Documentation

 Introduction 

The European Capacity Management Tool (ECMT) is an online application providing a centralised capacity supply and capacity model overview of railway lines and routes. The tool consolidates capacity needs and capacity restrictions on the railway infrastructure based on the information provided by Infrastructure  Managers and Allocation Bodies. It offers the capacity supply and the capacity model visualisations and other related functionalities. 

ECMT was first launched as part of the Timetable Redesign (TTR) Pilots, and in the future, it will also intend to play the role of the capacity hub in the TTR IT Landscape.  

The aim of the following documentation is to give an overview of ECMT structure, functionalities and constraints.  

 

1. Access to ECMT 

1.1 ECMT account, login and password reset.  

New account request, login and password reset are available on the ECMT home page.  

 

1.1.1 Request a new ECMT account  

The request for the creation of an ECMT account can be sent via the online form available on the ECMT homepage after clicking on “Request new account” or by sending an email to the ECMT support team:  support.ecmt@rne.eu.  

The requests are reviewed by the ECMT support team. Once the request is approved, the requester will receive the login credentials per email.  

 

1.1.2 Password reset  

The user provides his/her email address. The email with the instructions for the password reset will be shortly received. 

 

1.1.3 Login 

The email address provided in the new account request and the password after the account creation, need to be entered on the ECMT home page. 

 

1.2 Access rights

Based on the user’s company (selected in the registration step), and the company’s attributes defined in CRD (The Central Reference File Database), the user would be defined as either “IM” or as “Applicant”. 

If the user belongs to IM, he would be able to define Capacity Model data objects for PLCs which do belong to his network (and no other IM, unless additionally defined in Access Right Module). 

In case if user belongs to the Applicant company, the user would be able to define the Capacity Need Announcement.  

The following menus, functions and information are publicly available with an anonymous profile and do not require an ECMT account:  

• Chart menu 

• Search menu (including overlapping objects detection function) 

• Only objects with a “published” status are visible on: charts, in search results and their object page.

 

The following user roles are available and provide the following additional features:

• Read-only role: custom save search  
• Editor role: all objects are visible and objects in the preparation phase are editable.

With an editor role, the editing rights on an object are available if the user is an editor on all the lines that are used by the route of the object. If the user is not an editor on at least one part of the route, the object will be read-only.

 

1.3 Access rights module

In this menu, IM users with the before mentioned Editor role can give members of other companies permission to view and/or edit objects of their company. These rights can either be given permanently or for a limited amount of time and can be revoked at any point. Additionally, users can give these permissions to all users of a company at once, in case two companies share a physical network and its responsibilities. Access can be given for Rights for other companies cannot be requested in the tool, they can only be given to others.

Users from company which gave rights to 3rd party can see what user/companies have access to their data.

 

2. ECMT menus 

ECMT navigation is organized around two menus for the anonymous users, four menus for the users with a read-only role and five menus for the users with an editor role. 

2.1 +Add CNA

 

2.2 Overview

This menu lists all objects, which have been created or edited by the user. A detailed view of these objects can be accessed using the links provided in the same rows as them. The Overview page can also be found under “My profile”.

2.3 ECMT Tabfolder 

This menu contains all the items from Capacity Model and Capacity Supply: 

The Capacity Model contains three overviews:

• Section Overview: Capacity situation between two PLCs (e.g. to gather information on the planned volumes for a border section). Mostly used by Applicants.
• Line Overview: Capacity situation on a selected line to facilitate the cross-border harmonisation and creation of variants (e.g. during TCR periods). Mostly used by IMs, Applicants
• Network Overview: General overview on capacity on a very high level (e.g. capacity situation of a selected country). Mostly used by higher management levels, Ministry of Transport,  etc.

The CapacitySupply shows so called “train graph” on international level, including TCRs. 

 

2.3.1 Capacity Model

2.3.1.1 Section Overview

2.3.1.2 Line Overview

 

2.3.1.3 Network Overview

2.3.2 Capacity Supply Chart

 

2.3.2.1. Structure of the chart

The space-time chart presents the objects positioned on a line or route according to the chart filters. The timeline is on the x-axis and the line/route locations are listed on the y-axis with a spacing considering the actual distance between the locations.

 

Chart features:

• Route filter: the chart can be based on a line or a route. In case of a route, the “From location” and “To location” shall be informed by the user and the tool calculates shortest route between these two locations considering the waypoint (optional field). The tool generates the chart with objects that are either fully or partially positioned on the generated route. As soon as there is one common location between two lines, the tool assumes the transfer of the train from one to another is possible.
• Zoom sliders: a zoom on a specific line, route or timeline section is possible with the zoom slider bars (thick grey lines above and on the right side of the chart)

• Link to the object page: a click with the mouse on the object positioned on the chart triggers the opening of the object page in a new tab.
• Tooltip: a mouse hover on the object positioned on the chart triggers the display of a text box containing basic information about the object.

