Bradshaw:Glossary

B:G

Not everyone knows all the hundreds of rail-specific acronyms and initialisms, so if any pop up in conversation on the Discord server, add them and their meaning below so others can look them up.

Please keep these in alphabetical order so it is easy to find a specific term.

0-9

4LM: Four Lines Modernisation programme
4 Foot The space between the two running rails on a section of track
6 Foot The area between a pair of running lines
10 Foot The area between two pairs of running lines

A

File:London Overground Class 710.jpg

A London Overground class 710, operated by Arriva Rail London, at Crouch Hill.

ABCL: Automatic Barrier Crossing, Locally Monitored
ABDO: Automatic Braking and Door Opening
ACOA: Adverse Change Of Aspect
ACWN: Altered Carriage Working Notice
AHB: Automatic Half-Barrier Crossing
AHBC: Automatic Half-Barrier Crossing
ANP: Auto Not Permitted
An operating state on London Underground ATO lines where trains have been prevented from operating in ATO mode and must instead operate in CM or PM, normally initiated due to staff on our around the track area.
AOCL: Automatic Open Crossing, Locally Monitored
ARL: Arriva Rail London
ARS: Automatic Route Setting
ASC: Area Signalling Centre
ASDO: Automatic Selective Door Opening
ATC: Automatic Train Control
ATO: Automatic Train Operation
ATOC: Association of Train Operating Companies
ATP: Automatic Train Protection
ATS: Automatic Tram Stop
ATW: Arriva Trains Wales
AWC: Avanti West Coast
AWS: Automatic Warning System

B

BML: Brighton Main Line
BR: British Rail
BTC: British Transport Commission
BTP: British Transport Police

C

C+H: Circle and Hammersmith & City lines
CAPE: Cancelled At Point of Entry
CAWS: Continuous Automatic Warning System
CBTC: Communications Based Train Control
Name given to the SelTrac installation being installed on London Underground’s SSR as part of the 4LM project to enable ATO. See also TBTC and DTG-R
CD: Close Doors (Indication)
CDL: Central Door Locking
CDP: Continuous Development Programme
Cess: The area along either side of a railway line which is kept at a lower level than the sleeper bottom, in order to provide drainage.
CIS: Customer Information System
CLR: Central London Railway
CM: Coded Manual
A mode of operation used on London Underground’s Central and Victoria lines where the Train Operator drives the train manually at up to normal line speed using signalling information provided on an in-cab display. See also PM
CMS: Competency Management System
CoT: Close of Traffic
CR: Chiltern Railways
CRS: Computer Reservation System
CS: Caledonian Sleeper
CSA: Customer Service Assistant
CSDE: Correct Side Door Enable
CSL2: Customer Service Level 2
CSLR: City & South London Railway
CSR: Cab Secure Radio
CTBC: Combined Traction Brake Controller, See also TBC
CTRL: Channel Tunnel Rail Link
CWN: Carriage Working Notice

D

DCO: Driver Controlled Operation
A system of operation on the National Rail network where a train operates with both a driver and at least one other member of staff onboard, but where the driver is responsible for operation of the trains doors as well as driving the train.
DCV: Door Closed Visual
DDA: Disability Discrimination Act
DISI: Defective in Service Instructions
DLR: Docklands Light Railway
DOO: Driver Only Operation
A system of operation on the National Rail Network where the only member of operational staff onboard a train is the driver who is responsible for all aspects of the trains operation. Analagous to OPO on London Underground
DRA: Driver Reminder Appliance
DRM: Duty Reliability Manager (London Underground equivalent of MOM.)
DRS: Direct Rail Services
DSD: Driver's Safety Device
DTG-R: Distance to Go Radio
ATO system in use on London Underground’s Victoria line. See also CBTC and TBTC
DVA: Digital Voice Announcer

E

File:374022AmsterdamCentraal.jpg

A Eurostar class 374 at Amsterdam Centraal.

