centres.

RailCert Hungary Kft. has made its mark in conformity assessment activities by fulfilling requirements and achieving objectives, and is committed to creating equal opportunities in rail transport by strictly requiring and enforcing the legal requirements and recommendations of all stakeholders in domestic rail projects, in particular Directive 2016/797/EU, which defines “accessibility” as an essential requirement of the rail system within the European Union, and Regulation 1300/2014/EU on the technical specifications for interoperability relating to the accessibility of the EU rail system for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility (PRM TSI). Compliance with all these requirements will enable blind and partially visually impaired persons to travel unhindered and unobstructed.

In order to ensure that the industry puts serious emphasis and effort on accessibility of rail transport, RailCert Hungary Kft. – in cooperation with the Hungarian Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, supported the Guide Dog Training Programme to shape attitudes and increase acceptance.

Let’s join to the MVGYOSZ creed:
“Together we make the world a better place to live in!”

Our domestic and foreign partners have already experienced in the past years that RailCert Hungary Kft. completes Projects on time  with the appropriate responsibility. When the company was founded in 2018, it set itself the goal of becoming an organisation that participates in national and international railway developments and contributes to the development of a more modern, faster and safer railway infrastructure. Railway conformity assessment is a specific and complex field with a strict legal environment, which, by requiring compliance with the relevant regulations and standards, will also allow the new facilities to bring hungarian railways up to European standards

Over the past almost 4 years, our organisation has grown dynamically, both in terms of the number of professionals and the scope of our activities. In addition to our initial national designation (DeBo) for infrastructure (INF), energy (ENE) and control, command, signalling and safety (CCS) subsystems, in 2021., we have achieved the status of Notified Body (NoBo) recognised throughout the European Union which allows us to carry out conformity assessments under EU regulations in addition to national rules. Last year, we became one of the first organisations in Hungary to be granted the right to carry out independent assessment activities as a designated AsBo organisation.

Where national rules apply, we, as a Designated Body (DeBo) test, check and assess the conformity of railway subsystems and constituents with the relevant technical specifications. In the case of an EC verification procedure, the interoperability of the subsystem concerned is checked in accordance with the requirements of the relevant provisions of European Union legislation as a Notified Body (NoBo), at the end of which an EC certificate of verification is issued to state the conformity of the subsystem with the essential requirements. At the end of the conformity procedure for the interoperability constituents identified in the TSI(s), the Applicant may also receive a certificate that is fully applicable in Europe.

As an AsBo organisation, we carry out an independent assessment as part of the risk management process for a change affecting the safety of the railway system. The main objective of the process is to give confidence to all Participants that the verification process will provide the best possible recommendation for safe operation within the rail industry.

From the very beginning, we have strived to be a comprehensive certification body for the rail industry, so we could not stop there. As a result of our work and efforts, in February  we received our DeBo designation for the fourth subsystem, for the Rolling Stock (RST).

From February 2022., we are now present in all areas of conformity assessment in railway projects and perform certification activities for INF, ENE, CCS and RST subsystems.