This European Standard specifies the relevant characteristics of geotextiles and geotextile-related products used in the construction of railways, and the appropriate test methods to determine these characteristics. The intended use of these geotextiles or geotextile-related products is to fulfil one or more of the following functions: filtration, separation and reinforcement. The separation function is always used in conjunction with filtration or reinforcement, accordingly separation will never be specified alone. This standard applies in superstructure-ballast or substructure-blanket layer, within a subgrade. This standard is not applicable to geomembranes. This standard provides for the evaluation of conformity of the product to this European Standard and for factory production control procedures. This standard defines requirements to be met by manufacturers and distributors with regard to the presentation of product properties.NOTE 1 Particular application cases or national specifications may contain requirements regarding additional properties and - preferably standardised - test methods, if they are technically relevant and not conflicting with European Standards. NOTE 2 This European Standard may be used to derive design values by taking into account factors within the context of the definitions given in Eurocode 7 (ENV 1997-1), e.g. factors of safety. The design life of the product should be determined, since its function may be temporary, as a construction expediency, or permanent, for the lifetime of the structure.