E*: Eurostar
ECML: East Coast Main Line
ECS: Empty Coaching Stock
EDNE: Emergency Do Not Enter sign
EMR: East Midlands Railway
EMT: East Midlands Trains
EP: Entry Point
EPH: Electric Point Heater
ERTMS: European Rail Traffic Management System
ERU: Emergency Response Unit
ES: Eurostar
ESDC: Emergency Saloon Door Control
ESR: Emergency Speed Restriction
ETCS: European Train Control System

F

File:Glory Mine buffer stop.jpeg

The FTDotYotYDPMTTASSBBS at the Glory Mine tram stop of Crich Tramway Village.

FGW: First Great Western
FLIRT: Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train
FOC: Freight Operating Company
FPI: Facing Points Indicator
FPL: Facing Point Lock
FRL: Fixed Red Light
FTDotYotYDPMTTASSBBS: The Former Tram Driver of the Year of the Year Daniel Patterson Memorial Tramway Tramcar Arrestor System Stop Block Buffer Stop.

G

GA: Greater Anglia
GC: Great Central
GEML: Great Eastern Main Line
GLA: Greater London Area
GLA: Greater London Authority
GLC: Greater London Council
GN: Great Northern
GoA (0-4): Grade of Automation
GOP: Guard's Operating Panel
GSM-R: Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway
GTR: Govia Thameslink Railway
GWML: Great Western Main Line
GWR: Great Western Railway
GX: Gatwick Express

H

File:Hull Trains Class 802.jpg

A Hull Trains class 802 at St. Pancras

HEX: Heathrow Express
HML: Highland Main Line
HS1: High Speed 1
HS2: High Speed 2
HST: High Speed Train
HT: Hull Trains

I

IBJ: Insulated Block Joint
IC: Intercity
IECC: Integrated Electronic Control Centre
IEP: Intercity Express Programme
IET: Intercity Express Train
IMR: Interlocking Machine Room
IoW: Isle of Wight

J

Platform Edge Doors at Canada Water station on the Jubilee Line Extension.

JLE: Jubilee Line Extension
The section of the Jubilee line between Green Park and Stratford, opened in 1999.

K

KYT: Know Your Train
KVB: Contrôle de Vitesse par Balises

L

LM: London Midland
LNER: London North Eastern Railway
LNR: London Northwestern Railway
LO: London Overground
LOM: Limit of Movement
LOROL: London Overground Rail Operations Ltd.
LOS: Limit of Shunt
LPTB: London Passenger Transport Board
LRT: London Regional Transport
LRV: Light Rail Vehicle
LSL: Locomotive Services Limited
LT: London Transport
LTE: London Transport Executive
LTM: London Transport Museum
LTP: Long Term Plan
LUL: London Underground Ltd.

M

MDR: Metropolitan District Railway
MENTOR: Mobile Electric Network Testing Observation and Recording
MML: Midland Main Line
MOM: Mobile Operations Manager
MR: Metropolitan Railway
MTR: Mass Transit Railway (Hong Kong Subway)

N

NCT: Non-Communicating Train
NIRM: Network Incident Response Manager
NLC: National Location Codes
NLE: Northern Line Extension
NMT: New Measurement Train
NR: Network Rail
NR: Northern Rail
NRM: National Railway Museum
NRN: National Radio Network
NSE: Network South East
NTCO: Not To Call Order

O

OA: Open Access
OCS: Overhead Contact System
OHLE: Overhead Line Equipment
OLE: Overhead Line Equipment
ONA: Operator Not Available
OOL: On Our Lines (this project)
OPO: One Person Operation
The term used by London Underground to describe the running of trains where the only member of operation staff required is a T/Op. Analagous to DOO on National Rail
ORR: Office of Rail and Road

P

File:Townend Signal PPI.jpg

A Points Position Indicator (PPI) below a tram signal on Sheffield Supertram.

