ISO 20138-2:2025

This document specifies the methodologies for calculation of braking performance for railway rolling stock. This document describes the general algorithms/formulae using instantaneous value inputs to perform calculations of brake equipment and braking performance, in terms of stopping/slowing distances, braking power and energy for all types of rolling stock, either as vehicles or units. The calculations can be performed at any stage of the assessment process (design, manufacture, testing, verification, investigation, etc.) of railway rolling stock. This document does not set out specific acceptance criteria (pass/fail). This document is not intended to be used as a design guide for the selection of brake systems and does not specify performance requirements. This document does not provide a method to calculate the extension of stopping distances when the level of demanded adhesion exceeds the available adhesion (wheel slide activity). This document contains examples of the calculation of brake forces for different brake equipment types and examples of the calculation of stopping distance for vehicles or units.