MEDC 9 (2036 ) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
 
                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                     
 
©TBS 202 3 – All rights reserved  DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD  
 
 
 
MEDC 9 (2036 ) CD2/ SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  – Railway Safety Management – 
Technica l Requirements for Engineering a nd Operational Standards – General  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
i 
©TBS 202 3 – All rights reserved  This Tanzania Standard was published under the authority of the Board of Directors of Tanzania Bureau 
of Standards  yyyy-mm-dd. 
 
Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) is the statutory national standards body for Tanzania, established 
under the Standards Act No. 3 of 1975, amended by  Act No. 2 of 2009.  
 
The Mechanical Engineering Divisional Standards Committee (MEDC) under whose supervision this 
Tanzania Standard was prepared consists of representatives from the following organizations:  
 
University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)  
National De velopment Corporation (NDC)  
Weights and Measures Agency (WMA)  
Tanzania Industrial Research Development Organization (TIRDO)  
Aluminium Africa  
*National Institute of Transport (NIT)  
Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications.  
 
The organization marke d with an asterisk (*) in the above list together with the following were directly 
represented on the Technical Committee entrusted with the preparation of this Tanzania Standard:  
 
Traffic Police HQ  
Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA)  
University of  Dodoma (UDOM)  
Superdoll Ltd  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tanzania Bureau of Standards  
P O Box 9524  
Dar es Salaam  
Tel:  022 2450206/2450298/2450949  
Fax: 022 2450959  
E-mail: info@tbs.go.tz  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
  
 
NATIONAL FOREWORD  
This Tanzania Standard has been prepared under Automotiv e Components Technical Committee 
(MEDC 09), under supervision of Mechanical Engineering Standards Divisional Committee.  
It is identical to SADC SARA HT 90: 2017, Railway Safety Management – Technical Requirements 
for Engineering and Operational Standards – General , published by SADC Cooperation in 
Standardization (SADCSTAN) . 
 
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
  
 
 SADC SARA HT 90: 2017   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SADC HARMONISED TEXT  
 
Railway Safety Management – Technical 
Requirements for Engineering and Operational 
Standards – General    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
1 
  
 
 
Foreword  
 
The SADC Protocol on Trade was established under the SADC Treaty in 1996, to provide 
for the  elimination of tariffs and non -tariff barriers to trade.  One of the objectives of the 
Protocol on Trade under the Technical Barriers to Trade (T BT) Annex (No. 8) is to 
establish a common technical regulation framework, which is supported by seven (7) 
regional TBT Cooperation Structures. The TBT Annex places  an obligation on Member 
states to pursue harmonization of standards and this is done throug h the SADC 
Cooperation in Standardisation (SADCSTAN) which is one of the 7 regional TBT 
Cooperation Structures.  
 
Co-operation in standardisation is expected to result into having uniformly harmonised 
standards. Harmonisation of standards within the region is expected to reduce TBTs that 
are normally encountered when goods and services are exchanged among SADC Member 
States due to differences in technical requirements. Harmonized SADC Standards are also 
expected to result into benefits such as greater indust rial productivity and competitiveness, 
increased agricultural production and food security, a more rational exploitation of natural 
resources among others.  
 
Harmonized SADC Standards are developed by the SADC experts on standards through 
SADCSTAN Technical  Committees  representing the National Standards Bodies and other 
stakeholders. Further, SADCSTAN in certain instances collaborates with SADC Sector 
Associations in the harmonization of standards to address sector specific needs. In this 
regard, SADCSTAN co llaborated with Southern African Railway Association (SARA) in the 
harmonization of this standard.   
 
This SADC  Harmonized Standards was prepared by the SADCSTAN Technical Committee 
on Automobile and Transportation (SADCSTAN TC 2) in collaboration with SAR A. 
 
