Delay Attribution Guide

The Delay Attribution Guide contains a list of delay attribution codes and reasons. The same codes are used in Train Cancellation messages sent on the Train Movements feed. The current (September 2016) codes are listed here for reference.

Codes are grouped in to several sections:

• A* - Freight Terminal Operations Causes
• D* - Departmental Holding Cause Code
• F* - Freight Train Operator causes (excluding Fleet and Terminal problems)
• I* and J* - Non Passenger’s Charter Excludable infrastructure problems
• M* and N* - Passenger and Freight Train Operator Fleet problems
• O* - Network Rail operating causes
• P* - Planned or Excluded delays/cancellations
• Q* - Network Rail internal non-operating causes
• R* - Station operating causes
• T* - Passenger Train Operator causes (excluding Fleet and Station problems)
• V* - Passenger’s Charter excludable events the responsibility of Passenger Train Operators
• X* - Passenger’s Charter excludable events the responsibility of Network Rail
• Y* - Reactionary/consequential delays arising as a result of trains being delayed earlier by a given incident
• Z* - Unexplained delays and cancellations

Delay Attribution Codes

Code	Cause	Abbreviation
AA	Waiting acceptance into off Network Terminal or Yard	ACCEPTANCE
AC	Waiting train preparation or completion of TOPS list/RT3973	TRAIN PREP
AD	Off Network Terminal or Yard staff shortage including reactionary congestion caused by the shortage	WTG STAFF
AE	Congestion in off Network Terminal or Yard	CONGESTION
AG	Wagon load incident including adjusting loads or open door	LOAD INCDT
AH	Customer or off Network yard equipment breakdown/reduced capacity	YARD EQUIP
AJ	Waiting Customer’s traffic including documentation	TRAFFIC
AK	Safety incidents and mishaps (e.g. derailments, fire or chemical spill) in off Network Rail network freight yard or terminal (including private sidings, and stations – where it affects FOC services)	YARDSAFETY
AX	Failure of off network infrastructure (FOC or private)	OFFNET INF
AZ	Other Freight Operating Company. Cause to be specified, including mishaps in off Network terminals or yards	YARD OTHER
DA	Non Technical Fleet Holding Code	HOLD NT FL
DB	Train Operations Holding Code	HOLD T-OPS
DC	Train Crew Causes Holding Code	HOLD T-CRW
DD	Technical Fleet Holding Code	HOLD T FL
DE	Station Causes Holding Code	HOLD STN
DF	External Causes Holding Code	HOLD EXT
DG	Freight Terminal and or Yard Holding Code	HOLD YARD
DH	Adhesion and or Autumn Holding Code	HOLD AUTM
FA	Dangerous goods incident	DANG GOODS
FC	Freight train driver	FOC DRIVER
FE	Train crew not available	NO T/CREW
FG	Driver adhering to company professional driving standards or policy	PRO DRIVER
FH	Planning issues including loco diagrams or RT3973 restriction not requested	PLAN ISSUE
FI	Delay in running due to the incorrect operation of the on- board ETCS/ ERTMS equipment - i.e. wrong input by driver.	ETCS INPUT
FJ	Train held at FOC request	HOLD REQST
FK	Train diverted or re-routed at FOC request	DIVERT REQ
FL	Train cancelled at FOC request or planned not to run	CANCEL REQ
FM	Tail lamp/head lamp out or incorrectly shown	LAMP ISSUE
FN	Late presentation from Europe	LATE CHUNL
FO	Delay in running believed to be due to train operator, but no information available from that Operator	FOC UNEX
FP	Incorrect route taken or route wrongly challenged by driver, including SPAD's	FOC ROUTE
FS	Delay due to ETCS/ ERTMS on-board overriding driver command	ETCS OVRD
FT	Freight Operator autumn-attribution Neutral Zone delays	LF NEUTRAL
FW	Late start or yard overtime not explained by Train Operator	LATE START
FX	Freight train running at lower class or speed than planned classification or overweight	TRAIN SPEC
FZ	Other FOC causes incl. FOC control directive, cause to be specified, including mishaps.	FOC OTHER
I0	Telecom equipment failures legacy (inc. NRN/CSR/RETB link)	RADIO FLR
