This standard has been developed by the experts CLC/TC 9X ‘Electrical and electronic applications for railways’ in support of Directive (EU) 2016/797 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union. The EN 50388-1:2022 establishes requirements for the electrical aspects to achieve technical compatibility between rolling stock and electric traction systems, limited to: 

• co-ordination of protection principles between power supply and traction units, i.e. separation sections, train set current or power limitation, short circuit current discrimination, breaker coordination and use of regenerative braking. 
• co-ordination of installed power on the line and the power demand of trains, i.e. traction unit power factor, train set current or power limitation, electric system performance, type and characterization. 
• compatibility assessment relating to harmonics and dynamic effects. 

The EN 50388-1:2022 covers several electric traction systems in its scope: railways; guided mass transport systems integrated with railways; and material transport systems integrated with railways. Basic considerations have also been included concerning the use of accumulator trains.