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Glossary
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A
ACoRP
Association of Community Rail Partnerships
ACR
Access charges review. A review undertaken by ORR to establish the revenues and associated financial framework required for the network operator to operate, maintain, renew and enhance its infrastructure.ACS
Access charge supplementADC
Access disputes committee : A committee which resolves disputes under the Network Code. Its members are professional railway employees, elected by rail industry parties. The ADC does not hear or decide disputes under the Network Code. Instead it supervises the overall access disputes process and appoints a panel drawing on appropriate expertises to resolve the dispute.
ADRR
Access dispute resolution rules: Rules which govern the handling of rail disputes arising from matters covered by the Network Code.
ASI
Asset stewardship index. This was developed by ORR and introduced in April 2004 after the Access charges review 2003. The ASI is a composite measure comprising track geometry, broken rails, Level 2 exceedences, points/track circuit failures, signalling failures, electrification failures and structures/earthworks related TSRs. The index is based on a ceiling level of 1.1 to be reached at 2008/9. It is calculated such that the lower the current index is, the better.Asset failures
Asset failures are the total number of incidents causing train delay where the cause is the responsibility of Network Rail. This measures the performance of assets where failure directly delays trains.ATOC
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is an incorporated association owned by its members. It was set up by the train operating companies, formed during privatisation of the railways under the Railways Act 1993.
As well as being the official voice of the passenger rail industry, it also provides its members with a range of services that enable them to comply with conditions laid on them in their franchise agreements and operating licences. These include the National Rail Enquiry Service (NRES) and Railcard marketing.
ATOC's principal activities include assisting members to co-operate on developing and managing projects that benefit passengers and to promote the advantages of the rail network.
ATP
Automatic train protection.AWS
Automatic warning systemB
BR
British Rail: the state corporation established under the Transport Act 1962 responsible for the operation, upkeep and stewardship of the national rail network infrastructure and freight and passenger train services until the railway was privatised between 1994 and 1997.Bridge strike
An incident where a railway bridge has been struck by a road vehicle.Broken rail
A rail which has a fracture through the full cross section or a substantial piece broken out of the railhead.BSI
British Standards Institute.
BTP
British Transport Police: a police service for rail operators, their staff and passengers in England, Wales and Scotland.C
CBA
Cost benefit analysis.
CC
The CC conducts in-depth inquiries into mergers, markets and the regulation of the major regulated industries, undertaken in response to a reference made to it by another authority.
Change of aspect - NFF
An unintended change of aspect (red, yellow, green) by the signalling system, which when tested, could not be found to be faulty. (No Fault Found.)
(Signalling systems are designed to ‘fail safe’ with any change always being to a more restrictive aspect, e.g. yellow to red.)
CIMAH
Control of industrial major accident hazard
Class representative committee
The committee charged with considering and approving changes to the Network Code under part C of the Network Code.
CMEO
The Railways (Class and miscellaneous exemptions) Order 1994 exempts, among other things, certain named railway assets and categories of railway assets from the licensing provisions of the Railways Act 1993 (as amended).COMAH
Control of Major Accident Hazards
Cordon cap
Places an obligation on Network Rail to provide only a certain number of train paths through the cordon (route), even if the TOC has rights that would exceed this limit.
A cordon cap is implemented when the total number of access rights to a path, if used, would exceed the remaining capacity of the network.
COT
Condition of trackCPS
Crown Prosecution Service
D
DAB
Delay Attribution Board : Body that manages and oversees the effectiveness and accuracy of the delay attribution process and the use of the Delay Attribution Guide (see below). Also considers proposed amendments to Delay Attribution Guide and provides guidance to rail industry parties to assist in the resolution of disagreements concerning delay attribution.
DAG
Delay attribution guide : Document that provides guidance on the attribution of delay, between parties, across the network.
