PCS Guidelines/Milestones/Deadlines for the TTP2025 and TTP2026

Applicants can choose the Adhoc Pre-Accepted process type when creating their path request. In this case, applicants decide that they will automatically accept the IMs/ABs’ Adhoc offers. This means that in this case there is no Acceptance phase, the dossier switches to the Active Timetable after submitting the Ad-hoc Request Offer.

5. Adhoc Path request (Partially Harmonized)

It starts as the regular Adhoc Path Request, but the leading applicant can decide in the Harmonization phase that changes the process from fully harmonized to partially harmonized. The partial harmonization process works the same way for applicants as for IMs/ABs. The applicant-IM pairs move independently through the phases until the Acceptance phase where the request must be harmonized again.

TTP2026

1. Timetable start/end date

Timetable start date (X): 2025-12-14
Timetable end date: 2026-12-12

2. IMPORTANT Milestones/Deadlines

2.1 New path request

Opening TTP2026/Dossier creation: 2024-10-21
First day for feasibility studies request: 2024-10-21
PaP publication (X-11): 2025-01-13
Last day for feasibility studies requests: 2025-02-16
Last day to correct errors detected in PaPs (X-10.5): 2025-01-27
Last day for answering to path study requests: 2025-03-17
Path Request deadline for annual TT (X-8): 2025-04-14
Last day to request NPR PaPs (X-8): 2025-04-14
Last day on which C-OSS can make pre-booking on PaPs (X-7.5): 2025-04-28
Publication of the International Draft Timetable (X-5): 2025-07-07
Deadline for final answers to customers; Publication of Final Offer (X-3.5): 2025-08-25

2.2 Late Path Request (LPR)

First day of Late Path Requests submission (X-8): 2025-04-15
First day for submission of Late path requests to C-OSS: 2025-04-29
Last day of Late Path Requests submission (X-2): 2025-10-13
Last day for submission of Late path requests to C-OSS: 2025-10-13
First day for C-OSS to answer for Late Path Requests: 2025-08-26
Last day for C-OSS to answer for Late Path Requests: 2025-11-06

2.3 Ad-hoc Path Request

Publication of the Reserve Capacity (RC) for C-OSS: 2025-10-13
First day for ad-hoc requests for TT2025: 2025-10-14

3. New Path Request (fully harmonized process)

3.1 Main phases

3.1.1 Open phase

Can be started on 21.10.2024 at 00:00.

A dossier can be created in the open phase until 14.04.2025, at 23:59, having in mind that if the path request is placed after the NPR deadline, it will be automatically created as a Late Path Request.

3.1.2 Harmonization

Harmonization starts depending on the leading applicant.

3.1.3 Pre-booking

Between 15.04.2025 at 00:00 and 27.04.2025 at 23:59: Corridor OSSs of the Rail Freight Corridors will pre-book Pre-arranged Paths (PaPs) or will pre-book the accepted alternative PaPs.

3.1.4 Path Elaboration

15.04.2025 at 00:00 – 07.07.2025 at 23:59: For all involved IMs/ABs harmonization process period and consultation of the timetable.

3.1.5 Observations

From 08.07.2025 00:00 to 08.08.2025 23:59: applicants may make observations. The “Make observation” button is available in the Comment area where applicants can make their observations with pre-defined messages in a more structured way.

3.1.6 Post-processing

Between 09.08.2025 at 00:00 and 25.08.2025 at 23:59, IMs/ABs/RFCs prepare the final answers to the customers. Once all IMs/ABs/RFCs have finished their final adjustments, the dossier can be promoted to the Final Offer phase.

3.1.7 Final Offer

26.08.2025 at 00:00: from this date on, all involved applicants will decide whether they can accept and obtain or refuse the offered final timetable version.

Both the Draft Offer and the Final Offer can be sent later.

3.1.8 Active Timetable

Once the dossier reaches the Active Timetable the dossier contains the agreed final state of the path for a particular timetable period. In this phase, path requests are waiting for the start of the timetable period.

When the timetable period starts the leading entities should Close the dossier if there will NOT be any excepted future deviation or changes.

PCS opens the opportunity to ask for the change of some elements on the already finally agreed path from this phase:

Applicants can start the Path Modification process
IMs/ABs can start the Path Alteration process

3.2 Automatic one-time promotions

3.2.1 Harmonization, submitting Path Request

14.04.2025 at 03:00 and at 23:00: Path Request Deadline.

a. Without PaPs

Harmonization -> Path Elaboration

All dossiers in the Harmonisation phase with all applicants’ (path-related) lights green will be switched automatically from Harmonization via Path Request to Path Elaboration phase.

