PCS Guidelines/Milestones/Deadlines for the TTP2023 and TTP2024

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TTP2023

TTP2024


Table of contents

TTP2023

1.      Timetable start/end date

2.      Ad-hoc start date

3.      PCS Automatic Promotions (Adhoc)

4.      Adhoc Pre-Accepted (Harmonized)

5.      Adhoc Path request (Partially Harmonized)

1.      Timetable start/end date

TTP2024

2.      IMPORTANT Milestones/Deadlines

2.1 New path request

2.2 Late Path Request (LPR)

2.3 Ad-hoc Path Request

3.      New Path Request (fully harmonized process)

3.1 Main phases

3.1.1 Open phase

3.1.2 Harmonization

3.1.3 Pre-booking

3.1.4 Path Elaboration

3.1.5 Observations

3.1.6 Post-processing

3.1.7 Final Offer

3.1.8 Active Timetable

3.2 Automatic one-time promotions

3.2.1 Harmonization, submitting Path Request

3.2.2 Submitting Draft Offer

3.3 Automatic daily promotions

3.4 Actions to be performed

4.      Feasibility Study (FS)

4.1 Automatic one-time promotions

4.2 Automatic daily promotions

4.3 Actions to be performed

5.      Late Path Request (LPR)

5.1 Main phases

5.1.1 Open phase

5.1.2 Harmonization

5.1.3 Pre-booking

5.1.4 Path Elaboration

5.1.5 Acceptance

5.1.6 Post-processing

5.1.7 Final Offer

5.1.8 Active Timetable

5.2 Automatic one-time promotions

5.3 Automatic daily promotions

5.3.1 Harmonization, submitting Late Path Request

5.3.2 Submitting Late Path Request Offer

5.4 Actions to perform

6.      Valid for all process types:

6.1 Path Alteration

6.2 Path Modification

7.      CT catalogue publication

8.      RFC PaP publication

9.      Important meetings

9.1. FTE meetings: link the page

9.2 RNE Technical Meeting


TTP2023

1.    Timetable start/end date

  • Timetable start date (X): 2022-12-11
  • Timetable end date: 2023-12-09

2.     Ad-hoc start date 

18/10/2022 at 00:00: the first moment for placing ad-hoc path requests for the running timetable 2023.

3.     PCS Automatic Promotions (Adhoc)

There are no automatic promotions that exist for the Adhoc process type.

4.     Adhoc Pre-Accepted (Harmonized)

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.

TTP2024

1.     Timetable start/end date

  • Timetable start date (X): 2023-12-10
  • Timetable end date: 2024-12-07

2.     IMPORTANT Milestones/Deadlines

2.1 New path request

  • PaP publication (X-11): 2023-01-09
  • Last day for feasibility studies requests: 2023-01-16
  • Last day for answering to path study requests: 2023-03-13
  • Last day to correct errors detected in PaPs (X-10.5): 2023-01-23
  • Path Request deadline for annual TT (X-8): 2023-04-11
  • Last day to request NPR PaPs  (X-8): 2023-04-11
  • Last day on which C-OSS can make pre-booking on PaPs (X-7.5): 2023-04-24
  • Publication of the International Draft Timetable (X-5): 2023-07-03
  • Deadline for final answers to customers; Publication of Final Offer (X-3.5): 2023-08-21

2.2 Late Path Request (LPR)

  • First day of Late Path Requests (X-8): 2023-04-12
  • Last day of Late Path Requests (X-2): 2023-10-16
  • First day for submission of Late path requests to C-OSS: 2023-04-25
  • Last day for submission of Late path requests to C-OSS: 2023-10-16
  • First day for C-OSS to answer for Late Path Requests: 2023-08-22
  • Last day for C-OSS to answer for Late Path Requests: 2023-11-13

2.3 Ad-hoc Path Request

  • First day for ad-hoc requests for TT2024: 2023-10-17

3.     New Path Request (fully harmonized process)

3.1 Main phases

3.1.1 Open phase 

Can be started on 22.11.2022 at 00:00.

A dossier can be created in the open phase until 11.04.2023, at 23:59, having in mind that if the path request is placed it will be automatically created as Late Path Request.

3.1.2 Harmonization

Harmonization depends on the leading applicant.

3.1.3 Pre-booking

Between 12.04.2023 at 00:00 and 24.04.2023 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

12.04.2023 at 00:00 – 03.07.2023 at 23:59:  For all involved IMs/ABs harmonization process period and consultation of the timetable.

3.1.5 Observations

From 04.07.2023 00:00 to 04.08.2023 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 05.08.2023 at 00:00 and 21.08.2023 at 23:59, 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. 

3.1.7 Final Offer

21.08.2023 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 reached the Active Timetable the dossier contains the agreed final state of the path for a particular timetable period.  In this phase, pah requests are waiting for the start of the timetable period.

