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The Train Describer feed provides low-level detail about the position of trains and their train reporting number through a network of berths.  Usually, but not always, a berth is associated with a signal - but there are locations (such as terminal platforms at stations) where there may be more than one berth.  From each berth, there are zero or more other berths which a train description may step in to.  A step between berths represents movement of the train from one berth to another.  Some of these steps may be one-way, some may be two-way.
The Train Describer feed provides low-level detail about the position of trains and their train reporting number through a network of [[TD_Berths|berths]].  Usually, but not always, a berth is associated with a signal - but there are locations (such as terminal platforms at stations) where there may be more than one berth.  From each berth, there are zero or more other berths which a train description may step in to.  A step between berths represents movement of the train from one berth to another.  Some of these steps may be one-way, some may be two-way.


To access the TD data feed, you must select and subscribe to the appropriate geographical topic(s) on the ''My Feeds'' page on the Data Feeds website (see the [[About_the_feeds|about the feeds]] page.
To access the TD data feed, you must select and subscribe to the appropriate geographical topic(s) on the ''My Feeds'' page on the Data Feeds website (see the [[About_the_feeds|about the feeds]] page.)


See also the [[List_of_Train_Describers|list of train describers]] page.
See also the [[List_of_Train_Describers|list of train describers]] page, where you will find information on specific TD's including user contributions & documentation provided by Network Rail such as S-Class data, maps and stepping data.


= Topics =
= Topics =


ActiveMQ topics are provided for signalling in specific geographic areas, as well as a topic representing all TD data in the country.
Train Describer messages (C-Class and S-Class) are presented on a single ActiveMQ topic named '''TD_ALL_SIG_AREA'''.  Previously, they were also available on a number of separate topics however the mappings had not been updated for many years.
 
For historical reference, the geographical topics were:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Topic
!Former topic
!Description
!Description
|-
|TD_ALL_SIG_AREA
|All signalling areas
|-
|-
|TD_SE_SIG_AREA
|TD_SE_SIG_AREA
Line 36: Line 35:
|TD_LNW_C_SIG_AREA
|TD_LNW_C_SIG_AREA
|London North Western - Central
|London North Western - Central
|-
|TD_LNW_WMC_SIG_AREA
|London North Western - West Midlands Central
|-
|-
|TD_WCS_SIG_AREA
|TD_WCS_SIG_AREA
Line 65: Line 67:
= Message types =
= Message types =


The Train Describer feed has seven message types, split into two classes.
The Train Describer feed has seven message types, split into two classes. See individual pages for further details.
 
== C Class Messages: Berth Movement ==
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Type
! Name
! Details
|-
|CA
|Berth Step
|The CA message is a 'step' message.
This moves the description from the 'from' berth, in to the 'to' berth, cancelling the description in the 'from' berth and overwriting any description in the 'to' berth.
|-
|CB
|Berth Cancel
|The CB message is a 'cancel' message.
This cancels the description in the 'from' berth.
|-
|CC
|Berth Interpose
|The CC message is an 'interpose' message. 
This inserts the description in to the 'to' berth, overwriting any description in the 'to' berth.
|-
|CT
|Heartbeat
|The CT message is a 'heartbeat' message, periodically sent from a train describer.
|-
|}
 
=== Message Format ===
 
Messages are sent in JSON format, as follows:
 
* {"CA_MSG":{"time":"1349696911000", "area_id":"SK", "msg_type":"CA", "from":"3647", "to":"3649", "descr":"1F42"}}
* {"CB_MSG":{"time":"1349696911000", "area_id":"G1", "msg_type":"CB", "from":"G669", "descr":"2J01"}}
* {"CC_MSG":{"time":"1349696911000", "area_id":"G1", "msg_type":"CC", "descr":"2J01", "to":"G669"}}
* {"CT_MSG":{"time":"1349696911000", "area_id":"SA", "msg_type":"CT", "report_time":"1249"}}
 
