Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what UK and European standards are being used by HS2 to determine the design and layout of rolling stock, tunnels and cross passages, the procedures for evacuation of passengers, and fire safety in its tunnel sections.

HS2s design complies with the EU Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) as required under Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011. These specifications define the basis of an integrated mainline railway covering rolling stock; energy; infrastructure; control, command & signalling, safety in railway tunnels and persons of reduced mobility structural and transverse subsystems.

In addition HS2 is compliant with wider UK legislation (e.g. the Railways Act 1993 or various electrical safety legislation etc) which imparts additional requirements and standards onto the railway.

HS2 Rolling stock is also compliant with the Railway Group Standards (RGSs) and (where appropriate) Railway Industry Standards (RISs) as this is part of the licence conditions for operating on Network Rail infrastructure.