I1	Overhead line/third rail defect	OHL/3 RAIL
I2	AC/DC trip	AC/DC TRIP
I4	OHL/third rail power supply failure or reduction	SUPPLY FLR
I5	Possession over-run from planned work	OVERRUN
I6	Delays as a result of track patrolling blocks	TRK PATROL
I7	Engineer's train late or failed in possession	ENGNRS TRN
I8	Animal Strike/Incursion within the control of Network Rail	ANIMAL
I9	Fires starting on Network Rail Infrastructure	INFRA FIRE
IA	Signal failure	SIGNAL FLR
IB	Points failure	POINTS FLR
IC	Track circuit failure	TC FAILURE
ID	Level crossing failure incl. barrow/foot crossings and crossing treadles	LEVEL XING
IE	Signalling functional power supply failure	SIG FUNC PWR
IF	Train Describer/Panel/ARS/SSI/TDM/Remote Control failure	PANEL FLR
IG	Block failure	BLOCK FLR
IH	Power supply and distribution system failure	PWR SUP DIS
II	Signalling lineside cable fault	SIG CABLE
IJ	AWS/ATP/TPWS/Train Stop/On-track equipment failure	AWS/ATP
IK	Telephone equipment failure	TELECOMS
IL	Token equipment failure	TOKEN FLR
IM	Infrastructure Balise Failure	BALISE FLR
IN	HABD/Panchex/WILD/Wheelchex	HABD FAULT
IP	Points failure caused by snow or frost where heaters are fitted but found to be not operative or defective	POINT HEAT
IQ	Trackside sign blown down, missing, defective, mis-placed	TRACK SIGN
IR	Broken/cracked/twisted/buckled/flawed rail	RAIL FLAW
IS	Track defects (other than rail defects i.e. fish plates, wet beds etc)	TRACK FLT
IT	Bumps reported - cause not known	TRACK NFF
IV	Earthslip/subsidence/breached sea defences (not the result of severe weather on the day of failure)	EARTHSLIP
IW	Non severe weather - snow/ice/frost affecting infrastructure equipment	INF WEATHR
IZ	Other infrastructure causes	INF OTHER
J0	Telecom radio failures IVRS/GSM-R	GSM-R FLR
J2	Network Rail train dispatch equipment failure excluding telecoms equipment	TRTS FLR
J3	Axle Counter Failure	AXLE C FLR
J4	Infrastructure Safety Issue Reported by Member of the Public – No Fault Found	MOP NFF
J5	Infrastructure Fault Report Proven to be mistaken	MIS REPORT
J6	Lightning strike against unprotected assets	LIGHTNING
J7	ETCS/ ERTMS Equipment Failure (excluding communications link and balises)	ETCS FLR
J8	Damage to infrastructure caused by on-track machine whilst operating in a possession	OTM DAMAGE
J9	Preventative Maintenance to the infrastructure in response to a Remote Condition Monitoring Alert	RCM ALERT
JA	TSR speeds for Track-work outside the Rules of the Route	TSRNOT EAS
JB	Reactionary Delay to 'P' coded TSR	TSR REACTN
JD	Structures - Bridges/tunnels/buildings/ embankments (not bridge strikes)	STRUCTURES
JG	ESR/TSR due to works not completed or cancelled possession (where restriction did not exist prior to possession)	ESR/TSR
JH	Critical Rail Temperature speeds, (other than buckled rails)	HEAT SPEED
JK	Flooding not due to exceptional weather	FLOODING
JL	Network Rail staff oversight or error (Maintenance / Infrastructure)	STAFF ERR
JP	Failure to maintain vegetation within network boundaries in accordance with prevailing Network Rail standards, including where signals are obscured and a train strikes branches.	VEGETATION
JS	Condition of Track TSR outside the Timetable Planning Rules	TRACK COND
JT	Points failure caused by snow or frost where heaters are not fitted	NO PNT HTR
JX	Miscellaneous items (including trees) causing obstructions, not the result of trespass, vandalism, weather or fallen/thrown from trains	MISC OBJCT
M0	Confirmed train cab based safety system fault (including GSM-R)	CAB SAFETY
M1	Confirmed Pantograph ADD, shoe beam or assoc.system faults Incl. positive PANCHEX activations	PANTO/SHOE
M7	Door and Door system faults	DOORS
M8	Other technical failures above the Solebar	ABOVE SBAR
M9	Reported fleet equipment defect - no fault found	FLEET NFF
MB	Electric loco failure, defect, attention.	ELEC LOCO
MC	Diesel loco failure, defect, attention.	DIESL LOCO
MD	Other technical failures below the solebar	BELOW SBAR
