ISO 22888:2020

Overview

ISO 22888:2020 - "Railway applications - Concepts and basic requirements for the planning of railway operation in the event of earthquakes" defines an operational framework to reduce risk to railway services during seismic events. The standard is focused on operational measures (not infrastructure retrofit) and applies where seismic hazard for railway operation is significant. It acknowledges that residual risk can remain and that some regions with low seismic exposure are excluded from its scope.

Key Topics

• Five staged response model for earthquake events:
  • Stage 1 - Detection of earthquake: obtain earthquake information (perception, ground motion indices, source parameters).
  • Stage 2 - Decision for operational restriction: decide whether to impose speed restrictions or suspend operations.
  • Stage 3 - Implementation of operational restriction: apply the chosen irregular operational mode.
  • Stage 4 - Inspection: inspect facilities to assess condition and safety for continued operation.
  • Stage 5 - Resumption of regular condition: return to normal operations when information supports it.
• Operational restriction concepts: definition and use of speed restrictions or operation suspension to reduce risk.
• Ground motion strength index and thresholds: use of pre-defined indices (e.g., peak ground acceleration) and thresholds to support decision-making.
• Planning and procedures: development of a basic plan and stage-specific procedures, sharing among multiple operators, training, and emergency contact networks.
• Factors for planning: traffic frequency, passenger density, infrastructure vulnerability, economic and social impact, past earthquake data, line speed, and cost-effectiveness.
• Limitations: excludes infrastructure measures and does not guarantee absolute passenger safety or eliminate all operational damage.

Applications

• Practical for railway operators, infrastructure managers, safety managers, emergency planners, regulators, and consultants in seismically active regions.
• Use cases:
  • Develop and document earthquake-responsive operating procedures.
  • Implement automated or manual detection-to-decision workflows using earthquake information and thresholds.
  • Coordinate multi-party responses (traffic management, rolling stock control, inspections).
  • Train staff on staged responses and communication protocols to minimize safety and service impacts.
• Benefits include improved decision-making during seismic events, reduced downtime and economic loss, and increased service reliability under irregular conditions.

Related Standards

• ISO 22888:2020 complements other ISO/TC 269 railway operations guidance and standards on seismic design, emergency management, and infrastructure resilience. Users should consult national seismic codes and sector-specific standards for infrastructure and structural requirements.

Keywords: ISO 22888:2020, railway operation, earthquake planning, seismic, operational restriction, detection, inspection, resumption, emergency procedures.