Comparative analysis of railway rolling stock fire safety regulatory framework in Russia and abroad

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Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to analyze the railway rolling stock fire safety regulatory framework in Russia and abroad and identify effective regulatory improvement approaches and areas.

METHODS: A comparative analysis of standards, laws, and technical regulations on rolling stock fire safety in Russia, the USA, the EU, China, Japan, and the UK was conducted using the regulatory analysis, content analysis, and generalization of foreign practice.

RESULTS: The study identified significant differences in the requirements to fire protection systems, zoning, response rate, and integration of digital technologies. Some countries focus on smart systems and the ALARP risk management approach; whereas Russia is mainly focused on the implementation of mandatory standards.

CONCLUSION: Russian laws on railway fire safety is highly developed. However, the integration of risk-based approaches and digitalization (as is the case in the international practice) will ensure higher safety, operational reliability, and reduce the probability of emergencies.

About the authors

Alexey B. Zavyalov

Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University

Author for correspondence.
Email: alzav1310@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0008-6160-455X
SPIN-code: 4123-8950

Assistant

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

Olga I. Kopytenkova

Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University

Email: 5726164@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8412-5457
SPIN-code: 8008-6365

Dr. Sci. (Medicine), professor

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

Elizaveta A. Meshkova

Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University

Email: Elizaveta_meshkova@list.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-7741-0611

Student

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

References

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Copyright (c) 2025 Zavyalov A.B., Kopytenkova O.I., Meshkova E.A.

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