Conditions to switch:

complete all missing data
all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

b. With PaPs

Harmonization -> Pre-booking

All dossiers in the Harmonisation phase with all applicants’ path-related lights green will be switched automatically from Harmonization via Path Request to the Pre-booking phase.

Conditions to switch:

complete all missing data
all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

3.2.2 Submitting Draft Offer

a. Path Elaboration -> Observations

On 07.07.2025 at 03:00 and 23:00: All agreed and harmonized dossiers with all green lights will be switched automatically from Path Elaboration via Draft Timetable to Observations.

Conditions to switch:

all involved IMs/ABs/RFCs lights are green.
RFCs have the coordinating role they also should set their lights to green before the deadline to successfully submit the Draft Offer.

After this deadline, the coordinating IM/AB/RFC has to switch dossiers with all green lights manually. All Applicant’s lights change to blue in Observations.

b. Observations -> Post-Processing (Harmonized)

08.08.2025 at 23:00: at the end of the Observations phase, all dossiers will be switched automatically from Observations to the Post-Processing phase.

Conditions to switch:

regardless of the applicants’ path-related lights, applicants’ lights are may blue, green, yellow, or red
only works for dossiers for which the draft offer is sent on time and reached the Observations until 07.07.2025 without being part of the partial harmonization.

The dossier can also be switched manually to Post-Processing by the leading applicant before the deadline. The IM/AB/RFC lights will change to blue in Post-Processing.

3.3 Automatic daily promotions

a.Path Elaboration -> Observations (Harmonized & Partial Harmonized)

08.07.2025 – 13.12.2025 at 03:30: All agreed and harmonized and partial harmonized dossiers with all green lights will be switched automatically from Path Elaboration via Draft Timetable to Observations.

Conditions to switch:

all involved IMs/ABs/RFCs lights are green.
RFCs have the coordinating role they also should set their lights to green before the deadline to successfully submit the Draft Offer.

After this deadline, the coordinating IM/AB/RFC has to switch dossiers with all green lights manually. All Applicant’s lights change to blue in Observations.

b. Observations -> Post-Processing (Harmonized & Partial Harmonized)

09.08.2025 – 13.12.2025 at 03:30: all dossiers will be switched automatically from Observations to the Post-Processing phase.

After spending 30 days in the phase “Observation”, the dossiers, regardless of the date when the dossier reached Observation will be automatically switched to the Post-Processing phase.

Conditions to switch:

30 days spent in the Observations phase
regardless of the applicants’ path-related lights, applicants’ lights are may blue, green, yellow, or red

a. Observations -> Closed (Harmonized)

Between 08.07.2025 and 13.12.2025 at 03:30: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all applicants’ lights are red to Closed.

Conditions to switch: all applicant’s path-related light is red

b. Post-processing -> Final Offer (Harmonized & Partial Harmonized)

From 26.08.2025 till 13.12.2025 at 03:30, the system checks the status of acceptance indicators and switches those dossiers that have all IMs/ABs/RFCs light on green automatically to the Final Offer phase.

Conditions to switch: all involved IMs/ABs/RFCs path-related lights are green

In case of a partial offer, the system checks the status of acceptance indicators and switches those applicant-IM pairs independently where IMs/ABs/RFs lights are green.

c. Final Offer -> Active Timetable (Harmonized)

26.08.2025 to 13.12.2025 at 03:30: all involved applicants accept the final offer by setting all lights to green. To keep the dossier “alive” after the construction of the annual timetable once the final offer has been accepted, all dossiers with all applicants’ lights green will be switched automatically in the next Active Timetable phase.

Conditions to switch: all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

Note: Please check the IMs’ national network statement because the national answering deadlines may differ in Europe.

d. Final Offer -> Closed (Harmonized)

Between 26.08.2025 and 13.12.2025 at 03:30: the system regularly checks (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all applicant’s light is red to Closed.

Conditions to switch: all applicant’s path-related light is red

3.4 Actions to be performed

a. Advice for requesting NPR PaPs

If the path request is created close to the deadline the leading applicant can use the “last chance” to insert PaPs to the dossier before the New Path Request deadline, and we recommend doing it by 14.04.2025 at 22:59. The leading Applicants will be able to check the dossiers once more in the Harmonisation phase, and the dossiers will be automatically switched to Pre-booking phase at 23:00 h on the same day.

Conditions to switch:

complete all missing data
all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

b. Remaining Dossiers: Harmonization conference -> Harmonization

14.04.2025 at 04:00: if there are any remaining dossiers in the Harmonization Conference, they will be switched to Harmonisation

Conditions to switch: only if dossiers have already a feasibility study timetable.

