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Train reporting number (Australia)

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Train reporting numbers are used on Australian railway networks to help network operators, and other users, coordinate train movements and identify trains. The numbers are used similarly to airline flight numbers, and enable a train to be identified to network controllers and other relevant authorities, and are also used by train operators for internal train management purposes.

Although Australian train reporting number systems are based on the United Kingdom system, each state has developed its own numbering system, with some similarities and differences. They generally include an indication of an origin and/or destination of a train, but differ in the way they denote the various features of the train, such as the operator, the type of train, the type of load, and whether the train is travelling in an up or down direction.

To date, there has been no significant move towards standardisation of the numbering system.

National (ARTC)

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The national interstate network is managed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), which uses a system-wide train reporting number (comprising letters and numbers) to identify trains operating on its network.[1] The train operating number is different depending on the designated part of the network on which the train is operating. These include the Interstate Network, the Heavy Haul (Hunter Valley Coal) Network, and the ARTC-managed lines within state boundaries (Intrastate Networks). Passenger trains are sometimes numbered differently. Other systems are used for specific circumstances, such as light engines, maintenance trains, or heritage trains.

Interstate network numbering

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The interstate network connects all main capital cities and uses a four-character numbering system, which applies to both freight and passenger trains.

First Digit
(Day of Departure)
Second Digit
(Origin)
Third Digit
(Destination)
Fourth Digit
(Order of Departure)
1 = Sunday
2 = Monday
3 = Tuesday
4 = Wednesday
5 = Thursday
6 = Friday
7 = Saturday
A = Adelaide
B = Brisbane
C = Junee/Cootamundra/Griffith
D = Darwin
F = Mudgee/Dubbo/Cowra
G = Parkes
H = Hunter Valley
J = Victoria North East
K = Victoria North West
L = Alice Springs
M = Melbourne
N = Newcastle
O = Fisherman Islands
P = Perth
Q = Moree
R = Port Pirie
S = Sydney
T = TareeMurwillumbah
U = Broken Hill
V = Goulburn/Moss Vale/Canberra
W = NSW South Coast
X = Spencer Junction/Port Augusta
Y = Whyalla
A = Adelaide
B = Brisbane
C = Junee/Cootamundra/Griffith
D = Darwin
F = Mudgee/Dubbo/Cowra
G = Parkes
H = Hunter Valley
J = Victoria North East
K = Victoria North West
L = Alice Springs
M = Melbourne
N = Newcastle
O = Fisherman Islands
P = Perth
Q = Moree
R = Port Pirie
S = Sydney
T = Taree – Murwillumbah
U = Broken Hill
V = Goulburn/Moss Vale/Canberra
W = NSW South Coast
X = Spencer Junction/Port Augusta
Y = Whyalla
Sequentially allocated based on order of departure
Number 8 is reserved for passenger services

Heavy haul network numbering

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The Heavy Haul network covers both the Hunter Valley Coal network and other coal traffic in NSW.

Hunter Valley Coal Network

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The Hunter Valley Coal network is one of the largest haulage networks in Australia. It uses a five-character numbering system but with three groupings of numbers to describe the train.

First and Second Digits
(Load/Unload point)
Third and Fourth Digit
(Destination)
Fifth Digit
(Loaded Status)
AH = Ashton
AS = Austar
AT = Macquarie Generation Antiene
BC = Bulga Coal
BE = Boggabri East
BF = Bloomfield
BG = Bengalla
BO = Boggabri Coal Loading Loop
BW = Mount Arthur
CW = Camberwell
DK = Dartbrook
DR = Drayton
DS = Donaldson/Bloomfield
DU = Duralie
ER = Eraring Power Station
GD = Gunnedah
HV = Hunter Valley
JU = Wambo/United
JW = Wambo/Jerry Plains
LD = Liddell Power Station
MB = Maules Creek
MN = Mangoola
MO = Mount Owen
MP = Mount Pleasant
MR = Moolarben
MT = Mount Thorley Bin 2
MW = Warkworth Bin 2
NA = Donaldson/Bloomfield (Southern)
NB = Narrabri
ND = Newdell
NM = Macquarie Generation
NW = Newstan
PW = Port Waratah
RB = Muswellbrook
RC = Rixs Creek
RV = Ravensworth
SF = Stratford
TB = Teralba
UL = Ulan
VP = Vales Point Power Station
WC = Werris Creek
WG = Wilpinjong
WH = Whitehaven Coal
WK = Warkworth Bin 1
WS = Walsh Point
100, 200, 300 Series = servicing the two Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) terminals in Kooragang and Morandoo
400, 800 Series = Sydney Trains services
500 Series = Gunnedah Basin services
600 Series = North Coast services
700 Series = Macquarie Generation services

