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.
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.
The interstate network connects all main capital cities and uses a four-character numbering system, which applies to both freight and passenger trains.
The Heavy Haul network covers both the Hunter Valley Coal network and other coal traffic in NSW.
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.
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.
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 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.
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]
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.
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.
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'.
| 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) |
| 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 |
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.
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.
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.
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 | 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
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
| |||||||||||
| NNNNA | Second character – The district in which the train will finish its journey
| |||||||||||
| NNNNA | Third character – Any odd or even number not already used | |||||||||||
| NNNNA | Fourth characterOdd numbers = Down trains, away from Melbourne (or Portland to Maroona) Even numbers = Up trains, towards Melbourne (or Maroona to Portland) | |||||||||||
| NNNNA | Fifth characterV = Operating within Victoria |
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]
Branch lines are numbered in a manner consistent with the Victorian and NSW Intrastate train numbering systems.[1]
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 stopping pattern. For example, 3092AS is an all stations up service on the Joondalup Line, and 6065TA is an all stations down service on the Armadale/Thornlie Line to Thornlie.[6]
First Digit
Pattern Identifiers