With this approach, the leading Applicants will be able to check the dossiers once more in the Harmonisation phase before the Path Request Deadline, and the dossiers will be automatically switched at 23:00 h on the same day.

c. Just started the Harmonization conference

Dossiers that have just started the Harmonization Conference will be kept in the Harmonization Conference.

The leading applicant must ensure that all participants agree with the request. This process is controlled by making sure that all ‘lights’ are green. Unless all lights are green it will not be possible to switch the dossier automatically to path request.

4. Feasibility Study (FS)

4.1 Automatic one-time promotions

a. Harmonization-conference -> Feasibility Elaboration Conference

20.01.2025 at 23:00: The “time limit” for placing feasibility study requests for timetable 2026. Automatically switching all dossiers that are in the Harmonization Conference to the Feasibility Elaboration Conference.

NEW: the last day for the submission of feasibility studies for the TTP2026 is changed to February 16, therefore, based on the approval of the PCS CCB members on 14.10.2024 at the Bi-weekly report meeting, a new configuration has been introduced to PCS, which will be a repeat of the original configuration of January 20 on the 16 of February. The old configuration (20^th of January) will still be retained to align with the FTE A passenger traffic conference and the new configuration will assist passenger traffic users in promoting the dossiers on the new deadline date (16^th of February).

16.02.2025 at 23:00: The “time limit” for placing feasibility study requests for timetable 2026. Automatically switching all dossiers that are in the Harmonization Conference to the Feasibility Elaboration Conference.

Both configurations above have the same conditions to switch!

Conditions to switch:

if all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green or at least yellow.
Common mandatory train parameters are fulfilled

b. Harmonization Conference -> Harmonisation (Retrieval)

21.01.2025 at 23:00: automatically switch all dossiers that are in Harmonization Conference back to Harmonisation

NEW: the last day for the submission of feasibility studies for the TTP2026 is changed to February 16, therefore, based on the approval of the PCS CCB members on 14.10.2024 at the Bi-weekly report meeting, a new configuration has been added to PCS, which will be a repeat of the original configuration of January 21 on the 17 of February. The old configuration (21^st of January) will still be retained to align with the FTE A passenger traffic conference and the new configuration will assist passenger traffic users in retrieving unfinished feasibility studies on the new deadline date (17^th of February).

17.02.2025 at 23:00: automatically switch all dossiers that are in Harmonization Conference back to Harmonisation

Both configurations above have the same conditions to switch!

Conditions to switch: any of the involved applicants’ path-related light is red or blue.

c. Feasibility Elaboration Conference -> Harmonization (Completed)

17.03.2025 at 23:00 (the limit for answering path study requests): automatically switching all dossiers that are in Feasibility

Elaboration Conference to Harmonization.

Conditions to switch:

all involved IMs/ABs path-related lights may be green, yellow, red, or blue, the Feasibility Study Result will be treated in the system as ‘acknowledged’.

4.2 Automatic daily promotions

a. Harmonization Conference -> Harmonisation (no activity)

22.01.2025 – 13.12.2025 at 03:30: Daily switching all dossiers that are in Harmonization Conference to Harmonisation:

8 days of no activity after the last save
15 days of no activity in the dossier

Conditions to switch: the lights are not taken into account only the activity in the dossiers.

Note: The triggering rule of 8/15 days of no activity causing an automatic transfer from Harmonization Conference to Harmonization is switched off on 15.12.2024 until it is switched on again in 2025 January.

b. Feasibility Study Elaboration -> Feasibility Elaboration Conference (no activity)

01.01.2025 – 31.12.2025 at 03:30: automatically switching all dossiers that are in Feasibility Study Elaboration to Feasibility Elaboration Conference:

days of no activity: 8 days of no activity after the last save

Conditions to switch: the lights are not taken into account only the activity in the dossiers.

c. Feasibility Study Result -> Harmonization

Between 17.03.2025 – 21.03.2025 at 03:30: between this period switching all dossiers that are in Feasibility Study Result to Harmonisation

Conditions to switch:

all involved IMs/ABs’ path-related lights may be green, yellow, red, or blue,
the Feasibility Study Result will be treated in the system as ‘acknowledged’.

d. Path Elaboration -> Observation

From 07.07.2025 to 08.08.2025 at 03:30: the system will check every night that there are any dossiers with all IMs/ABs/RFCs lights on green and will switch them directly from Path Elaboration to Observations.