When the timetable period started 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

11.04.2023 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 03.07.2023 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)

04.08.2023 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 03.07.2023 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. Observations -> Post-Processing (Partial Harmonized & Harmonized)

05.08.2023 – 09.12.2023 at 03:00:  all dossiers will be switched automatically from Observations to the Post-Processing phase.

After spending 30 days in the phase “Observation”, for the dossiers without the triggered partial harmonization, 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

b. Observations -> Closed

Between 03.07.2023 and 09.12.2023 at 03:00: 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 

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

From 05.08.2023 till 09.12.2023 at 03:00, 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.

d. Final Offer -> Active Timetable (Harmonized)

21.08.2023 to 09.12.2023 at 03:00:  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 phase 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.

f. Final Offer -> Closed (Harmonized)

Between 21.08.2023 and 09.12.2023 at 03:00: the system checks regularly (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 11.04.2023 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

11.04.2023 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 that have already ‘acknowledged’ the Feasibility Study Result

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

16.01.2023 at 23:00: The “time limit” for placing feasibility study requests for timetable 2024. Automatically switching all dossiers that are in Harmonization Conference to Feasibility Elaboration Conference.

Conditions to switch: if all involved applicant’s path-related lights are green or at least yellow.

b. Harmonization Conference -> Harmonisation 

17.01.2023 at 23:00: automatically switch all dossiers that are in Harmonization Conference back to Harmonisation

Conditions to switch: regardless of the involved applicants’ path-related lights

c. Feasibility Elaboration Conference -> Harmonization (Completed)

13.03.2023 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 bluethe Feasibility Study Result will be treated in the system as ‘acknowledged’.

4.2 Automatic daily promotions

a. Harmonization Conference -> Harmonisation (no activity)

19.01.2023 – 31.12.2023 at 03:00: Daily switching all dossiers that are in Harmonization Conference to Harmonisation:

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

Conditions to switch: at least one applicant’s path-related light is red or blue.

Note: The triggering rule of 8/15 days of no activity causing an automatic transfer from Harmonization Conference to Harmonization is switched off on 10.12.2023 until it is switched on again in 2024 January.

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

01.01.2023 – 31.12.2023 at 03:00: 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: at least one IM’s/ABs’ path-related light is red or blue. 

c. Feasibility Study Result -> Harmonization 

Between 13.03.2023 – 17.03.2023 at 03:00:   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 03.07.2023 to 04.08.2023 at 03:00:  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 13.03.2023 at 23.00 h. then the IM/AB has to switch this dossier manually from Feasibility Elaboration Conference to Feasibility Study Elaboration before 13.03.2023 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 12.04.2022 at 00:00.

A dossier can be created in the open phase until 16.10.2023, at 23:59, having in mind that if the path request is placed it will be automatically created as Adhoc Path Request until 21.11.2023 at 23:59.

5.1.2 Harmonization

Harmonization depends 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

Once the dossier reached 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 started 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 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 at 03:00: 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 01.01.2023 to  31.12.2023 at 03:00: 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 22.08.2023 to 09.12.2023 at 03:00: 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 

From 22.08.2023 to 09.12.2023 at 03:00: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all IMs/ABs/RFCs path-related lights are green

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

c. Final Offer -> Active Timetable

From 22.08.2023 to 09.12.2023 at 03:00: 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

d. Acceptance -> Closed

From 22.08.2023 to 09.12.2023 at 03:00: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all applicants’ path-related lights are red

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

 e. Final Offer -> Closed

From 22.08.2023 to 09.12.2023 at 03:00: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all applicants’ path-related lights are red

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 (22.08.2023).

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 

From 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 at 03:00: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all IMs/ABs’ path-related lights are green

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

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

From 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 at 03:00: 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

6.2 Path Modification 

a. Path Modification Conference -> Path Modification Request

From 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 at 03:00: 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

  • Path Modification Elaboration -> Path Modification Offer

From 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 at 03:00: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all IMs/ABs’ path-related lights are green

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

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

From 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 at 03:00: 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

7.     CT catalogue publication

Path Elaboration (CT) -> Published (CT) 

From 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 at 03:00: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all IMs/ABs’ path-related lights are green

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

8.     RFC PaP publication

Path Elaboration (PaP) -> Published (PaP)

From 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 at 03:00: the system checks regularly (every night) the status of acceptance indicators and automatically switches those dossiers where all IMs/ABs’ path-related lights are green

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

9.     Important meetings

9.2 RNE Technical Meeting

12.06.2023 – 15.06.2023: In order to fulfil the harmonization process during the RNE Technical Meeting, all IMs/ABs have to ensure the availability of the constructed/designed train path.