Wednesday 18 February 2026

UIC, CER, EUROMOT and UNIFE publish a new FAQ on EU 2016/1628 Emissions Rules for Rail Vehicles

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UIC, together with the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), EUROMOT, and the European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE), is pleased to announce that a new FAQ on rail vehicle applications according to Regulation (EU) 2016/1628 is now live on the UIC website.

Supporting a clear and consistent application of EU emissions legislation

This FAQ has been developed to support a clear, consistent, and practical understanding and improve the application of Regulation (EU) 2016/1628, as amended by Regulations (EU) 2020/1040, (EU) 2021/1068 and (EU) 2022/992, as well as the relevant supplementing legislation.

The Regulation lays down emission limits and type-approval procedures for internal combustion engines installed or intended to be installed in non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), including railway vehicles. It has been in force since 1 January 2017 and applies in the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland, while also serving as the basis for national requirements in the United Kingdom and Türkiye.

A joint sector reference document

This FAQ:

  • Reflects a shared understanding from CER, EUROMOT, UIC, and UNIFE, which was developed through joint work and dialogue
  • Represents a tangible outcome of structured interaction between UIC and railway sector stakeholders, aiming to ensure a coherent and practical interpretation of the regulatory framework
  • Is intended to answer key questions likely to be raised by users of the Regulation, with a particular focus on:
    • railway vehicle manufacturers (Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs))
    • importers
    • distributors
  • Focuses on the provisions relevant to rail vehicle applications
  • Does not, as such, cover engine type-approval

Topics covered

The questions included in this FAQ cover the following issues:

  • Engine categories
  • Type-approval and application dates
  • Transition schemes
  • Emission limits
  • Obligations for OEMs, importers, and distributors
  • Marking and statement of conformity requirements
  • Separate shipment
  • Components and systems not provided by the engine manufacturer
  • Replacement engine provision
  • In-service monitoring
  • Constant speed engines
  • Second-hand railway vehicles
  • Market fuels
  • Acceptance of equivalent engine type-approvals
  • The impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (Brexit)

The full FAQ is available online at: https://uic.org/IMG/pdf/faq_final.pdf

For further information, please contact us at: https://uic.org/about/contact.

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