ME	Steam locomotive failure/defect/attention	STEAM LOCO
MF	International/Channel Tunnel locomotive failure/defect/attention	CHUNL LOCO
ML	Wagons, coaches and parcel vehicle faults	WAGN/COACH
MN	Brake and brake systems faults; including wheel flats where no other cause had been identified	BRAKE/WHLS
MP	Rail / wheel interface, adhesion problems (including ice on the running rail)	ADHESION
MR	Sanders and scrubber faults	SANDER
MS	Planned underpowered or shortformed service and or vehicle, incl. exam set swaps	ALOC STOCK
MT	Confirmed train borne safety system faults (not cab based)	SYST FAULT
MU	Depot operating problem	DEPOT OPS
MV	EngineerÕs on-track equipment failure outside possession	ON-TRACK
MW	Weather - effect on T&RS equipment	WEATHR FLT
MY	Coupler and Coupler system faults	COUPLER
NA	On-train TASS/TILT failure	TASS/TILT
OA	Regulation decision made with best endeavours	ENDVR REG
OB	Delayed by signaller not applying applicable regulating policy	REGULATION
OC	Signaller, including wrong routing and wrong ETCS/ ERTMS instruction	SIGNALLER
OD	Delayed as a result of Route Control decision or directive	NR CONTROL
OE	Failure to lay Sandite or operate Railhead Conditioning train as programmed	RHC PROG
OG	Ice on conductor rail/OLE	ICING
OH	ARS software problem (excluding scheduling issues and technical failures)	ARS
OI	Formal Inquiry Incident - other operators	JOINT INQ
OJ	Fire in station building or on platform, affecting operators not booked to call at that station	STN FIRE
OK	Delay caused by Operating staff oversight, issues or absence (excluding signallers and Control)	OPTG STAFF
OL	Signal Box not open during booked hours	BOX CLOSED
OM	Technical failure associated with a Railhead Conditioning train	RHC FAIL
ON	Delays not properly investigated by Network Rail	MIS-INVEST
OP	Failure of TRUST or SMART system preventing recording and investigation of delay	TRUST FLR
OQ	Incorrect Simplifier	SIMPLIFIER
OS	Late start or delays to Railhead Conditioning Train (RHC) including any reactionary delay to other trains	RHC LATE
OU	Delays un-investigated	UN-INVEST
OV	Fire or evacuation due to fire alarm of Network Rail buildings other than stations not due to vandalism	NR FIRE
OW	Connections held where the prime incident causing delay to the incoming train is a FOC owned incident and service is more frequent than hourly	FOC CONECT
OZ	Other Network Rail Operating causes	OPTG OTHER
PA	TSR within Timetable Planning Rules	PLANND TSR
PB	Condition of asset TSR within Engineering Access Statement (EAS)	PLANND COT
PD	TPS cancellation (Not to be input in TSI/TRUST)	TPS CANC
PE	Cancelled due to planned engineering work	ENGNRG WRK
PF	Planned engineering work - diversion/SLW not timetabled (within Rules of the Route)	DIVRSN/SLW
PG	Planned cancellation by Train Operator including Bank Holiday schedules	PLAND CANC
PJ	Cancellation of a duplicate or erroneous schedule or associated duplicate delay	DUPLICATE
PL	Exclusion agreed between Network Rail and Train Operator	AGREED EXC
PN	VSTP service delays of 5 minutes or under caused by regulation and or time lost in running.	VSTP DELAY
PT	TRUST Berth Offset inaccuracies	OFFSET ISS
PZ	Other contractual exclusion	OTH EXC
QA	WTT Schedule and or LTP process including erroneous simplifiers.	WTT SCHED
QB	Planned engineering work - diversion/SLW not timetabled (outside the Timetable Planning Rules.)	DIVRSN/SLW
QH	Adhesion problems due to leaf contamination	RAILCONTAM
QI	Cautioning due to railhead leaf contamination	CAUTCONTAM
QJ	Special working for leaf-fall track circuit operation	LEAVES T/C
QM	Train Schedule/STP process including erroneous simplifiers	STP SCHED
QN	VSTP schedule / VSTP process (TSI created schedule)	VSTP SCHED
QP	Reactionary Delay to "P" coded Possession	PLND REACT
QT	Delay accepted by Network Rail as part of a commercial agreement where no substantive delay reason is identified	COMMERCIAL
R1	Incorrect train dispatch by station staff	DISPATCH