900 Series = National Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) terminal on Kooragang Island

Odd Number = Empty train
Even Number = Loaded Train

South and West Coal Network

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The South and West Coal network serves those mines not part of the Hunter Valley network, including those in the Central West and the Illawarra. It uses a slightly different five-character numbering system.

First and Second Digits
(Load/Unload point)
Third and Fourth Digit
(Sequential order of Departure)
Fifth Digit
(Loaded Status)
AR = Airly
BB = Baal Bone
CA = Clarence
CB = Charbon
CC = Coal Cliff
CG = Cringila BHP
IH = Inner Harbour
LS = Lidsdale
LG = Lithgow
MC = Metropolitan Colliery
TM = Tahmoor Colliery
TL = Thirroul
WW = Wallerawang
From (time) 00:01 to 06:00 - Train numbers between 00 and 25
From 06:01 to 12:00 - Train numbers between 26 and 50
From 12:01 to 18:00 - Train numbers between 51 and 75
From 18:01 to 24:00 - Train numbers between 76 and 99
Odd Number = Empty train
Even Number = Loaded Train

Intrastate network numbering

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The ARTC operates a number of branch lines within state boundaries. These are often standard gauge lines that would otherwise be isolated, or important lines that connect different parts of the ARTC network but are not part of the Interstate or Heavy Haul networks. Depending on the line, different numbering systems are used depending on the state in which the line is located. These systems are often based on the one used by the state's own rail operator. For example, the line numbering system used in NSW is similar to the ARTC system used on NSW networks. (Refer to the state numbering systems below.)

Other numbering

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Other systems are used for passenger trains, light engines, maintenance trains or heritage trains. They are detailed in the relevant Train Operating Manual, but are consistent with those used in the numbering systems of the state's own rail operator.

New South Wales

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There are two other rail network administrators in New South Wales: UGL for the Country Rail Network, and Sydney Trains for the metropolitan network bounded by Berowra, Emu Plains, Macarthur and Waterfall. Source for all information in this section:[2]

NSW Country Rail Network

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The NSW Country Rail Network numbering system is a continuation of the system developed over time by the NSW Government Railways and its successors. It is currently managed by UGL, though numbering remains the property of Transport for NSW.[3]

Train numbers on the NSW Country Rail Network use a four-number system for freight trains.

First Digit
(Origin)
Second Digit
(Destination)
Third Digit
(Operator)
Fourth Digit
(Up or Down)
1 = Sydney Trains Network
2 = Goulburn
3 = Junee
4 = Newcastle
5 = Werris Creek
6 = North Coast
7 = LithgowMerrygoen
8 = Orange
9 = Illawarra
1 = Sydney Trains Network
2 = Goulburn
3 = Junee
4 = Newcastle
5 = Werris Creek
6 = North Coast
7 = Lithgow – Merrygoen
8 = Orange
9 = Illawarra
00 – 09 = Sydney Trains (Freight)
10 – 19 = Qube
20 – 39 = Pacific National
40 – 49 = Southern Shorthaul Railroad
50 – 55 = Pacific National
56 – 59 = Aurizon
60 – 69 = Qube
70 – 71 = ARHS ACT Freight
72 – 73 = Pacific National Intermodal
74 – 75 = Not Utilised
76 – 79 = Southern Shorthaul Railroad
80 – 89 = Freightliner Australia
90 – 99 = Sydney Rail Services
Odd numbers - Down trains
Even numbers - Up trains

As with the national system, there are specific numbers for passenger trains, heritage trains and maintenance/inspection trains. Interstate trains and coal network trains are numbered as per the National Interstate network numbering above.