SADC Harmonized Standards are drafted in accordance with the SADCSTAN 
Harmonization Procedures which are in line with international procedures and practices.  
 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the 
subject of patent rights. SADCSTAN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all 
such patent rights.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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Contents  
 
Foreword ……………………………………………………………………………….……………i  
Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………….ii  
 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  3 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 3 
3 Definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  3 
4 Functional disciplines  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 4 
5 Asset life cycle  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
6 Communication  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  5 
7 Handling of exceptions  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 6 
8 Handling of abnormal circumstances ................................ ................................ ............  6 
9 Inter-modal and util ities management  ................................ ................................ ...........  6 
10 Interoperability, interface and intraface management  ................................ ...................  6 
11 Configuration management  ................................ ................................ ..........................  6 
12 Risk management  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  6 
Annex A  (informative)   Cascade of standards on railway safety  ................................ ........  9 
Annex B  (normative)   Typical life cycle phase descriptions and documentation 
requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  10 
Annex C  (informative)   Relationship between SADC SARA HT 89  and various sections of 
SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA 002 to SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA 007  ................................ ..........  12 
Annex D  (normative)   Matrix of interface and intraface relationships that need to be 
managed  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  13 
Annex E  (normative)   Rolling stock and structure profiles  ................................ ...............  13 
______________________________________________________________________  
 
Railway Safety Management – Technical Requirements for 
Engineering and Opera tional Standards – General  MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
3 
 
 
 
 ______________________________________________________________________  
 
1 Scope  
 
1.1 This SADC SARA  HT 90  gives  the generic technical requirements for engineering and 
operational systems that form part of a railway safety managem ent system which 
complies with the SADC  SARA  HT 90 Regional Safety Policy.  
 
1.2 It is recognized that additional or alternative matters and requirements might need to 
be considered for each railway application. The level of risk imposed on each 
operation d etermines the applicability of each element of the guidelines.  
 
1.3 SADC  SARA HT 90 applies to existing, modified or prospective railway operations. The 
existing railway operations, for which standards have been established, and which, 
through the implemen tation of these standards, have been proven to be safe, are 
deemed to comply with SADC  SARA HT 90 . 
 
NOTE    The cascade of  standards for railway safety is diagrammatically represented in 
Annex  A. 
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of  SADC SARA   
HT 90 . For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the 
latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. Information 
on currently valid nation al and international standards can be obtained from the relevant 
National Standards Body (NSB) or SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA . 
 
SADC SARA  HT 89  – Railway Safety Management - General . 
 
ISO 10007  - Quality management systems – Guidelines for configuration management . 
 
3 Definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following definitions apply.  
 
3.1  
asset life cycle  
design, construction/manufacturing, commissioning, operation, monitoring and 
maintenance, modification, decommissioning and disposal of an ass et 
 
3.2  
configuration management  
coordinated and documented activities to manage the interrelated functions and physical 
characteristics defined in the requirements for a product over its life cycle  
 
3.3  
functional discipline  
 
sub-system within an organization with a defined area of responsibility in respect of safety  
 
3.4  MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 interoperability  
ability of the railway operation to allow the safe and uninterrupted movement of trains in 
order to accomplish the specified levels of performance  
 
NOTE    This ability is dep endent on meeting the required international protocols, statutory 
and regulatory requirements, and technical and operational conditions.  
 
3.5  
intraface  
area, point or location, either physical or organizational, where the activities of two or more 
of the functional disciplines within an operator’s organization meet and have the potential 
to have an effect on each other  
 
3.6  
safe working practises  
practices that will mitigate the risk of loss or injury (or both)  
 
3.7 
utility 
service network  that impacts on  safe railway operations that require servitudes, way leaves 
or agreements  
 
NOTE    The service networks include power, communication, water, gas and fuel 
networks.  
 
