Bern area
In the case of railway vehicles ( locomotives , railway wagons ), the Bern area describes a defined area between two vehicle ends that touch each other. A secure space is required here, in which the railway staff can work to connect (couple) or disconnect the vehicles at the coupling . The space to be kept free for each vehicle is 200 cm × 40 cm × 30 cm (height × width × depth) on both sides between the normal coupling and the buffer . When coupling two vehicles, this leaves a depth of 60 cm free.
It owes its name to the Bern Agreement on the Technical Unit in Railways (TE for short), which was signed on October 21, 1882 and came into force in 1887. This defined for the first time the agreed minimum requirements for international rail traffic between most European countries. In Germany, the dimensions of the Bern area are implemented in national regulations with the Railway Building and Operating Regulations (EBO).
Not all railway vehicles are subject to the regulations for the "Bernese area", e.g. B. Vehicles that have automatic clutches such. B. the Scharfenberg coupling have.