=== Message Fields ===
 
{| class="wikitable"
!Field
!CA
!CB
!CC
!CT
!Details
|-
|time
|•
|•
|•
|•
|Message time
UNIX timestamp ''in milliseconds'' since the UNIX epoch
|-
|area_id
|•
|•
|•
|•
|Alphanumeric code representing the TD area that the message originates from (see [[List_of_Train_Describers|list of train describers]])
|-
|msg_type
|•
|•
|•
|•
|Type of message
Can be CA_MSG, CB_MSG, CC_MSG or CT_MSG
|-
|from
|•
|•
|
|
|''From'' berth (see [[TD_Berths|TD berths]] page)
|-
|to
|•
|
|•
|
|''To'' berth (see [[TD_Berths|TD berths]] page)
|-
|descr
|•
|•
|•
|
|Train description
Four-letter alphanumeric code representing the headcode or description of the train
|-
|report_time
|
|
|
|•
|Reporting time
|-
|}
 
== S Class Messages: Signalling Data ==


{| class="wikitable"
* [[C_Class_Messages | C-Class Messages]] provide information about train describer berths and descriptions
! Type
* [[S_Class_Messages | S-Class Messages]] provide signalling state information
! Name
! Details
|-
|SF
|Signalling Update
|Updates the signalling data for a specified set of signalling elements
|-
|SG
|Signalling Refresh
|Part of a set of SG messages which update the whole set of signalling data for TD area.  Terminated by an SH message.
|-
|SH
|Signalling Refresh Finished
|Last message in a signalling refresh
|-
|}
 
S-Class messages report the status of the following signalling elements:
 
* '''Signal aspects''' - whether the signal is displaying its most restrictive aspect or not
* '''Points''' - whether the points are set normal or reverse
* '''Route set''' - the route set from a signal to another signal or bay platform
* '''TRTS buttons''' - the status of a Train Ready to Start button, used by train dispatch staff to indicate to the signaller that platform duties are complete
* '''Level crossings''' - whether they are lowered or raised
* '''Track circuits''' - whether a particular track circuit is occupied or not


Not all train describers support S-Class data, and those that do may only support a subset of the available groups of data.  The [[List of Train Describers]] shows S-Class support.
= Cross-midnight bug =
 
There is a known issue with the TD feed that can cause a very small number of messages to be given an incorrect timestamp.  The NR TD feed assumes that all TD events occur on the date they are received by the feed.  This assumption is almost always correct but can be wrong for messages received <1s before midnight.  Such messages can easily be spotted and corrected by comparing the timestamp in the message to the current time (in UTC) and adjusting by 24 hours if there is a large difference.
=== Message Format ===
 
Messages are sent in JSON format, as follows:
 
* {"SF_MSG":{"time":"1349696911000", "area_id":"WJ", "msg_type:"SF", "address":"3E", "data":"18", "report_time":"073814"}}
* {"SG_MSG":{"time":"1349696911000", "area_id":"WJ", "msg_type:"SG", "address":"30", "data":"900000C0", "report_time":"073814"}}
* {"SH_MSG":{"time":"1349696911000", "area_id":"WJ", "msg_type:"SH", "address":"30", "data":"900000C0", "report_time":"073814"}}
 
=== Message Fields ===
 
{| class="wikitable"
!Field
!SF
!SG
!SH
!Details
|-
|time
|&bull;
|&bull;
|&bull;
|Message time
UNIX timestamp ''in milliseconds'' since the UNIX epoch
|-
|area_id
|&bull;
|&bull;
|&bull;
|Alphanumeric code representing the TD area that the message originates from (see [[List_of_Train_Describers|list of train desrcibers]])
|-
|msg_type
|&bull;
|&bull;
|&bull;
|Type of message
Can be SF_MSG, SG_MSG or SH_MSG
|-
|address
|&bull;
|&bull;
|&bull;
|Address of the signalling data being updated.  For an SF_MSG, this is the individual signalling element.  For an SG_MSG or SH_MSG, this is the starting address for the four bytes supplied in the data field.
|-
|data
|&bull;
|&bull;
|&bull;
|Signalling data
|-
|report_time
|&bull;
|&bull;
|&bull;
|Reporting time
|-
|}


=== Interpreting S-Class data ===
The impact of this is very minor, usually only 3-5 messages out of the approx. 1.5-2 million published by the feed on a typical day.  However, it may affect latency monitoring of the feed, so affected messages should be corrected or ignored in such calculations.


