The meaning of the term "Service Code"

[yorkie]

The TSA has a defined term: “’Service Code’ means any group of train services nominated by an Operator.”

Can anyone elaborate on what this means please? And can anyone provide any examples?

Is it the same as this http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/Train+Service+Codes ?

Train Service Codes (TSC) are eight digit numbers used to identify groups of train services within the timetable. The numbering system was introduced for accounting purposes in BR days, but is now used as part of the track access contracts between TOC/FOC and Network Rail. For freight, digits 3 to 6 are known as the service group.

The service codes cover loaded trains, empty trains and any light loco movements associated with the train service. Route Learning trains may also use the code.

In most cases the first four digits are common to one Train Operating Company (exceptions include Transpennine/Northern Rail, and On Track Machine operators).

The TSC can change en-route (e.g. at the former Strathclyde PTE boundary), but this is not always shown on all schedule outputs.

Thanks

 

[SargeNpton]

Info about individual train service codes can be found here...

List of Train Service Codes – Rail Record

rail-record.co.uk

Used for track access charges, delay attribution and so on.

It appears on each train schedule published in the electronic timetable data.

 

[swt_passenger]

There are TSCs shown in the data panel on RTT as well.

But coming from the opposite direction, the Schedule 5 tables in the track access agreements (TAA) - (and often shown in track access application documents) - allow you to look up the code for a given route and service type.

The Schedule 5 definitions include:
"Train Service Code" or "TSC" means the eight character code applied in the Performance Monitoring System and used to identify Services;

An example of a TAA for SWR here, Schedule 5 tables appear from page 101, and show how one code can apply to many slightly different calling pattens, as long as they’re in the same general area:

https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-09/consolidated-agreement-first-mtr-south-western-trains.pdf

 

[yorkie]

Thanks.

Does anyone know if it has any implications for fares?

I think not; the only reference to this in the TSA is in respect of the data added to ORCATS (page 281):

(h) the Service Code(s) to which that service has been allocated;

 

[SargeNpton]

No effect on fares from a public point of view, just that ORCATS uses the TSC contained in the train schedule to apportion revenue.

 

[yorkie]

Thanks, that's what I thought

I'm also a bit confused by the reference in the TSA to a "Route Code":

“Route Code” means the code for a particular passenger train service which identifies the route and stopping pattern for that passenger train service.

When I think of a "route code", I think of the 5-digit code associated with a Route:

“Route” means a description of the journey from the origin station to the destination station including stations passed through during the journey.

So, clearly the term "Route Code" in the TSA has a different meaning! Does anyone know what "Route Code" in the context of the TSA means, if not the 5-digit code for a route restriction? The references to it in the TSA are as follows:

All Flows without a Route restriction, or which include a geographical Route Code are Compulsory Inter-available Flows except:-

The odd thing here is that I think they simply mean "geographical Route"!

and the other reference is in the aforementioned Part V 11-26 in respect of ORCATS:

(i) the Route Code for the passenger train service; ....

So, is the definition of "Route Code" wrong/misleading, or are there two concepts of "Route Code" in different contexts?

Thanks again for any info

 

[SargeNpton]

The 5-digit route code is the fares route, which is normally translated into a text description on the ticket. In the back office systems this is also used to apportion revenue. This may be a geographic route or a non-geographic route. Examples...

00070 Via Lincoln
00127 SW Railway Only

For railway operating, route codes mean something completely different. Very few now in use, mostly in South London as 2-digit numbers to indicate what route a train takes when there is more than one way of getting to that destination (or which direction a circular service goes).

 

[JB_B]

The 5-digit route code is the fares route, which is normally translated into a text description on the ticket. In the back office systems this is also used to apportion revenue. This may be a geographic route or a non-geographic route. Examples...

00070 Via Lincoln
00127 SW Railway Only

For railway operating, route codes mean something completely different. Very few now in use, mostly in South London as 2-digit numbers to indicate what route a train takes when there is more than one way of getting to that destination (or which direction a circular service goes).

Yes, I think that the familiar 5-digit fare route code is the only reasonable interpretation of the term "route code" used on page 84 of the TSA.

Clearly, as @yorkie has already suggested, this usage has nothing to do with the definition of "route code" given page 43 so I would say this is poor drafting at least.

The text on page 84 suggests that 'geographic' and 'non-geographic' routes can be distinguished - how does that work for routes which are a mixture - e.g. those which impose both operator and location restrictions?

 

[Andrew1395]

Service codes are also used in Lennon to report revenue against. Their original reason for being created was to cross report costs and revenue by passenger unit accounts.

servicecodes are important in ORCATS too, for reporting trains in the grant aid matrix, so that PTE funded trains reflect that revenue is due to the PTE.

 

[thedbdiboy]

The reference in 4-18 was changed around 15 years ago in order to make clearer that compulsory inter-available flows applied to Any Permitted/geographically routed flows and not dedidcated/advance fare ones but you're right, it should have said 'Route', nor 'Route Code' which in the context of the TSA means the service code. Clearly the DfT lawyers missed that one. But it's all a bit academic because with the inevitable drift of fare setting back towards the DfT, the point of the TSA (to provide a contractual relationship between all passenger operators' fares and reconcilation arrangements) becomes largely redundant.