4 Functional disciplines  
 
The functional disciplines shall be set out as such that at least  the items in Table 1 are 
covered. The roles of each functional discipline are as follows:  
 
a) The establishment, development or adoption, implementation and maintenance of 
standards in the area of responsibility; and  
 
b) The management of interface and in traface coordination (see clause  10), including 
service level agreements.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 1 — Functional disciplines  
 
1 2 
Functional discipline  Description  
Track, civil and electrical 
infrastructure  All aspects relating to the provision of track, civil and 
electrical infrastructure  
Rolling stock  All aspects relating to the provision of items of rolling 
stock  
Train control systems and 
equipment  All aspects relating to the provision of train control 
systems and train monitoring equipment  MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 Train operations ma nagement  All aspects relating to the provision and implementation 
of rolling stock movement in accordance with safe 
working practices, including operational standards and 
procedures, train movement, planning, marshalling, 
crewing and inspections  
Inter-modal and utilities 
management  All aspects relating to the railway interface with other 
transport modes and utilities  
 
5 Asset life cycle  
 
It is recognized that an operator’s safety management system deals with only those life 
cycle phases that are relevant to its operation. The assessment should take the following 
into consideration:  
 
a) The type of railway operation, including freight, passengers, mining, heritage and 
sidings;  
 
b) The function in the organization of the person, corporation, contractor or su pplier who 
is applying this standard;  
 
c) Agreements , including interface, access and service level agreements;  
 
d) The promotion of commercial and technological innovation;  
 
e) Existing  safety procedures and practices; and  
 
f) The need to determine which asset life cycle phases are applicable to an operator or 
functional discipline.  
 
Annex B contains typical life cycle phase descriptions and documentation requirements.  
 
NOTE    The successive phases in the asset life cycle will be covered in other technical  
SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA  Regional Standards, namely standards regarding civil and 
electrical infrastructure  (SADC  SARA  003), rolling stock  (SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA  
004), train control and authorisation equipment  (SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA  005), train 
operations management  (SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA  006),  and Inter -modal and 
utilities management (SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA  007),  , which are in course of 
preparation. The way in which these life cycle phases relate to the railway safety 
management system described in SADC SARA HT 89  (SADCST AN TC 2 SARA  
Safety Policy ) and expanded in this standard  is illustrated in annex  C. 
 
6 Communication  
 
Safe operation of a railway system requires communication within an organization and 
between organizations on a variety of matters. Standards and procedu res prepared in 
accordance with this standard  shall include requirements to ensure that all required 
communication is carried out in an effective and reliable manner.  
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 7 Handling of exceptions  
 
Procedures shall be established, developed or adopted, impleme nted and maintained, 
where appropriate, for the assessment and management of the safety of operations which 
are considered to be feasible in a particular case but which would normally be precluded 
by strict observance of the specified design or operating p arameters.  
 
8 Handling of abnormal circumstances  
 
Procedures shall be established, developed or adopted, implemented and maintained, 
where appropriate, for the assessment and management of the safety of operations 
resulting from external influences beyond the control of the railway operator.  
 
9 Inter -modal and utilities management  
 
Documented procedures and processes shall be established, developed or adopted, 
implemented and maintained for the management of safety between different modes 
(inter -modal) and utilities that impact or have the potential to impact on the safety of 
railway operations.  
 
10 Interoperability, interface and intraface management  
 
Documented procedures and processes shall be established, developed or adopted, 
implemented and maintained to ensure the safe interoperability of railway operations and 
for the management of safety at interfaces between operators and intrafaces between the 
functional disciplines within an operator’s organization. The relationship between interface 
and intraface  to be managed shall be as shown in annex  D. Rolling stock and structure 
profiles shall be as given in annex  E. 
 
11 Configuration management  
 
Pursuant to the requirements of SADC SARA HT 89  (SARA  Safety Policy ), the operator’s 
safety management system shal l ensure the control of all engineering and operational 
safety standards under a configuration management system based on ISO 10007, or 
another equivalent system.  
 
12 Risk management  
 
12.1 General  
 
In addition to the general requirements for risk managemen t in SADC SARA HT 89  ( 
SARA  Safety Policy ), the operational risk management process, risk management 
principles and procedures as given in this standard  shall be applied to each life cycle 
phase.  
 
12.2 Design  
 
Safety hazards and the contemplated risk contr ols to mitigate the risks to acceptable levels 
shall be registered in a hazards register/log, which shall be made available to an authority  
on request.  
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 12.3 Construction /manufacturing  
 
An evaluation shall be conducted to determine any changes to hazards i dentified in the 
design phase and any new hazards identified during the construction/manufacturing 
phase, followed by a re -evaluation of those risk control measures contemplated in the 
design phase. This information shall be made available to an authority  on request.  
 