Metropolitan Network

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Within the Sydney Trains Network, normal, in-service (passenger) services are assigned numbers consisting of four alpha-numeric characters. The number is made up of a 'run' identifier and followed by a 'trip' identifier. A train will generally keep the same 'run' identifier for the whole day and increment its 'trip' identifier. The 'run' identifier is a 1-3 digit number, with dashes (-) added to make it 3 characters long. The numbers are generally allocated in blocks by scheduled train class. For example, as of October 2019, 1-22 are allocated to B sets. An exception is the Olympic Park line, which has alpha-numeric 'run' identifiers, with the first letter representing its destination (S=Sydney Central, B=Blacktown, L=Lidcombe). The 'trip' identifier is one character, or two for shorter lines, such as the Carlingford or Olympic Park lines. The whole train reporting number is officially referred to as the 'run number'.

Examples of Sydney Trains Run Numbers
Example 'Run' Identifier 'Trip' Identifier Meaning
1--A 1 A First trip of the day for train allocated run 1
15-B 15 B Second trip of the day for train allocated run 15
48AC 48 AC Third trip of the day for train allocated run 48
133D 133 D Fourth trip of the day for train allocated run 133
L2AE L2 AE Fifth trip of the day for train allocated run L2 (shuttle service between Olympic Park and Lidcombe)

The interurban/intercity (NSW TrainLink) network is slightly less organised, with no link between each successive run performed by a train. Train numbers are four characters, beginning with a one/two letter prefix, followed by numbers. The letter identifies which region the train is operating in:

Prefix Stands for Lines
N North Central Coast & Newcastle Line
V Hunter Line
C Coast South Coast Line - Trains to/from Sydney
K Kembla South Coast - Trains to/from Coalcliff (usually empty)
KN Kiama-Nowra South Coast - Kiama to Bomaderry (Nowra) Diesel Service
W West Blue Mountains Line
SN Southern Southern Highlands Line
H Interurban trains running empty within suburban network

Heritage Operated Trains

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Within the ARTC, Sydney Trains and Country Regional Networks, services operated by accredited Heritage Rail organisations have a unique four-digit train number that identifies the individual operator and the type of motive power deployed in the train consist. Numbering uses a convention of NANN.

First Digit
(Operator)
Second Digit
(Motive Power)
Third Digit
Fourth Digit
(Up or Down)
4 = Lithgow State Mine Railway
5 = East Coast Heritage Rail
6 = Transport Heritage NSW
7 = Rail Motor Society
8 = Lachlan Valley Railway
9 = Sydney Rail Services
D = Diesel Loco (Light Engine)
E = Electric Loco
L = Diesel Loco
R = Diesel Multiple Units and Rail Motors
S = Steam Loco
X = Electric Loco (Light Engine)
Z = Steam Loco (Light Engine)
0 to 9 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 (even numbers) = Up Trains
1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (odd numbers) = Down Trains

Train movements comprising mixed locomotives that include Electric locomotive(s) are to use the letter "E” to avoid the possibility of electric locomotive being turned onto unwired roads, or sections of track from which the current has been removed. This will apply with the pantographs in the raised or lowered positions.

Heritage services retain their original number for the entire journey even when travelling in the Up or Down direction.

NSW based Heritage Operated services use this train numbering system when working on the ARTC Network in Victoria and South Australia.

Victoria

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Weekly Notice 4/77 (25 January 1977) advised that the "Train Describer Numbering System" was to be introduced. Originally introduced for trains in the Melbourne suburban area, it was being used state-wide by 1981. It is a four-digit system, and all trains in Victoria are allocated a train number for use in the radio communications system.[4]

The following is a summary of how the system works.

First Digit
(Origin)
Second Digit
(Destination)
Third and Fourth Digit
(Up or Down)
0 = City Circle, shunts, docks, light locomotives and any train not described here (see notes)
1 = Epping and Hurstbridge
2 = Alamein and Glen Waverley
3 = Belgrave and Lilydale
4 = Dandenong, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston
5 = Upfield and Broadmeadows
6 = Sydenham, Williamstown and Werribee
7 = Special (used on a day-to-day basis)
8 = Country Passenger Trains
9 = Goods Trains
R = Showgrounds and Flemington Racecourse
X = Sandringham
Electric trains

0-5 = Flinders Street direct or local shuttle services
6-9 = Trains operating via the underground loop
Passenger and Goods trains
0 = Bendigo, Swan Hill, Echuca and beyond
1 = Ballarat, Maryborough, Mildura, Pinnaroo, Kulwin, Robinvale and area (inc Geelong - Ballarat)
2 = Geelong, Warrnambool Via Werribee (Only freight & special trains use this now), Melton & Bacchus Marsh

3 = North East Broad Gauge (Seymour, Albury, Tocumwal, Echuca via Toolamba)
4 = Eastern (Bairnsdale)
5 = Long Island, Stony Point and Metropolitan
6 = North East Standard Gauge (Melbourne - Albury)
7 = Western Standard Gauge (Melbourne – Wolseley) and standard gauge branches, Hopetoun, Yaapeet, and Portland
Geelong, South Geelong, Marshall & Waurn Ponds via Wyndham Vale.