Deemed minutes
A pre-determined value in delay-minutes given to the cancellation of a train.Defective rail
A rail which has any fault requiring repair or replacement within a timescale commensurate with the nature of the defect.Delay minute
A measure equating to one train being delayed for one minute when compared with the timetabled journey time between two points.Delay minutes
Network Rail delay minutes represent the total number of minutes delay to passenger and freight trains, where the cause of delay is attributed to Network Rail.Derailment
When a train’s wheelset runs off or leaves the track.E
ECML
East Coast Main Line
EEA State
A state within the European Economic Area, i.e. the European Union (EU) member states, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.ELCI
Employer’s liability compulsory insurance
Emerging conclusions consultation
Document outlining the conclusions resulting from the Phase 1 changes (see below) to the Network Code.
Enhancement
A change to network outputs, usually involving construction, that improves network capacity or capability (e.g. enabling higher speeds, allowing heavier loads) relative to the level of network outputs funded at the last relevant periodic review. Usually outputs are required at specific times (in contrast to most renewals).ERTMS
European rail traffic management system.
F
Failure to use
A provision of part J of the Network code which deals with a TOC’s failure to use Quantum firm rights (see below). A failure to use occurs if a TOC fails to secure one or more Train slots in respect of its Quantum firm rights or a TOC fails to use a train slot included in the working timetable (see below) and which relates to a Quantum firm right.
Failure to use notices
A notice issued by ORR if it considers that there is a Failure to use by a TOC. The notice details certain rights which the TOC is required to surrender in relation to its Failure to use.
FEI
The Financial efficiency index tracks changes in Network Rail’s operating, maintenance and plain-line track renewal expenditure normalised to take account of changes in the volume of work required.
Total maintenance expenditure is “normalised” for the change in equated track miles (a measure of track type, length, traffic tonnage and speed). Plain-line track renewals expenditure is normalised for changes in the volume of track renewed.
Network Rail has changed the basis for calculating the FEI between 2004-05 and 2005-06 therefore any year-on-year comparisons should be treated with caution.
FOC on (T-F)OC
Where a delayed freight train service delays another passenger train or freight train operator.FOC on FOC/TOC delay
Delay caused by a train operated by a freight operator to a train operated by another freight operator/passenger train operator.FOCs
Freight train operating companies.G
GCC (Gauge corner cracking)
Metal fatigue cracking occurring on the running (gauge) corner of a rail. GCC is a form of Rolling contact fatigue. (q.v.)Government’s rail review
On 19 January 2004, the Secretary of State for Transport announced to Parliament a government review of the railway industry, which detailed a number of necessary reforms.
GSM-R
Global system for mobile communications - railway.GWML
Great Western Main Line
H
High hazard fault
Loss of train detection or obscured signals.HLOS
High level output specification:- A key feature of an access charges review. Under Schedule 4 of the 2005 Railways Act, the Secretary of State for Transport (for England and Wales) and Scottish Ministers (for Scotland) are obliged to send to ORR a high level output specification (HLOS) and a statement of funds available (SoFA), to ensure the railway industry has clear and timely information about the strategic outputs that Governments want the railway to deliver for the public funds they are prepared to make available. ORR must then determine the outputs that Network Rail must deliver to achieve the HLOS, the cost of delivering them in the most efficient way, and the implications for the charges payable by train operators to Network Rail for using the railway network.HSWA
Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974.
I
Industry committee
Alternative name for the access dispute resolution committee, the committee appointed under the access dispute resolution rules (ADRR).
Infrastructure incident
An event involving Network Rail owned infrastructure which may delay normal train operation.Investments
Investments cover all enhancements but also include major projects such as route upgrades or the renewal of Network Rail’s telecoms network, which are largely renewals.IQPC
International Quality & Productivity Centre
IRSE
Institution of Railway Signal Engineers
J
JPIP
Joint performance improvement plan: A less prescriptive successor to Local output commitments. A JPIP is based on a two-way obligation of Network Rail and the train operating company (TOC) to improve performance.
K
KPI
Key performance indicator.L
LAU
Local Authority Unit
Level 2 exceedence
A discrete fault in the alignment, level or gauge of the track, which requires corrective action within defined timescales.Level crossing failure
An incident where a level crossing has developed a fault sufficiently serious for its effective and safe operation to be compromised.Light maintenance services
“Light maintenance services” are defined in section 82(2) of the Railways Act 1993 as services of any of the following descriptions:(a) the refuelling, or the cleaning of the exterior, of locomotives or other rolling stock;
(b) the carrying out to locomotives or other rolling stock of maintenance work of a kind which is normally carried out at regular intervals of twelve months or less to prepare the locomotives or other rolling stock for service.