PDL: Portsmouth Direct Line
PEA: Passenger Emergency Alarm
PED: Platform Edge Doors
PEP: Prototype Electro Pneumatic Train
PIS: Passenger Information System
PLPR (1-4): Plain Line Pattern Recognition
PM: Protected Manual
A mode of operation used on London Underground’s Jubilee and Northern lines and the SSR where ATO is fitted. In this mode the Train Operator drives the train manually at up to normal line speed using signalling information provided on an in-cab display. See also CM
PoSA: Proceed-on-Sight Authority
PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
PPI: Points Position Indicator
PRI: Preliminary Route Indicator
PRM: Persons with Reduced Mobility
PSA: Passenger Service Agent
PSB: Power Signal Box
PSD: Platform Screen Doors
PSR: Permanent Speed Restriction
PTI: Platform Train Interface
PTS: Personal Track Safety
PU: Pick Up

Q

Q Code train: A train that runs as required

R

File:SYRHTT.jpg

A Rail Head Treatment Train at Sheffield station.

RA: Right Away (Indication)
RAIB Rail Accident Investigation Branch
RAT: Rail Adhesion Train
A train which operates across London Underground lines in the autumn, spraying sandite onto rails to improve rail head conditions. See also RAT
RCC: Rear Cab Clear (plunger)
RDG: Rail Delivery Group
REC: Railway Emergency Call
RGI: Rail Gap Indicator
RHTT: Rail Head Treatment Train
A train which operates across Network Rail lines in the autumn, spraying water and sandite onto rails to remove crushed leaf debris, and to improve rail head conditions. See also RAT
RM: Restricted Manual
A mode of operation used in certain failure situations on London Underground ATO lines, where the Train Operator drives the train manually under authority from the signaller
ROC (Network Rail): Rail Operating Centre
ROC (SimSig:Sessions): Railway Operating Centre
ROG: Rail Operations Group
ROGS: The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (as amended)
RSF: Right Side Failure
RSSB: Rail Safety and Standards Board
RTT: Real Time Trains
RVAR: Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations

S

File:SI-CAS-SST.jpg

A Section Isolator at Castle Square on Sheffield Supertram.

SATS: Staff Assisted Train Services
SCAT: Speed Control After Tripping
SCC: Service Control Centre
SCD: Short Circuiting Device
SCL1: Service Controller Level 1
SCL2: Service Controller Level 2
ScR: ScotRail
SD: Set Down
SDC: Service Delivery Centre
SDO: Selective Door Opening
A system where on-train staff select a number of doors, or carriages, to open instead of opening all doors in locations where there is a short platform. See also ASDO and UDS
SE: Southeastern
SI: Section Isolator
A break in the overhead wires, where two sections of wire are isolated from each other allowing current to either section to be isolated for maintenance. Also called a Section Insulator.
SMA (0.5-14): Signal Migration Area
SMD: Stratford Market Depot
SMS: Safety Management System
SN: Southern Rail
SoT: Start of Traffic
SotD: Signal of the Day
SPAD: Signal Passed At Danger
SPAR: Signal Passed At Red
SPAS: Signal Passed At Stop
SPT: Signal Post Telephone
SR: ScotRail
SRA: Strategic Rail Authority

SRAWS: Signal Repeating Automatic Warning System
SSI: Solid State Interlocking
SSO: Special Stop Order
An order issued to on-train staff to stop at a station where the train is not otherwise booked to stop at. See also NTCO
SSR: Sub-Surface Railway
The Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines of London Underground
STANME: Station Number Names
STANOX: Station Numbers
STI: Single track infringement
STN: Special Train Notice
Stock and Crew:
A type of reform common on London Underground, where two drivers swap trains, taking the train number, destination and passengers with them. It is often used to ensure that trains requiring maintenance attention get back to the correct depots at the end of the day.
STP: Short Term Plan
SWML: South West Main Line
SWR: South Western Railway
SWT: South West Trains