S-Class data represents the state of individual signalling elements within a TD area as bits within a set of 2,048 bits (numbered from 0x00 to 0xFF).  The number of bits needed for a TD area depends on the number of signalling elements within that area.  Each time an element changes state, an SF message is sent with the value of the elements in the relevant byte.
= Examples and Source Code =
* [https://github.com/openraildata/td-example-python3 Python example]
* [https://github.com/openraildata/td-trust-example-elixir Elixir example]


Every few hours, the state of all bits is sent as a 'refresh' in a series of SG messages with the value of groups of four bytes.  These messages are terminated with an SH message.
{{Navtable-DataFeeds}}


To decode the set of addresses and bits in to signalling elements, a mapping table containing a list of bits and the signalling elements to which they refer is needed.  To reference this to signals on the track layout, a diagram containing signal numbers, routes available from signals, point numbers and track circuit detail is also needed.
[[Category:Train Describer Data]]
[[Category:C Class Messages]]
[[Category:S Class Messages]]

Latest revision as of 12:22, 1 June 2023

The Train Describer feed provides low-level detail about the position of trains and their train reporting number through a network of berths. Usually, but not always, a berth is associated with a signal - but there are locations (such as terminal platforms at stations) where there may be more than one berth. From each berth, there are zero or more other berths which a train description may step in to. A step between berths represents movement of the train from one berth to another. Some of these steps may be one-way, some may be two-way.

To access the TD data feed, you must select and subscribe to the appropriate geographical topic(s) on the My Feeds page on the Data Feeds website (see the about the feeds page.)

See also the list of train describers page, where you will find information on specific TD's including user contributions & documentation provided by Network Rail such as S-Class data, maps and stepping data.

Topics

Train Describer messages (C-Class and S-Class) are presented on a single ActiveMQ topic named TD_ALL_SIG_AREA. Previously, they were also available on a number of separate topics however the mappings had not been updated for many years.

For historical reference, the geographical topics were:

Former topic Description
TD_SE_SIG_AREA Scotland - East
TD_SW_SIG_AREA Scotland - West
TD_LNE_NE_SIG_AREA London North Eastern - North East
TD_MC_EM_SIG_AREA Midlands & Continental - East Midlands
TD_LNE_GN_SIG_AREA London North Eastern - Great Northern
TD_LNW_LC_SIG_AREA London North Western - Lancashire and Cumbria
TD_LNW_C_SIG_AREA London North Western - Central
TD_LNW_WMC_SIG_AREA London North Western - West Midlands Central
TD_WCS_SIG_AREA West Coast - South
TD_ANG_SIG_AREA Anglia
TD_KENT_MCC_SIG_AREA Kent and Midlands & Continental
TD_SUSS_SIG_AREA Sussex
TD_WESS_SIG_AREA Wessex
TD_WTV_SIG_AREA Western - Thames Valley
TD_WWC_SIG_AREA Western - West Country
TD_WWM_SIG_AREA Western Wales and Marches

Message types

The Train Describer feed has seven message types, split into two classes. See individual pages for further details.

Cross-midnight bug

There is a known issue with the TD feed that can cause a very small number of messages to be given an incorrect timestamp. The NR TD feed assumes that all TD events occur on the date they are received by the feed. This assumption is almost always correct but can be wrong for messages received <1s before midnight. Such messages can easily be spotted and corrected by comparing the timestamp in the message to the current time (in UTC) and adjusting by 24 hours if there is a large difference.

The impact of this is very minor, usually only 3-5 messages out of the approx. 1.5-2 million published by the feed on a typical day. However, it may affect latency monitoring of the feed, so affected messages should be corrected or ignored in such calculations.

Examples and Source Code


Network Rail Open Data Feeds
Data Feeds About the Feeds • Account States • Durable Subscriptions • Example Code ( PHP / C# / Java / Ruby / Node.js) • Advanced Uses • FAQ • Release Notes
RTPPM RTPPM Feed
Train Movements Train Movements Feed • Train Activation • Train Cancellation • Train Movement • Train Reinstatement • Change of Origin • Change of Identity • Change of Location • TSPEED Field • Planned Cancellations • Cancellation Codes
TD TD Feed • C-Class Messages • S-Class Messages • Train Describers • TD Berths
VSTP VSTP Feed
TSR TSR Feed • Route Codes
SCHEDULE SCHEDULE Feed • TIPLOC Records • Schedule and Location Records • Association Records • CIF Codes • How Scheduling Works • Allowances
Reference Data Reference Data Feed • TOC Codes • CIF Codes • Delay Attribution Codes • Identifying Locations (STANOX, TIPLOC, NLC and 3-Alpha Codes) • STANOX Geographical Areas • Train Planning data (BPLAN)
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