Lineside structure defect
An incident where a lineside structure has developed a fault affecting its effective operation or the operation of the railway. Such structures include signal gantries and fences.LMD
Light maintenance depot (for locomotives and rolling stock). This is any land or other property which is normally used for or in connection with the provision of light maintenance services, whether or not it is also used for other purposes.Locomotive
Section 83(1) of the Railways Act 1993 defines “locomotive” as follows:“any railway vehicle which has the capacity for self-propulsion (whether or not the power by which it operates is derived from a source external to the vehicle)”.
M
MAA
Moving annual average: the mean value (in this report of 13 four-weekly business reporting periods) of a year’s worth of values. This value is then updated progressively, to give a moving representation of the average value over the latest available 13 periods.Maintenance
Section 82(5) of the Railways Act 1993 provides that, in that section, “maintenance” includes the detection and rectification of any faults.Major project
Any engineering, maintenance or renewal project which requires a possession of one or more sections of track extending over one year, or a period which contains two or more Passenger change dates.
Major project notice
Notice of engineering works given by Network Rail that involve a possession (taking control of a part of the network) in relation to a Major project.
MHSWR
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
MIP
Management incentive planN
NEBOSH
National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health
NEP
National ERTMS programme (formerly SNEP)
Network business
Network business means:
(i) the business of providing and operating the licence holder’s network, including the maintenance, renewal, replacement, improvement, enhancement and development of the network;
(ii) any ancillary service related to the business and activities in paragraph (i);
and, without limitation, includes:
(a) the purpose of financing the business in paragraph (i) and the services in paragraph (ii); and
(b) any payment or transaction lawfully made or undertaken by the licence holder for a purpose within conditions 4.13(b)(i) to (vii)
Network services
“Network services” are defined in sections 82(1), (2) and (3), Railways Act 1993 as:“any service which consists of, or is comprised in, the provision or operation of a network (or of any of the track or other installations comprised in a network), but does not include:
(a) services for the carriage of passengers by railway;
(b) services for the carriage of goods by railway;
(c) light maintenance services; or
(d) station services.”
The statute continues by explaining that “network services” includes services of any of the following descriptions:
(a) the construction, maintenance, re-alignment, re-configuration or renewal of track,
(b) the installation, operation, maintenance or renewal of a railway signalling system or of any other railway communication equipment,
(c) the construction, control, maintenance or renewal of electrical conductor rails or overhead lines, of any supports for such rails or lines, and of any electrical substations or power connections used or to be used in connection therewith, and the provision of electrical power by means thereof,
(d) the provision and operation of services for the recovery or repair of locomotives or other rolling stock in connection with any accident, malfunction or mechanical or electrical failure,
(e) the provision and operation of services for keeping track free from, or serviceable notwithstanding, obstruction (whether by snow, ice, water, fallen leaves or any other natural or artificial obstacle or hindrance) or for removing any such obstruction,
(f) the provision, operation, maintenance and renewal of any plant, equipment or machinery used in carrying on any of the activities specified in paragraphs (a) to (e) above,
(g) the exercise of day to day control over train movements over or along any track comprised in the network,
(h) the preparation of a timetable for the purposes of such control as is referred to in paragraph (g) above,
and it is immaterial ... whether or not the person who provides the service in question also provides or operates a network, or any of the track or other installations comprised in a network, or provides the service on behalf of a person who does so.”
Section 82(2) explains that, for the purposes of the definition of “network services”, where a person permits another to use any land or other property comprised in a network he is to be regarded as providing a service which falls within the meaning of “network services”.
NRES
National Rail Enquiries: a public information provider offering advice on timetables and other rail queries.O
OFT
The Office of Fair Trading.OLE
Overhead line electrification equipment.Open access
Open access passenger train operators are those who operate services purely on a commercial basis, i.e. not under either a franchise or a concession agreement. These are companies who identify an opportunity to run a service which is not currently being provided, and they apply to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for the necessary track access rights and to Network Rail for train paths in the timetable. Open access passenger operators include Hull Trains and Grand Central.
