EVN no longer needed on new stock?

[timbobean]

Long time lurker here.

It seemed to be a rail standard not so long ago that any item of rolling stock had a GB number shown o. The body side, together with an European Vehicle Number (EVN). I note the new class 93 and a few other newish bits of stock do not show it. Is it no longer a requirement?

Picture is of a class 397 carriage from 2021, showing both the GB number and EVN underneath)

 

[Carlisle]

Interesting, didn’t notice that. Another addition to the huge list of Brexit benefits

 

[The exile]

Interesting, didn’t notice that. Another addition to the huge list of Brexit benefits

Not sure there was ever an EU requirement for any stock anywhere to carry an EVN if it remained entirely within national borders (as most GB stock naturally does). Just like the colour of passports….

 

[Carlisle]

Ok thanks for that information, surprised there was no requirement for an EVN given all the EU compatibility regulations that had to be considered when planning electrification schemes for instance.

 

[timbobean]

So I found a Rail Standard at https://www.rssb.co.uk/-/media/Proj...rds/2021/11/18/10/23/RIS-2453-RST-Iss-2-1.pdf (you need a log on to view).

Paragraph 3.2.1 states that the:
“numbering rules in Appendix A shall be used for the allocation of a unique EVN for all locomotives and vehicles in fixed formation first registered in GB.”

It also says at paragraph 4.1.3 that “that display of the EVN on existing vehicles used only in domestic traffic is on a voluntary basis.”

So I guess that answers my question (mandatory on international vehicles BTW)

 

[eastwestdivide]

Those EVNs cover far more countries than the EU bloc: they were a UIC (International Union of Railways) initiative.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I never have noticed an EVN on a British train so they can't be very common.

 

[43096]

So I guess that answers my question (mandatory on international vehicles BTW)

But not carried by any Class 92s, which they really should be.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Was it perhaps only shown on stock that was delivered through the Tunnel?

 

[D7666]

On this subject does anyone know the EVNs for Eurotunnel BoBoBo locomotives.

 

[swt_passenger]

So I found a Rail Standard at https://www.rssb.co.uk/-/media/Proj...rds/2021/11/18/10/23/RIS-2453-RST-Iss-2-1.pdf (you need a log on to view).

Paragraph 3.2.1 states that the:
“numbering rules in Appendix A shall be used for the allocation of a unique EVN for all locomotives and vehicles in fixed formation first registered in GB.”

It also says at paragraph 4.1.3 that “that display of the EVN on existing vehicles used only in domestic traffic is on a voluntary basis.”

So I guess that answers my question (mandatory on international vehicles BTW)

I remember this being discussed when full EVNs first appeared on a relatively recent class of units, (ie within the last few years), and someone posted that the group standard had just been amended to require it - but you’ve obviously found the current standard still does not make it retrospectively mandatory.

I wonder if it ever was required, given that standards are regularly updated?

Edited to add that in this 2020 TOPS numbering thread, reporting about Sleeper Mk5’s someone quoted an RSSB news item from 2018 implying it had become normal:

TOPs Classifications

One question I have with regards to the new class 331s: Their coach numbers are in the 463XXX, 464XXX, 465XXX and 466XXX ranges. Now of those coach numbers, the 466001-031 clash with SouthEasterns 466 units. How has this not been noticed or has a rule change happened where by it doesn't matter?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Was it perhaps only shown on stock that was delivered through the Tunnel?

I don't think any CAF products have arrived through the tunnel, and I think they all have EVNs, even those assembled in Newport.

 

[childwallblues]

Was it perhaps only shown on stock that was delivered through the Tunnel?

Both 331s and 777s have EVN numbers. The 777s come through the Channel Tunnel but the 331s were delivered by ship to Avonmouth and then by road to Edge Hill Depot.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Both 331s and 777s have EVN numbers. The 777s come through the Channel Tunnel but the 331s were delivered by ship to Avonmouth and then by road to Edge Hill Depot.

But how did the 331s get to the ship in the first place?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I don't think any CAF products have arrived through the tunnel, and I think they all have EVNs, even those assembled in Newport.

Didn't the Mk5 Sleepers arrive via the tunnel?

Or was it just the very first delivery that came that way?

 

[hwl]

But how did the 331s get to the ship in the first place?

Road as they aren't Iberian gauge. (only about 20miles to the port)

 

[norbitonflyer]

Road as they aren't Iberian gauge. (only about 20miles to the port)

And presumably a similar issue for the mark 5s and anything else CAF built in Spain

 

[themiller]

Didn’t I read somewhere that the EVN doesn’t have to be displayed externally on captive stock?

 

[DelW]

P

Didn’t I read somewhere that the EVN doesn’t have to be displayed externally on captive stock?

Possibly in the third paragraph of post #5 above?

 

[43096]

On this subject does anyone know the EVNs for Eurotunnel BoBoBo locomotives.

It's a good question, and wondered myself, that I've never seen an answer to.

At one time Eurotunnel was allocated UIC railway/country code '69' (like SNCF was '87', BR '70' etc), but that was when individual railways had their own code before VKMs were introduced; so BLS in Switzerland was '63' but now runs with '85' codes and VKM CH-BLS. Not sure if Eurotunnel now falls under either '70' or '87' or still has its own code (GySEV is an oddity as it still runs some stock under '43' rather than '55' for Hungary or '81' for Austria, so there is a precedent).