T

TAS: Traction Auxillary Set
TAT: Traction Auxillary Trip
TBC: Traction Brake Controller
TBTC: Transmission Based Train Control
Name given to the SelTrac installation used on London Underground’s Jubilee and Northern lines. See also CBTC and DTG-R
TC: Track Circuit
Part of the signalling system, where a simple electronic device is used to help detect the presence of a train. See also TCF and TSF.
TCD: Traffic Controllers Diagrams
TCF: Track Circuit Failure
The failure of a track circuit used in signalling, giving the signaller an indication that a track circuit is occupied when there is no train present. See also TSF
TCP: Trip Cock Protection
TD (London Underground): Train Description
TD (Network Rail): Train Describer
TfGM: Transport for Greater Manchester
TfL: Transport for London
TfW: Transport for Wales
TIPLOC: Timing Point Location
TL: Thameslink
TMS: Train Management System
Onboard computer on trains which monitors the status of various systems and may manage the onboard information system.
TMS: Tram Management System
1. Onboard computer on trams which monitors the status of various systems and may manage the onboard information system.
2. Signalling system used on the Manchester Metrolink.
TMS: Tramway Museum Society
TO: Technical Officer
TOC: Train Operating Company
TOD: Train Operators Display
In cab display on 1995 & 1996 tube stock trains used to display train speed and signalling information to the Train Operator.
T/Op: Train Operator
TOPS: Total Operations Processing System
TPE: TransPennine Express
TPH: Trains Per Hour
TPI: Trailing Points Indicator
TPS: Train Planning System
TPWS: Train Protection and Warning System
Tracks down: Slang for Track Circuit Failure
TRC: Track Recording Car
TRT: Track Recording Train
TRTS: Train Ready To Start
TRU: Track Recording Unit
TRV: Track Recording Vehicle
TS: Tube Stock
TSC: Transport Strategy Centre
TSF: Track Section Failure
The failure of a track circuit, or axle counter, used in signalling to give the signaller an indication of where a train is located. See also TCF
TSI: Technical Specifications for Interoperability
TSR: Temporary Speed Restriction
TSW: Train Sim World
TTN: Timetable Notice
TYT: Track Your Train

U

UDS: Unit Deselect
A form of SDO where the doors are disabled on a per-unit basis. See also ASDO and SDO
UERL: Underground Electric Railway Company of London
UTC: Urban Traffic Control
A system that interfaces with tramway signalling to ensure balanced traffic flow and tram priority.
UTO: Unattended Train Operation
A form of train operation, where trains operate automatically without any members of staff onboard.
UTU: Ultrasonic Test Unit
UWC: User Worked Crossing

V

VAR: Varied Timetable
VCC: Vehicle Control Centre
VIS: Vehicle Identification System
Signalling system used on tramways, using loops resting on sleepers or underneath roads and receivers underneath trams to enable the signalling system to operate. Similar to VRS
VOBC: Vehicle On Board Computer
VRS: Vehicle Recognition System
VSTP: Very Short Term Plan
VT: Virgin Trains
VTEC: Virgin Trains East Coast

W

File:139002SBT.jpg

West Midlands Railway's class 139 Parry People Mover on the Stourbridge Town branch line.

WAML: West Anglia Main Line
WCML: West Coast Main Line
WCRC: West Coast Railway Company
WDM: Wrong Direction Move
WMR: West Midlands Railway
WMT: West Midland Trains
WSF: Wrong Side Failure
WSL: Wrong Signal Lowered
- WSLA: Wrong Signal Lowered and Accepted
WTT: Working Timetable

X

XC: Cross Country
XR: Crossrail

Y

Yellow Peril: Colloquial name for a London Underground staff circular briefing which details significant changes to signalling arrangements, such as the commissioning of a new signal cabin or modern automatic train control system

Z