R2	Late TRTS given by station staff	LATE TRTS
R3	Station staff unavailable - missing or uncovered	STAFF MSNG
R4	Station staff split responsibility - unable to cover all duties	STAFF DUTY
R5	Station staff error - e.g. wrong announcements, misdirection	STAFF ERR
R7	Station delays due to special events e.g. sports fixtures	SPEC EVENT
RB	Passengers joining/alighting	PASSENGERS
RC	Pre-booked assistance for a person with reduced mobility joining/alighting	BKD ASSIST
RD	Attaching/detaching/shunter/watering	ATT/DETACH
RE	Lift/escalator defect/failure	LIFT/ESC
RH	Station evacuated due to fire alarm	FIRE ALARM
RI	Waiting connections - not authorised by TOC Control	UNAUTH CON
RJ	Special Stop Orders - not authorised by TOC Control	UNAUTH SSO
RK	Waiting passenger connections authorised by TOC but outwith TOC/Network Rail connection policy	AUTH CON
RL	Special Stop Orders authorised by TOC Control (including any delay at point of issue)	AUTH SSO
RM	Waiting connections from other transport modes	XTNL CONN
RN	Passengers "forcing" connections between trains outside connectional allowances	PASS CONN
RO	Passengers taken ill on platform	PASS ILL
RP	Passenger dropped object whilst boarding/alighting from train and train delayed at TOC request	PASS DROP
RQ	Un-booked assistance for a person with reduced mobility joining/alighting	UBKD ASST
RR	Loading or unloading reserved bicycles	BIKE RSVD
RS	Loading or unloading unreserved bicycles	BIKE URSVD
RT	Loading excessive luggage	EXCES LUGG
RU	Locating lost luggage	LOST LUGG
RV	Customer Information System failure	PASS INFO
RW	Station flooding (including issues with drains) not the result of weather, where the water has not emanated from Network Rail maintained infrastructure/network	STN FLOOD
RY	Mishap - Station Operator cause	STN MISHAP
RZ	Other Station Operator causes	STN OTHER
T2	Delay at unstaffed station to non-DOO train	NONDOO STN
T3	Waiting connections from other transport modes	XTNL CONN
T4	Loading Supplies (including catering)	SUPPLIES
TA	Train-crew/loco/stock/unit diagram issues	DIAG ISSUE
TB	Train cancelled/delayed at Train Operator's request	TOC REQEST
TC	Booked Traincrew used for additional/other service	CREW USED
TD	Booked loco/stock/unit used for additional/other service	STOCK USED
TE	Injury to passenger on train	PASS INJRY
TF	Seat reservation problems	SEAT RESVN
TG	Driver	TOC DRIVER
TH	(Senior) Conductor/Train Manager	T-MGR/COND
TI	Traincrew rostering problem	ROSTERING
TJ	Tail lamp or headlamp missing, not lit or wrongly displayed	LAMP ISSUE
TK	Train catering staff (including Contractors)	CATERING
TM	Connection authorised by TOC but outwith connection policy	AUTH CONN
TN	Late presentation from the continent	LATE CHUNL
TO	Delay believed to be due to Operator, but no information available from Operator	TOC UNEX
TP	Special Stop Orders	AUTH SSO
TR	Train Operating Company Directive	TOC DIRECT
TS	Delay due to ETCS/ ERTMS on-board overriding driver command	ETCS O-RDE
TT	Autumn-attribution Neutral Zone delays (See Supplementary Autumn Attribution Guidance)	LF NEUTRAL
TW	Driver adhering to company professional driving standards or policy	PRO DRIVER
TX	Delays incurred on non-Network Rail running lines including London Underground causes (except T&RS)	LUL CAUSES
TY	Mishap-Train Operating Company cause	TOC MISHAP
TZ	Other Passenger Train Operating Company causes	TOC OTHER
V8	Train striking bird (pheasant or smaller)	SMALL BIRD
VA	Disorder/drunks/trespass etc	DISORDER
VB	Vandalism/theft	VANDALISM
VC	Fatalities/injuries sustained whilst on a platform as the result of being struck by a train or falling from a train	FATALITIES
VD	Passenger taken ill on train	ILL PASS
VE	Ticket irregularities/refusals to pay	TICKET IRR
VF	Fire caused by vandalism	VANDL FIRE
VG	Police searching train	POLICE-TRN
VH	Communication cord or emergency train alarm operated	COMM CORD
VI	Security alert affecting stations and depots	SEC ALERT