P
PACE
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
PACTS
Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety
PCAW
Public Concern at Work
PDAC
Performance Data Accuracy Code : Establishes the standard of recording of the times at which trains arrive at, depart from or pass specified points, and the difference between those times and the corresponding times published in the Working Timetable.
Performance order
Directs a party in breach of contract to do, or refrain from doing, anything that the arbitral tribunal making the order considers just and reasonable in the circumstances.
Permitted business
Permitted business means the Network Business and the Permitted Non-Network Business.
Phase 1 Changes
Changes to the Network code as a result of the industry consultation period of 2003/2004.
PIM
The Train Accident Precursor Indicator Model (the PIM) managed by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), measures the risk, per million train miles, of a train accident - i.e. collision, derailment, fire or striking a road vehicle on a level crossing. The measure incorporates 82 precursor events in eight groups. Around 65% of the risk arises from events largely under the control or the responsibility of Network Rail, e.g. track geometry, infrastructure failures, environmental factors (flooding, land slips etc.) and level crossing misuse.
The PIM risk indicator was set to a reference value of 100 at the end of March 2002 and the PIM risk indicator provides a measure of the change in risk relative to this level. A reduction in the index is therefore beneficial, denoting a reduction in risk.
Points failure
A fault within a set of points (switches and crossings).PPM
PPM is the percentage of franchised passenger trains arriving at their destination, having made all booked calls, and within a specified lateness margin (typically five or ten minutes for some long-distance services).PSRs
Permanent speed restrictions
PTA
Passenger Transport Authority: body responsible for setting out a local authority's transport policy and expenditure plans to be allocated for public transport.PTEs
Passenger Transport Executives: bodies throughout Great Britain charged with helping to integrate the use of public transport services, by ensuring that they meet the public’s needs and contribute to the wider social, economic and environmental wellbeing of local communities.PUWER
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992
Q
Quantum firm right
A firm right for a TOC to operate a number of slots on the timetable over a given period.
R
RAB
Regulatory asset base: The Office of Rail Regulation's calculation of the value of Network Rail's assets.Railway facility
Section 83(1) of the Railways Act 1993 defines “railway facility” as follows:“any track, station or light maintenance depot”.
Railway Group Standards
Railway Group Standards (RGS) are produced in accordance with the railway group standards code. The purpose of RGS is to facilitate the management and operation of the shared system that is the mainline railway.
Railway services
“Railway services” are defined in section 82(1) of the Railways Act 1993 as “services of any of the following descriptions:(a) services for the carriage of passengers by railway;
(b) services for the carriage of goods by railway;
(c) light maintenance services;
(d) station services;
(e) network services.”
Railway undertaking
In the context of licensing, any private or public undertaking the principal business of which is to provide rail transport services for goods and/or passengers, with a requirement that the undertaking must ensure traction.RCF
Fatigue cracking on a rail caused by rolling contact stresses from passing wheel-sets. There are several types of RCF, the most notable being Gauge corner cracking.Regulatory allowance
The expenditure allowed by ORR in calculating the revenue requirement in the access charges review 2003.Renewal
Major capital works or replacement of the network in order to maintain its required capability. These may be required at specific times but are more often carried out according to Network Rail’s own timetable.RIA
Regulatory impact assessmentRIAC
Railway Industry Advisory Committee: provides advice to the ORR Board on railway health and safety.
Rights review meetings
Process whereby Network Rail and freight operators meet every six-months to establish whether the operators continue to have commercial needs for existing rights.
ROC
Railway operational code: Established by Network Rail, in consultation with rail industry parties with the objective of sustaining operation of train services on the network in accordance with the Working timetable, the needs of passengers and freight customers; the interests of safety and security; the efficient and economical operation of the network and of trains operating on it, and criteria published by ORR.
ROGS
Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006.ROSCOs
Rolling stock companies.RSSB
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is an independent, industry-wide body established under the licences of Network Rail and the passenger and freight train operators. RSSB took over from Railway Safety (a subsidiary of Network Rail) principally to run and supervise the system for the establishment, change and abolition of certain mandatory and technical standards for railway assets and railway operations. Its creation was recommended by Lord Cullen’s inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove accident.Rules of plan
Rules regulating factors necessary to enable trains to be scheduled into the Working timetable, such as engineering and performance allowances.