12.4 Commissioning  
 
The implications of any changes to a system or sub -system found necessary during the 
commissioning phase shall be subjected to the risk management process. This information 
shall be made available to an authority on request . 
 
12.5 Operation  
 
The identified hazards and operators risk management process shall be included in the 
operator’s safety management system and the safety management system report, which 
shall accompany the application or re -application for a safety permi t where applicable , as 
described in SADC SARA HT 89  (SARA  Safety Policy).  
 
12.6 Maintenance  and monitoring  
 
The identified hazards and operators risk management process shall be included in the 
operator’s safety management system and the safety management system report, which 
shall accompany the application or re -application for a safety permit , where applicable , as 
described in SADC SARA HT 89  (SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA  Safety Policy).  
 
12.7 Modification  
 
All modifications shall be subjected to the risk managemen t process as described in SADC 
SARA HT 89  (SADCSTAN TC 2 SARA  Safety Policy). Any modification which might 
impact on the safety management system report shall be communicated to an authority as 
described in SADC SARA HT 89  (SARA  Safety Policy) . 
 
 
12.8 Deco mmissioning  and disposal  
 
Decommissioning and disposal of system components shall be subjected to the risk 
management process as described in SADC SARA  HT 89  (SARA  Safety Policy) . Particular 
attention shall be given to the environmental risks associated wi th decommissioning and 
disposal.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 Annex A  
(informative )  
 
Cascade of standards on railway safety  
SARA 001:
SARA Safety Policy
Technical requirements for
 engineering and operational standards
Railway safety standards development regulations SARA 002: GeneralSARA 003:
Track, civil and electrical infrastructure
SARA 004:
Rolling stock
SARA 007:
Intermodal and utilities managementSARA 006:
Train operations managementSARA 005:
Train control systems and equipmentSARA XXX:
Human factors managementSARA XXX:
Railway occurrence management
Detailed engineering and operational standards
Railway 
Administrator 
Standards
Industry standards
Local standards
 
 
 
 
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 Annex B  
(normative )  
 
Typical life cycle phase descriptions and documentation requirements  
 
Table B.1 — Life cycle phase descriptions and documentation requirements  
 
1 2 3 
Life cycle 
phase  Description  Documentation requirements (where 
applicable)  
Design   The period during which a 
design for a system is 
created and documented   User requirement specification  
 Syste m specification  
 Product specification  
 Process specification  
 Material specification  
 Detail design documents  
 Engineering drawings  
 Prototype and type test result  
 Hazards register/log  
 Risk assessment and control register  
Construction/ 
manufacturing   The period  in which the 
system is procured and 
physically 
constructed/manufactured   Safe working procedures in 
accordance with safety, health and 
environmental legislation  
 Manufacturing drawings  
 Construction drawings  
 Evaluation of deviation from design 
parameters  
 Re-evaluation of hazards, updating of 
hazards register/log  
 Risk assessment and control register  
Commissioning   The period in which the 
system is integrated into 
its operational environment 
and tested in its 
environment   Safe working procedures in 
accordance wi th safety, health and 
environmental legislation  
 Test and commissioning procedures 
and instructions  
 Integration and test phase report  
 Test/acceptance certificates  
 “As-built” system documentation  
 Reaffirmation of hazards, risk 
assessments and controls  
 Risk a ssessments of modifications 
during commissioning  
Operations   The period during which 
the system is used in its 
operational environment   Safe working procedures in 
accordance with safety, health and 
environmental legislation  
 Operational standards  
 Inter/intr a- and inter -modal interface 
agreements  MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 1 2 3 
Life cycle 
phase  Description  Documentation requirements (where 
applicable)  
 Training manuals  
 Training courses  
 Inspection reports  
 Audit reports  
 On-going  risk assessments  
 
 
Table B.1 ( concluded ) 
 