8 = Through standard gauge trains (Albury - Wolseley and v/v)
Geelong, South Geelong, Marshall & Waurn Ponds (After all 87xx have been used up) Wyndham Vale, Warrnambool

9 = not used

Even numbers = Up or Through trains
Odd numbers = Down trains

Notes
1. Maroona to Portland is Up
2. Through trains sometimes retain their number, e.g.:
9080 - Geelong to Swan Hill via Tottenham
9280 - Swan Hill to Geelong via Tottenham
In this case the 2nd digit is the destination line, so for the journey before Tottenham the train has a different 2nd digit for the corridor it is running on.
3. In addition to the second digit for electric trains indicating whether it runs via the underground loop, it can also be used to work out which line the train runs on (in addition to the first digit telling you what group of lines the train is on).

Direct City Loop Line
1000 - 1199 1600 - 1799 Epping | Mernda??
1200 - 1399 1800 - 1999 Hurstbridge
2000 - 2199 2600 - 2799 Glen Waverley
2200 - 2399 2800 - 2899 Alamein
3000 - 3199 3600 - 3769 Belgrave
3200 - 3399 3800 - 3999 Lilydale
3400 - 3499 3770 - 3799xxnx Blackburn
3500 - 3599 xxnx Empty Cars, Lilydale and Belgrave
4000 - 4099 4600 - 4699 Pakenham
4100 - 4199 4700 - 4799 Cranbourne
4200 - 4249 Pakenham (shuttles)
4250 - 4299 Cranbourne (shuttles)
4300 - 4399 4800 - 4899 Frankston
4450 - 4499 Empty Cars, Cranbourne and Pakenham
4500 - 4599 Empty Cars, Frankston and locals
5000 - 5199 5600 - 5799 Broadmeadows
5200 - 5399 5800 - 5999 Upfield
6000 - 6099 6600 - 6799 Sydenham
6200 - 6399 Williamstown (shuttles)
6400 - 6499 6800 - 6999 Werribee

4. The following special train numbers are used in certain circumstances
0000 - 0000 Movements not described
0001 - 0100 Light Locomotives
0101 - 0150 Light Locomotives to/from West Tower via Engine Flyover
0151 - 0199 Light Locomotives to/from West Tower -undescribed
0200 - 0239 Special Country Trains in suburban area (used on day-to-day basis)
0240 - 0499 Pilots in the Spencer Street Area
0500 - 0599 Light locos (in connection with metropolitan freight train movements)
0601 - 0699 Docks and shunts at out stations
0700 - 0799 City Circle (anti clockwise)
0800 - 0899 City Circle (clockwise)
0900 - 0999 Standby Trains

ARTC Victorian standard gauge intrastate trains

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The ARTC has a specific numbering system for trains operating on the ARTC Standard Gauge network within Victoria that do not run into South Australia or New South Wales.

Character Description
NNNNA First Character – The district in which the train commenced
1-4 Not ARTC Network
5 Metropolitan broad gauge
6 Allocated to North East (standard gauge) (Melbourne – Albury, Benalla – Oaklands)
7 Allocated to Western (standard gauge) (Melbourne – Wolseley, Maroona – Portland)
9 Metropolitan standard gauge
NNNNA Second character – The district in which the train will finish its journey
1-4 Not ARTC Network
5 Metropolitan broad gauge
6 Allocated to North East (standard gauge) (Melbourne – Albury, Benalla – Oaklands)
7 Allocated to Western (standard gauge) (Melbourne – Wolseley, Maroona – Portland)
9 Metropolitan standard gauge
NNNNA Third character – Any odd or even number not already used
NNNNA Fourth character

Odd numbers = Down trains, away from Melbourne (or Portland to Maroona)

Even numbers = Up trains, towards Melbourne (or Maroona to Portland)