Rules of route
Rules regulating the location, number, timing and duration of the possession of parts of the network that Network Rail requires to carry out maintenance, renewals and repairs.
S
SAMNET
Safety Management and interoperability thematic Network for railways systems
SAMRAIL
Safety management in railways
Services for the carriage of passengers by railway
Section 82(2) of the Railways Act 1993 provides that “services for the carriage of passengers by railway” includes services for and in connection with the carriage of luggage, parcels or mail on trains which at the time are available, and primarily intended, for use by passengers; and references to carrying, or to the carriage of, passengers by railway shall be construed accordingly”.Services relating to railways
“Services relating to railways” are defined in section 67(3ZA) of the Railways Act 1993 as:
“(a) railway services;
(b) the provision or maintenance of rolling stock;
(c) the development, maintenance or renewal of a network, station or light maintenance depot; and
(d) the development, provision or maintenance of information systems designed wholly or mainly for facilitating the provision of railway services.”
SFAIRP
So far as is reasonably practicable.
Signal failure
Where the signalling system fails to work correctly. This includes signal failures, points failures and track circuit failures.SPAD
Signal passed at danger: one of the criteria on which the safety of the national rail network is measured. Relates to the occasions where a train passes a signal at which it should have stopped.SRNTP
Southern region new train programme (Mark 1 replacement and power upgrade)
Station services
Section 82(2) of the Railways Act 1993 provides that “station services” means any service which consists of, or is comprised in, the provision or operation of a station”, and section 82(4) of the Railways Act 1993 provides that “In determining whether any service is a station service, it is immaterial whether or not the person who provides the service also provides or operates a station, or any part of a station, or provides the service on behalf of a person who does so.”Section 82(2) explains that, for the purposes of the definition of “station services”, where a person permits another to use any land or other property comprised in a station he is to be regarded as providing a service which falls within the meaning of “station services”.
Super-red
An eighth mile length of track with average alignment or level faults that exceed a maximum level.T
T-12
The ability of passengers to obtain travel information, make reservations and book tickets in advance is affected by changes to the timetable caused by Network Rail taking possession of lines in order to maintain, renew and enhance the network. Under Condition 9 of its network licence, Network Rail is required to ensure that accurate timetable information is available to train operators at least twelve weeks in advance.TOC on TOC
Where a delayed train service of one train operator delays those of another train operator.TOCs
Train operating companies: run the (passenger and freight) trains and services on the network. The representative body for the passenger operating companies is the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).TOPS
Total operations processing system.TPWS
Train protection and warning system.
Track circuit
Track circuits are designed to detect the presence of a train, by use of an electrical circuit which is completed by train wheels and axles.Track circuit failure
Failure of a track circuit or associated equipment, including axle-counter failures.Track geometry
The level and alignment of the track.TRUST
Train running system TOPS. A train running and punctuality monitoring system, mainly fed by automatic inputs from signalling systems.TSR
Temporary speed restriction imposed for safety reasons. This can arise from the poor condition of track, structures, earthworks, hot weather effects, or following track relaying until the track bed is stabilised.TSR (COT)
A type of Temporary speed restriction that has been imposed specifically due to the poor Condition of track (COT).U
Use period
A period of time determined by the ORR in relation to the Failure to use mechanism.
Use quota
A quota determined by the ORR in relation to the Failure to use mechanism.
V
Vehicle change
Changes made to the part of a track access contract (Schedule 5) which stipulates which railway vehicles are permitted to be used on the network.
Vertical profile
The longitudinal vertical profile of the track.W
WCML
West Coast Main Line
WCRM
West Coast Route ModernisationWorking timetable
Drawn up by Network Rail showing, every train movement on the network. It shows the times of arrival and departure of trains at origin, destination, every intermediate point and appropriate passing points. It also details all the relevant time allowances.
WRISA
The activities of the WRISA (Wheel Rail Interface System Authority) are now undertaken by the Vehicle/Track System Interface Committee.