Maintenance and 
monitoring   The period during which 
the system is maintained 
and monitored in line  
with business, 
operational and safety 
requirements   Safe working procedures in 
accordance with safety, health and 
environmental legislation  
 Maintenance standards  
 Interface/intraface and inter -modal 
agreements  
 Maintenance procedures  
 Maintenance manuals  
 Draw ings 
 Training manuals  
 Training courses  
 Inspection reports  
 Audit reports  
 On-going  risk assessments  
Modification   The period during which 
the system undergoes 
modification, if required   The required documents, depending 
on the scope of work, are the same 
as those for design, 
construction/manufacturing and 
commissioning  
 Revised applicable operational 
documents  
 Revised applicable maintenance 
documents  
 Risk assessments of proposed 
changes  
Decommissioning 
and disposal   The period during which 
the system is removed  
from active service or 
disposed of (or both)   Safe working procedures in 
accordance with safety, health and 
environmental legislation  
 Decommissioning and disposal 
strategy  
 Test and decommissioning 
procedures and instructions  
 Decommissioning and disposal 
report 
 Risk assessment of implication to 
existing operations  MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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Annex C  
(informative )  
 
Relationship between SADC  SARA 89  and 
various sections of SADC SARA  HT  90  to SADC  SARA HT 95  
 
 
SARA 001 
SARA Safety Policy
SARA 002
Technical 
requirements :
GeneralSARA 003:
Track , civil and
electrical
infrastructureSARA 004:
Rolling stockSARA 005:
Train control
systems and
equipmentSARA 006:
Train operations
managementSARA OO 7:
Inter-modal and
utilities 
management
Designa
Construction / manufacturing
Commissioning
Maintenance and monitoring
Decommission and disposalModificationb
Operationsc
 
 
 
a Designs shall be compatible for intero perability.  
 
b Modifications will involve the design, construction/manufacturing and commissioning life 
cycle stages.  
 
c Operational interfaces and intrafaces shall be coordinated.  
 
 
 
 
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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Annex D  
(normative )  
 
Matrix of interface and intraface relationship s 
that need to be managed  
 
 
Operator 2
Intrafaces to be managedOperator 1
Intrafaces to be managed
Network Train Station
C Y YStation Train NetworkY Y Y
Y Y Y
 
 
Key 
 
Y Interface to be managed in normal daily operations.  
C Interface to be managed in abnormal circumstances (covered in contingency plan).  
 
Interfaces occur between operators and intrafaces occur  within an operator. Both 
interfaces and intrafaces shall be managed by ensuring that they are identified, that 
compatible standards are developed and implemented, and that hazards and resultant 
risks are managed.  
 
Annex E  
(normative )  MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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Rolling stock and structure profiles  
 
E.1 A schematic diagram of a rolling stock and structure profiles is shown in figure E.1.  
 
E.2 The profiles on tracks shall make allowances to increase the horizontal clearances to 
allow for the chording effect.  
 
 a Electrification zon e. 
 
b Fixed -structure profile that defines the vertical and horizontal clearances, measured 
horizontally from the centre line of the track and vertically from the low leg of the track, 
and on which no part of any structure or trackside fixture may infringe . 
 
c Workshop - and temporary -structure profile that defines the vertical and horizontal 
clearances, measured horizontally from the centre line of the track and vertically from 
the low leg of the track, that allows for the erection and construction of struc tures 
adjacent to the track and also for workshop situations, and on which no part of any such 
temporary structure or workshop structure may infringe.  
 
d Kinematic rolling -stock profile  that defines the limiting cross -sectional geometry for 
rolling stock a nd its load, measured horizontally from the centre line of the track and 
vertically from the low leg of the track.  
 
 NOTE    The kinematic effects are included in the measurement of the limiting cross -
sectional geometry for rolling stock and its load.  
 
e Rolling-stock profile at rest that defines the limiting cross -sectional geometry for rolling 
stock and measured horizontally from the centre line of the track and vertically from the 
low leg of the track.  
 
f Centre line of track and rolling stock.  
 MEDC 9 (2036) DTZS / SADC SARA HT 90: 2017  
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 g Rail le vel.