NNNNA Fifth character

V = Operating within Victoria

South Australia/Northern Territory

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The Adelaide–Darwin railway and branch lines in South Australia are administered by One Rail Australia. For the Adelaide–Darwin Railway, the numbering system used resembles the ARTC one, but there are differences in some of the lettering conventions.[5]

First Digit
(Day of Departure)
Second Digit
(Origin)
Third Digit
(Destination)
Fourth Digit
(Order of Departure)
1 = Sunday
2 = Monday
3 = Tuesday
4 = Wednesday
5 = Thursday
6 = Friday
7 = Saturday
A = Adelaide
D = Darwin
H = Katherine
L = Alice Springs
M = Muckaty
T = Tennant Creek

U = Union Reef

A = Adelaide
D = Darwin
H = Katherine
L = Alice Springs
M = Muckaty
T = Tennant Creek

U = Union Reef

Sequentially allocated based on order of departure

Branch lines are numbered in a manner consistent with the Victorian and NSW Intrastate train numbering systems.[1]

First Digit
(Origin)
Second Digit
(Destination)
Third Digit
(Filler digit)
Fourth Digit
(Up or Down)
Fifth Digit
(South Australia only)
1 = Dry Creek to Keswick, Pelican Point
2 = Beyond Keswick to SA border with Victoria
3 = All branch lines south of the Broken Hill line
4 = Beyond Dry Creek to Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Spencer Junction
5 = Crystal Brook East Junction to Broken Hill
6 = Beyond Spencer Junction to Whyalla
7 = All branch lines north of the Broken Hill line and east of the Darwin line
8 = Beyond Spencer Junction to SA border on line to Perth
9 = Beyond Tarcoola to SA border on line to Darwin
1 = Dry Creek to Keswick, Pelican Point
2 = Beyond Keswick to SA border with Victoria
3 = All branch lines south of the Broken Hill line
4 = Beyond Dry Creek to Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Spencer Junction
5 = Crystal Brook East Junction to Broken Hill
6 = Beyond Spencer Junction to Whyalla
7 = All branch lines north of the Broken Hill line and east of the Darwin line
8 = Beyond Spencer Junction to SA border on line to Perth
9 = Beyond Tarcoola to SA border on line to Darwin
Any number not yet used Odd numbers = Down trains
Even numbers = Up trains
S = Train operating in South Australia only

Western Australia

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Transperth services

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The Transperth Suburban rail system follows a standard convention, with a 4-digit number followed by two letters, to denote each service. The first number is the line, the following three being sequentially numbered, and the two letters indicating the stopping pattern. For example, 3092AS is an all stations up service on the Yanchep line, and 6065TA is an all stations down service on the Armadale/Thornlie line to Thornlie.[6]

First Digit

  1. Mandurah line
  2. unallocated
  3. Yanchep line
  4. unallocated
  5. Armadale line
  6. Thornlie line
  7. Fremantle line
  8. Airport line
  9. Midland line

Pattern Identifiers

  • Common identifiers
    • xxxxAS - All Stations
  • Armadale/Thornlie line
    • xxxxB - Express from Claisebrook to Queens Park, stopping only at Oats Street
    • xxxxC - Express from Claisebrook to Cannington, stopping only at Oats Street (also stops at Perth Stadium on Weekends, Public Holidays & for special events)
    • xxxxTA - All Stations to Thornlie (excluding Beckenham)
  • Fremantle line
    • xxxxD - Commences/Terminates at Shenton Park Station
    • xxxxW - Commences/Terminates at Claremont Station
  • Yanchep line
    • xxxxK - Commences/Terminates at Clarkson Station
    • xxxxW - Commences/Terminates at Whitfords Station
    • xxxxPW - Commences at Whitfords Station and Terminates at Perth Station
  • Mandurah line

Queensland

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Tasmania

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Train Numbering" (PDF). Australian Rail Track Corporation. January 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Train Operating Conditions Manual - General Instructions". 21 August 2019. pp. 109–120.
  3. ^ "Standard Working Timetable (SWTT)". Country Regional Network. John Holland. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Suburban - Victoria Train Numbering". Vicsig. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  5. ^ "GWA Schedules and Terminals". Genesee & Wyoming Australia. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  6. ^ "General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS)". Transperth > About > Spatial Data Access. Transperth. Retrieved 4 June 2020.