Data, Systems and Telematics
The Data, Systems, and Telematics Standards Committee (DST SC) has now completed its second full year of operation. DST SC addresses recognised gaps in industry oversight and standardisation in the fields of data, operational systems, and the exchange of information between systems. It also has responsibility for managing the change control process for the Telematic Applications for Freight (TAF) and the Telematic Applications for Passenger Services (TAP) National Technical Specification Notices (NTSNs) and oversees the development and maintenance of standards, guidance notes, and other documents that support organisations in sharing data more easily and exploiting it more effectively.
The committee published its first standard in December 2024: RIS-6702-DST issue one Time and Date in Railway Systems. ‘Time’ was identified as a priority area by the committee because of the importance of reliably exchanging, aggregating, and comparing data across operational and technical systems.
During 2024, the committee continued its exploration of the other priority areas for standardisation that were identified during a series of DST SC workshops when the committee was first established. These are unique train service identification and the integration between traffic management and stock and crew systems.
For unique train service identification, establishing a common approach to how systems and operational staff identify a particular train service as unique is important to address the limitations of the current four-character alpha-numeric identifier. Bespoke identifiers are used within systems and multiple identifiers need to be published for the same service with varying durations of uniqueness. The draft standard for consultation is in preparation and due to be sent out in spring 2025.
Standardisation of the cross-organisational interfaces between traffic management and stock and crew systems is complex but supports compatibility between different systems and provides transparency and explanation of schemas, processes, and data fields. The scope for this topic will be refined in 2025.
The committee has also commissioned research, T1339 Exploring the feasibility of standardising train crew route knowledge codes. These codes are used for several purposes, including monitoring competency, timetabling and route planning, and managing responses to disruption. However, there is currently no standardisation of these codes. Different approaches and levels of granularity exist, both between and within operators. This project will explore the feasibility of a standardised approach that could cover all purposes for which the codes are currently used. The aim is to add value by harmonising industry processes around train planning and disruption management. The project is due to complete in April 2025.
During 2024, Network Rail contacted RSSB to request its support in re-establishing the Systems Code Industry Review Group. The Code of Practice for the Management and Development of Railway Code Systems, commonly referred to as the ‘Systems Code’, is a Network Rail document that lays out guidance governing shared information systems used by the GB mainline railway. The Systems Code sets out arrangements for obtaining access to, using, managing, and developing the systems that fall under its scope. Re-establishment of the group under DST SC will support the industry in maintaining an up-to-date record of key industry systems, as well as providing an opportunity to discuss planned upgrades, opportunities for improvement, and standardisation of data and data exchanges.
The TAF TAP TSI/NTSN Mirror Group continued to meet regularly during 2024. The group is keeping abreast of the EU discussions surrounding the potential merger of the TAF and TAP TSIs into one document, the Telematics Subsystem TSI. Based on Mirror Group recommendations, the DST SC has proposed that, when the combined TS TSI is published, relevant aspects should be transferred into the existing GB regulatory framework of RGS, RIS, and guidance notes, as appropriate. However, cognisant that the combined TS TSI may still be some way off due to disagreements within the EU, the DST SC have proposed to update the TAF NTSN to bring it into alignment with changes in 2021 TAF TSI.
Meetings have remained quorate according to the Standards Manual, taking into account the nature of the meeting discussions so far. All membership categories have nominated members except for infrastructure contractors.
Liz DaviesChair of the Data, Systems and Telematics Standards Committee
Learn more about DST SC and their work on our website.
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