Applications for Single Safety Certificates (SSCs) (2024)

Access to the railway infrastructure is granted only to railway undertakings that hold a valid single safety certificate.

The single safety certificate gives evidence that the railway undertaking has established itssafety management systemand is able to comply with its legal obligations.

A single safety certificate is valid for a given area of operation, i.e. a network or networks within one or more Member States where the railway undertaking intends to operate.

Who must apply for a single safety certificate?

The railway undertakings whose business is to transport goods and/or passengers, whether or not their activities are limited to providing traction only, must hold a valid single safety certificate to be granted access to the railway infrastructure.

How do I make an application?

Applicants should read theCommission Implementing Regulation establishing practical arrangements for issuing single safety certificatesand the related ERA guidance, which provides information about the legislation, application process and what is required from the applicant.

The ERA application guide is supplemented by the application guide of the National Safety Authority or Authorities (NSAs) concerned by the intended area of operation. The national guide should describe and explain the national administrative procedures, including the documents to be submitted by the applicant to demonstrate compliance with the national rules, the applicable language policy of the NSA (or the Member State) and further information on the way to appeal against their decisions. Please refer to the website of the NSA for more information.

The application is made to the safety certification body. The process is the same no matter if ERA or the NSA is the safety certification body (single European process). In the case of rail operations in more than one Member State, ERA will be the safety certification body. Otherwise the applicant can choose whether to apply to ERA or to the relevant NSA.

All applications for a single safety certificate must be electronically submitted through theOne-Stop Shop (OSS). This includes any new, update or renewal application for a single safety certificate.

Before submitting its application for a single safety certificate, the applicant can also submit a ‘pre-engagement’ request which aims at enabling the authority or authorities concerned with the area of operation to become familiar with the applicant's safety management system, clarifying how the safety assessment process will be conducted and how decisions will be made and verifying that the applicant has received sufficient information to know what is expected of it. Such pre-engagement is optional for the applicant but mandatory for the safety certification body and/or the NSAs concerned with the area of operation. It covers all prior formal exchanges of information between the applicant, the safety certification body, the concerned NSAs and other interested parties, before the actual submission of the application.

In its role as safety certification body, ERA applies fees and charges. The NSA or NSAs concerned with the area of operation can charge ERA for the national part of the assessment. The NSAs’ rates relevant for establishing the costs charged to ERA are available on the website ofeach NSA.

Where can I find the decision about my application?

All decisions following an application for a single safety certificate can be found in theOne-Stop Shop (OSS). The applicant can only access information pertaining to its respective applications.

The single safety certificates are published in theEuropean Railway Agency Database of Interoperability and Safety (ERADIS).

When does the new safety certification regime apply?

From now on, thesafety certification regime set out in Regulation (EU) 2018/763 applies in all EU Member States.

The decisions issued by the Agencyshould exclude the network(s) of Switzerland until further notice.

Can I submit an application which includes border stations (or sections)?

Although there is no definition of border station (or section) in Directive (EU) 2016/798, it is stipulated in its Article 10(8) that “the single safety certificate shall also be valid without an extension of the area of operations for railway undertakings travelling to stations in neighbouring Member States with similar network characteristics and similar operating rules, when those stations are close to the border”.

Before the submission of your application for a single safety certificate, you are invited to contact the relevant national safety authority to confirm whether the station (or stations) in its territory are border stations pursuant to Directive (EU) 2016/798, and existing cross-border agreement(s) (or case-by-case arrangements) apply.

For more information, pleaseread ourclarification noteand consulttheinformative list of border stations.

Related guidance

Application guide for the granting of single safety certificates – A guide for the applicants

English (1.57 MB - PDF)

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Application guide for the granting of single safety certificates – A guide for the applicants - BG

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Application guide for the granting of single safety certificates – A guide for the applicants - HR

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Application guide for the granting of single safety certificates – A guide for the applicants - FR

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Application guide for the granting of single safety certificates – A guide for the applicants - EL

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Application guide for the granting of single safety certificates – A guide for the applicants - HU

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Application guide for the granting of single safety certificates – A guide for the applicants - IT

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Application guide for the granting of single safety certificates – A guide for the applicants - PL

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Legal framework

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/763 of 9 April 2018 establishing p…
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/762 of 8 March 2018 establishing comm…
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/764 of 2 May 2018 on the fees and …
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/867 of 13 June 2018 laying down th…
Regulation (EU) 2020/698 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 Ma…
Regulation (EU) 2021/267 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 Fe…
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1903 of 29 October 2021 amending I…

Applications for Single Safety Certificates (SSCs) (2024)

Who must apply for a single safety certificate?

How do I make an application?

Where can I find the decision about my application?

When does the new safety certification regime apply?

Can I submit an application which includes border stations (or sections)?

Related guidance

Legal framework

Related documents

Related links