Network Statement Glossary.pdf - RailNetEurope (RNE)

Network Statement Glossary
Definitions of terms related to railway network statements
Network Statement Glossary Facts:
• Contains more than 480 definitions of terms commonly found in English versions of network statements
• Legal and technical jargon kept to a minimum
• Official definitions used wherever available (coming from EU, UIC, OTIF etc)
• References to relevant European Union legislation where applicable
www.railneteurope.com

A Glossary Dedicated to Network Statements
Under EU Directive 2001/14/EC (Art. 3) ‘The network statement shall be published no less than four months in advance of
the deadline for requests for infrastructure capacity’; in practice this is December. Network statements are then translated
into other national language(s) if necessary, and into English – the English translations are usually published in the first
quarter of the following year. In May 2010, the RailNetEurope General Assembly made it mandatory to translate the main
document in network statements into English.
Why harmonise the terminology used in the English-language versions of network statements
The use and interpretation of specialised terms often diverge from network to network across Europe – this can create
confusion for readers. Hence there was a need to define terms that are commonly employed in the English-language versions
of network statements and RNE created a new tool, a Glossary of terms related to network statements, first published
in December 2009.
A harmonised, common terminology will facilitate communication between InfrastructureManagers / Allocation Bodies, as
well as between Infrastructure Managers / Allocation Bodies and their international customers. In addition, it will increase
the comparability of the network statements’ contents and simplify the use of these documents within the One-Stop-Shop
network.
Who should use this Glossary
• International customers of Infrastructure Managers
• Infrastructure Managers / Allocation Bodies and translators of network statements
Why should you use RailNetEurope’s Glossary
The Glossary should be used to avoid misinterpretations and because it provides practical guidance (both to Infrastructure
Managers / Allocation Bodies and their customers) for drafting or translating documents related to network statements. The
definitions in the Glossary are written in a clear language using as little technical or legal jargon as possible. Wherever
definitions by official bodies are available, these have been used (coming from European Union legislation, United Nations
ECE, UIC, ERA, OTIF, etc).
How easy is it to find
the terms you need
All terms are listed
alphabetically from A to
Z. If you cannot find the
term you need, you can
use the standard Excel
‘Search’ function to find
it inside a listed expression
or a definition.
Term defined
this may be one word
only or an expression
containing
several words.
Definition
sometimes a more
general definition is
provided alongside
an EU definition, or
national specificities
are highlighted.

Railway Network Statements: Background Information
What is a network statement
Network statements are a direct line from Infrastructure Managers / Allocation Bodies to customers and a starting point for
the provision of competitive rail services in the emerging European railway area.
They are key to market access, since they summarise all relevant information on the rail infrastructure ‘product’: how to
obtain access to it, what are its characteristics (in the different sections of the network), how much of it is available (infrastructure
capacity), what is the timing for requesting it, what is its price, etc.
The ‘open access’ policy implemented by the European Commission envisages competition among Railway Undertakings.
This requires easy and fair access to comprehensive, up-to-date and open information about rail networks.
Directive 2001/14/EC therefore introduced the obligation to publish a network statement at regular intervals and defined the
basic requirements to be fulfilled by the document.
What type of information will you find in a network statement
Network statements contain all the information that a Railway Undertaking requires to prepare a business case for a new
rail service:
• a general description of the rail infrastructure,
• commercial access condtions (e.g. infrastructure charging principles together with tariffs for the different services) and,
• legal access conditions: principles, criteria and procedures for the allocation of train paths – incl. transparent provisions
for ad-hoc capacity requests.
Network statements are designed to ease access to rail networks. Essentially, they are commercial documents. Detailed
technical data is/will be provided in the Infrastructure Register in each country.*
*Directive 2008/57/EC sets out in Art. 35 (1) the obligation for Member States to ensure that a Register of Infrastructure is published and updated,
indicating the main features of each subsystem or part subsystem of the rail system and their correlation with the features in the applicable Technical
Specification for Interoperability (TSI).
How easy is it to find the
information you need
In order to increase the customerfriendliness
of network statements, as
well as their consistency across
Europe, RNE has already harmonised
the way they are structured: a
Common Structure was agreed in
2006 (slightly revised in 2009), div
iding NS into 6 main chapters (see
snapshot to the right). In addition,
RNE published an Implementation
Guide for drafting network statements
in accordance with Art. 3 of Directive
2001/14/EC – this guide is integrated
in the Common Structure.
the main
chapters of
the agreed
Common
Structure
contains
remarks,
mostly about
modifications
of the
Common
Structure

Legal Disclaimer
The Glossary is a linguistic tool, not a legal document. The definitions it contains are solely intended as advice to rail
customers, translators of network statements and other interested parties. Please note the Legal Disclaimer at the beginning
of the Glossary, which stresses that the available materials for information purposes only and that RNE does
not accept any liabilities. By using the Glossary, you agree to the terms of the Legal Disclaimer.
How will the Glossary keep up with changes in the European rail environment
The RNE Glossary is a dynamic document. As the railway sector is undergoing rapid changes in Europe, the Glossary will
be updated and expanded as the need arises, and is only available in digital form.
Where can you find the Glossary and the RNE Common Structure & Implementation Guide
Both documents may be downloaded from RNE’s website: www.railneteurope.com/index.php/network-statement.html
Any questions or comments
Comments from readers and requests for further definitions are very welcome.
Please send your observations or requests to:
RailNetEurope Joint Office
E-mail: mailbox@rne.at
Tel.: +43 1 907 62 72 00
Fax: +43 1 907 62 72 90
RailNetEurope
Annagasse 12/5
A-1010 Vienna
Phone: +43 1907627200
Fax: +43 1907627290
www.railneteurope.com
E-mail: mailbox@rne.at