ABSTRACT
From the very beginning of planning and construction of the HSR in Poland regardless of the European legal and technical requirements, complementary Polish requirements have to be taken into account. Chapter one summarises European and describes Polish legal domains regarding railway lines and railway vehicles pointing aspects, which are very important for HS solutions. On one side complementarity of European and Polish requirements for pure HS solutions have to be taken into account, but on the other side seamless connections between HS network and conventional network must not be forgotten. Additionally, it has to be taken into account, that HS trains must be able to run also on modernized and even not modernized existing conventional railway lines. Therefore, besides the legal requirements, well defined technical requirements had to be specified, have been specified and have to be respected. Chapter one points Polish documents with technical requirements and describes their scopes and sources. Such documents already exist although HSR is still a future in this part of the European Union. From a technical point of view Polish experts were working on relevant requirements, and worked out multi aspect precise documents. From a legal point of view the technical solutions must be fully compliant with requirements applicable on the basis of the European law, however it has to be understood that the European requirements are limited to those, which are strictly necessary for interoperability. Railway interoperability as a concept is described, its definition’s exact wording is not only quoted, but also explained. Chapter one describes the basics of the horizontal legislation for common markets as well as legal railway related European and complementary Polish requirements pointing those related to HS including ones which are related to the edge between HS and conventional railway. It leads to commissioning, certification and putting into service challenges. Solutions have to be based on the European certification rules, but Polish certification rules must also be taken into account in respective areas. Without any doubt recertification should be avoided, however leaving gaps potentially affecting essential requirements including safety is not acceptable.
