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)
Date: 2025-02-11
Institutions: Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
Subjects: Netherlands, carriage of passengers, derogation from EU law, disabled person, rail network, rail safety, systems interconnection, technical specification, trans-European network, vehicle on rails








L_202500476EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/476


11.3.2025







            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 LAeq,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)