VR	Driver adhering to company professional driving standards or policies during severe weather conditions that are not fleet related	PRO DRIVER
VW	Severe weather affecting passenger fleet equipment including following company standards/policies or Rule Book instructions	SEV WEATHR
VX	Passenger charter excludable events occurring on the LUL or other non NR running lines	LUL CAUSES
VZ	Other passenger or external causes the responsibility of TOC	EXT OTHER
X1	Visibility in semaphore signalled areas, or special working for fog and falling snow implemented by Network Rail - in all signalling areas	SPL WRKING
X2	Severe flooding beyond that which could be mitigated on Network Rail infrastructure	SEV FLOOD
X3	Lightning Strike - damage to protected systems.	LIGHTNING
X4	Blanket speed restriction for extreme heat or high wind in accordance with the Group Standards	BLKT SPEED
X8	Animal Strike/Incursion not within the control of Network Rail	EXT ANIMAL
X9	Points failure caused by severe snow where heaters are working as designed	SEV SNOW
XA	Trespass (Including non-intentional)	TRESPASS
XB	Vandalism/theft (including the placing of objects on the line)	VANDALS
XC	Fatalities or injuries caused by being hit by train (Including non-intentional)	FATALITIES
XD	Level Crossing Incidents	XING INCDT
XF	Police searching line	POLICE-RLY
XH	Severe heat affecting infrastructure the responsibility of Network Rail (excluding Heat speeds)	SEV HEAT
XI	Security alert affecting Network Rail Network	SEC ALERT
XK	External Power Supply Failure Network Rail Infrastructure	EXTL POWER
XL	Fire external to railway infrastructure	EXTL FIRES
XM	Gas/water mains/overhead power lines	GAS/WATER
XN	Road related - excl bridge strikes/level crossing incident	ROAD INCDT
XO	External trees, building or objects encroaching onto Network Rail infrastructure (not due to weather or vandalism)	EXT OBJECT
XP	Bridge Strike	BRIDGE HIT
XQ	Swing bridge open for river or canal traffic	BRIDGE OPN
XR	Cable vandalism or theft	CABLE CUT
XT	Severe cold weather affecting infrastructure the responsibility of Network Rail	SEV COLD
XU	Sunlight on signal or dispatch equipment	SUN OBSCUR
XV	Fire or evacuation due to fire alarm of Network Rail buildings due to vandalism (not including stations)	VANDL FIRE
XW	High winds affecting infrastructure the responsibility of Network Rail including objects on the line due to the effect of weather	HIGH WIND
XZ	Other external causes the responsibility of Network Rail	EXT OTHER
YA	Lost path - regulated for train running less late	REG-ONTIME
YB	Lost path - regulated for another late running train	REG-LATE
YC	Lost path - following train running less late	FOL-ONTIME
YD	Lost path - following another late running train	FOL-LATE
YE	Waiting to/from single line	TO S/LINE
YG	Regulated in accordance with Regulation Policy	REG INSTRC
YI	Late arrival of booked inward stock	INWD STOCK
YJ	Late arrival of booked Traincrew	INWD CREW
YK	Waiting connecting Freight or Res traffic to attach	CNNCTN TFC
YL	Waiting passenger connections within connections policy, contingency plan or otherwise agreed by NR/TOC	AUTHSD CON
YM	Special stop orders within the contingency plan or agreed by NR/TOC	AUTHSD SSO
YN	Service Recovery- booked train crew, not available	FIND CREW
YO	Waiting platform/station congestion/platform change	PLATFORM
YP	Delays due to diversions from booked route or line	DIVERSION
YQ	Passenger overcrowding caused by a train being of short formation	SHRT FRMD
YR	Tactical cancellation for service recovery not caused by late running	SR CNCL
YT	Reactionary delay to a train that is not leaving the network, by a train that is leaving the network	NON NR INF
YX	Passenger overcrowding caused by delay or cancellation of another train or its own late running	OVER CRWD
ZW	Unattributed Cancellations	UNATT CANC
ZX	Unexplained late start	UNEX START
ZY	Unexplained Station overtime	UNEX OTIME
ZZ	Unexplained loss in running	UNEX LOSS