Conditions to switch: all involved IMs/ABs/RFCs path-related lights are green

4.3 Actions to be performed

a. Feasibility Elaboration Conference -> Feasibility Study Elaboration (Not completed – Step 1)

In case when the feasibility study CAN NOT be completed by the IM/AB on time, and they decide that this dossier should NOT be switched automatically to Harmonisation on 17.03.2025 at 23.00 h. then the IM/AB has to switch this dossier manually from Feasibility Elaboration Conference to Feasibility Study Elaboration before 17.03.2025 at 23.00 h.

b. Feasibility Study Elaboration -> Feasibility Study Result (Not completed – Step 2)

Afterwards, the switching from Feasibility Study Elaboration to Feasibility Study Result has to be done manually by the coordinating IMs/ABs.

c. If starting the feasibility study process late the leading entities have to manually coordinate and manually switch the dossiers through the Feasibility Study phases.

5. Late Path Request (LPR)

5.1 Main phases

5.1.1 Open phase

Can be started on 15.04.2025 at 00:00.

A dossier can be created in the open phase until 13.10.2025, at 23:59, having in mind that if the path request is placed after the LPR deadline, it will be automatically created as Adhoc Path Request for TTP 2026.

5.1.2 Harmonization

Harmonization starts depending on the leading applicant.

5.1.3 Pre-booking

Corridor OSSs of the Rail Freight Corridors will pre-book Pre-arranged Paths (PaPs) or will pre-book the accepted alternative PaPs.

5.1.4 Path Elaboration

For all involved IMs/ABs harmonization process period and consultation of the timetable.

5.1.5 Acceptance

During this phase, the Applicants check the offer from the IMs. They can make their comments and ask for improvements or agree with the offer.

5.1.6 Post-processing

IMs/ABs/RFCs prepare the final answers to the customers. In this phase, IMs/ABs/RFCs may optimize the train paths. Once all IMs/ABs/RFCs have finished their final adjustments, the dossier can be promoted to the Final Offer phase.

5.1.7 Final Offer

All involved applicants will decide whether they can accept and obtain or refuse the offered final timetable version.

Both the Late Request Offer and the Final Offer can be sent later.

5.1.8 Active Timetable

When the timetable period starts the leading entities should Close the dossier if there will NOT be any excepted future deviation or changes.

PCS opens the opportunity to ask for the change of some elements on the already finally agreed path from this phase:

Applicants can start the Path Modification process
IMs/ABs can start the Path Alteration process

5.2 Automatic one-time promotions

There are no automatic one-time promotions in the Late Path request process type.

5.3 Automatic daily promotions

5.3.1 Harmonization, submitting Late Path Request

a. Without PaPs

Harmonization -> Path Elaboration

From 01.01.2025 to 31.12.2025 at 03:30: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all applicants’ path-related lights are green.

Conditions to switch:

complete all missing data
all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

b. With PaPs

Harmonization -> Pre-booking

From 01.01.2025 to 31.12.2025 at 03:30: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all applicants’ path-related lights are green.

Conditions to switch:

complete all missing data
all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

5.3.2 Submitting Late Path Request Offer

a. Acceptance ->Active Timetable

From 26.08.2025 to 13.12.2025 at 03:30: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all applicants’ path-related lights are green

Conditions to switch: all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

b. Post-processing -> Final Offer

Conditions to switch: all involved IMS/ABs’/RFCs path-related lights are green

c. Final Offer -> Active Timetable

Conditions to switch: all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

d. Acceptance -> Closed

Conditions to switch: all involved applicants’ path-related lights are red

e. Final Offer -> Closed

Conditions to switch: all involved applicants’ path-related lights are red

5.4 Actions to perform

a. Path Elaboration ->Acceptance

Manual switch: the leading IM/AB has to switch manually dossiers with all green lights from IMs/ABs/RFCs from Path Elaboration to Late Request Offer.

Conditions to switch: All involved IMs/ABs/RFCs’ path-related lights are green

The system prevents IM/ABs from submitting a Late Request Offer until the regular New Path Request process Final Offer deadline is passed (25.08.2025).

b. Skip Post-Processing and Final Offer phases: the leading applicant can directly switch the dossier manually to the Active Timetable. This eliminates two phases: the Post-Processing and the Final Offer.

6. Valid for all process types:

6.1 Path Alteration

a. Path Alteration Conference -> Path Alteration Offer

Conditions to switch: all involved IMS/ABs’ path-related lights are green

b. Path Alteration Offer -> Active Timetable (All process types)

Conditions to switch: all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

6.2 Path Modification

a. Path Modification Conference -> Path Modification Request

Conditions to switch: all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

Path Modification Elaboration -> Path Modification Offer

Conditions to switch: all involved IMS/ABs’ path-related lights are green

Path Modification Offer -> Active Timetable (All process types)

Conditions to switch: all involved applicants’ path-related lights are green

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