Bradshaw:Glossary

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For three-letter station codes, see CRS codes.
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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 that 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

  • AB: Absolute Block
  • 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 lines using Automatic Train Operations (ATO), where trains have been prevented from operating in ATO mode and must instead operate in CM or PM, generally initiated due to staff on or 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. See also SDO and UDS
  • 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

The British Rail 'Arrows of Indecision'.

C

Hammersmith station, which is the terminus of the Circle and Hammersmith & City Lines
  • 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 Four Lines Modernisation (4LM) project to enable Automatic Train Operation. 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. May also be considered as a place of safety.
  • 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
  • Corridor of Doom: A liminal space of substantial length inspired by those located at King's Cross St. Pancras and Green Park stations on the London Underground
  • (C)COS: (Crossrail) Central Operation Section
    The Elizabeth line between Abbey Wood and Paddington via Central London. Sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Crossrail Core.
  • 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

Tower Gateway station of the Docklands Light Railway in East London.
  • 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: Doors 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. Analogous to OPO on London Underground
  • DRA: Driver Reminder Appliance
  • DRM: Duty Reliability Manager (London Underground equivalent of Mobile Operations Manager [MOM].)
  • DRS: Direct Rail Services
  • DSD: Driver's Safety Device
  • DTG-R: Distance to Go Radio
    Automatic Train Operation system in use on London Underground’s Victoria line. See also CBTC and TBTC
  • DVA: Digital Voice Announcer

E

F

A Greater Anglia class 745 FLIRT intercity train.
  • 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

G

H

File:Hull Trains Class 802.jpg
A Hull Trains class 802 at St. Pancras

I

Liverpool Street Interlocking Machine Room on the London Underground.
  • IBJ: Insulated Block Joint (aka IRJ)
  • IC: Intercity
  • IECC: Integrated Electronic Control Centre
  • IEP: Intercity Express Programme
  • IET: Intercity Express Train
  • IMR: Interlocking Machine Room
  • IoW: Isle of Wight
  • IRJ: Insulated Rail Joint (aka IBJ)

J

Platform Edge Doors at Canada Water station on the Jubilee Line Extension.
  • Jish: Also known as Josh.
  • Jishlish: Jishlish is the language and myriad of mistakes spoken and typed by Jish.
  • JLE: Jubilee Line Extension
    The section of the Jubilee line between Green Park and Stratford, opened in 1999.

K

  • KVB: Contrôle de Vitesse par Balises
    Translated from French to English as Speed Control by Beacons. A speed control system used on the French national rail network, Channel Tunnel and High Speed 1.
  • KYT: Know Your Train[1]

L

M

Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive Sarah Siddons.

N

The Network Rail New Measurement Train, formed of High Speed Train rolling stock.
  • NCT: Non-Communicating Train
  • NIRM: Network Incident Response Manager
  • NLC: National Location Codes
  • NLE: Northern Line Extension
  • NLL: North London Line
  • 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
  • NUCKLE: NUneaton, Coventry, Kenilworth and LEamington Spa
    A package of improvement works to the rail corridor between Nuneaton, Coventry, Kenilworth and Leamington Spa, including new stations, signalling, track and other associated improvements.

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. Analogous to Driver Only Operation (DOO) on National Rail
  • OR: Operational Restriction
    A limitation placed on the CBTC system
  • ORR: Office of Rail and Road

P

A British Rail 'PEP' unit.
  • PDL: Portsmouth Direct Line
  • PEA: Passenger Emergency Alarm
  • PED: Platform Edge Doors
  • PEP: Prototype Electro Pneumatic Train. Often used to refer to the classes based on the prototypes; classes 313, 314, 315, 507 & 508.
  • PIOT: Passenger Ill on 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 parts of the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines where Automatic Train Operation is provided. 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
    Full height doors along the edge of the platform, synchronised to the train doors, that improve safety and can help manage tunnel ventilation
  • PSR: Permanent Speed Restriction
  • PTI: Platform Train Interface
  • PTS: Personal Track Safety
  • PU: Pick Up
    A term used to refer to a member of train crew's next train working

Q

  • Q Code train: A train that runs as required

R

  • RA: Right Away (Indication)
  • RAIB Rail Accident Investigation Branch
  • RAT: Rail Adhesion Train
    A number of trains which operate on some London Underground lines during the autumn, spraying sandite onto rails to improve rail head conditions. See also RHTT
  • 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 lines using Automatic Train Operation (ATO), where the Train Operator drives the train manually under authority from the signaller at a reduced speed.
  • ROC (Network Rail): Rail Operating Centre
  • ROC (SimSig:Sessions): Railway Operations Centre
  • ROG: Rail Operations Group
  • ROGS: The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (as amended)
  • RR: Relay Room
  • RR: Run(s) as Required
  • RSF: Right Side Failure
  • RSSB: Rail Safety and Standards Board
  • RSI: Route Secure Indicator
    A form of route proving to permit movement during degraded modes of operation on London Underground
  • RTT: Real Time Trains
  • RTDI: Ready To Depart Indicator
    A white beacon located on the platforms of London Underground Jubilee and Northern lines that is used to aid in train dispatch.
    White bodyside indicator lights (BILs) on S stock trains on the London Underground]]'s Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines which are used to aid in train dispatch.
  • RVAR: Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations

S

A ScotRail class 320.
Moorgate station on London Underground’s Sub-Surface Railway
  • SATS: Station Assistant (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.
  • SLL: South London Line
  • SMA (0.5-14): Signal Migration Area
    Compartmentalised sections of London Underground's Four Lines Modernisation programme. See also 4LM and SSR
  • 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
  • SSM: Shift Signaller Manager
  • 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
  • Step Back: A procedure used on some London Underground lines at terminus stations where after a train arrives at the terminus a new Train Operator boards the rear of the train for departure, the original Train Operator then "steps back" onto the next train. This procedure is used to allow trains to terminate more frequently while allowing Train Operators enough time to change ends.
  • 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

Thameslink's Trainbow 700155.
London Underground's 1938 stock at Amersham on a rail tour.
  • TAC: Track Access Controller
  • TAS: Traction Auxilliary Set
  • TAT: Traction Auxilliary 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.
  • TCB: Track Circuit Block
  • 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 Operator's 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[2]

U

  • UDS: Unit Deselect
    A form of Selective Door Operation (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 below 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

X

Y

  • Yellow Peril: Colloquial name for a 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

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