Object representations:

• Path and Catalogue Path: line
• Capacity Band and TCRs: shape depending on the timetable

 

 

 

2.3.2.2 How to read the chart?

 

Objects are positioned on the chart based on their timetable.

 

Practical example:

Case:

• First a path, a TCR and a capacity band have been created on a route starting from J, passing by locations L and M and ending at N. 
• Secondly an ECM chart has been generated by for a route from A to N via J. The locations sequence calculated by the tool for this route is A-B-I-J-L-M-N.
• It is relevant to note that the three created objects are located on the route from A to N via J.

 

Interpretations:

• The zoom sliders have been adjusted to focus on the J-L-M-N route section between 01:00 and 16:00.
• The legend at the bottom of the chart refers to all objects included on the chart for route A-B-I-J-L-M-N.
• Path - Solid green line: the train arrives at location J at 8:00 and departs at 8:30. Between 11:45 and 12:00 it stays at location M and arrives at location N at 16:00.
• TCR - Blue line: TCR between 11:00 and 11:50 between locations J and M.
• Capacity Band – Yellow band: capacity planned with a 30minute timeframe from location J to N.

Search  

This menu contains the search function and the overlapping objects detection feature. Please refer to section 5 for more information. 

 

2.3. Data (available with editor role) 

This menu contains the object creation, editing and import functions. Please refer to section 6 for more information. 

 

2.4. My profile (available with read-only and editor roles) 

This menu contains the basic information about the user’s account (name, e-mail address etc) and the lines assigned to the user (available for editor roles).

 

 

3. Objects  

3.1. Object types 

• Path: capacity planned for one train. 

• Capacity Band: capacity planned for more than one path within a specific timeframe and with a predefined number of capacity slots. 

• Catalogue Path: pre-constructed capacity paths prepared by the infrastructure managers and offered to applicants. 

• Temporary Capacity Restrictions (TCRs): capacity restriction planned as necessary to maintain the infrastructure and allow development in accordance with market needs. 

Users with an editor role can manage the objects they have access to. Please refer to sections 1.2 and 6.1 for more information. 

 

3.2. Object allocation 

Objects are created either on a line or a route. The user with an editor role selects the allocation type when creating the object however, all objects (regardless of their allocation) are visible on the line and route space-time charts as well as in the search and overlapping objects detection results list if no specific filter is applied. 

 

 

4. ECM chart 

4.1. Structure of the chart 

The space-time chart presents the objects positioned on a line or route according to the chart filters. The timeline is on the x-axis and the line/route locations are listed on the y-axis with a spacing considering the actual distance between the locations.  

Chart features:  

• Line-Route switch: the chart can be based on a line or a route. If the user selects the route-based chart, the “From location” and “To location” shall be informed by the user and the tool calculates the shortest route between these two locations considering the waypoint (optional field). The tool generates the chart with the objects that are positioned on the route (either fully or partially). As soon as there is one common location between two lines, the tool assumes the transfer of the train from one to another is possible.

• Zoom sliders: a zoom on a specific line, route or timeline section is possible with the zoom slider bars (thick grey lines above and on the right side of the chart) 

• Link to the object page: a click with the mouse on the object positioned on the chart opens the object page in a new tab. 

• Tooltip: a mouse hover on the object positioned on the chart shows a tooltip containing basic information about the object. 

Object representations: 

• Path and Catalogue Path: line 

• Capacity Band and TCRs: shape depending on the timetable 

4.2. How to read the chart? 

Objects are positioned on the chart based on their timetable. 

Please see a practical example below: 

Case: 

• First, a path a TCR and a capacity band have been created on a route starting from J, passing by locations L and M and ending at N.   

• Secondly, a chart has been generated for a route from A to N via J. The location sequence calculated by the tool for this route is A-B-I-J-L-M-N.  

• It is relevant to note that the three created objects are located on the route from A to N via J. 

 

Interpretations: 

• The zoom sliders have been adjusted to focus on the J-L-M-N route section between 01:00 and 16:00. 

• The legend at the bottom of the chart refers to all objects included on the chart for route A-B-I-J-L-M-N. 

• Path - Solid green line: the train arrives at location J at 8:00 and departs at 8:30. Between 11:45 and 12:00 it stays at location M and arrives at location N at 16:00. 

• TCR - Blue line: TCR between 11:00 and 11:50 between locations J and M. 

• Capacity Band – Yellow band: capacity planned with a 30minute timeframe from location J to N. 

 

4.3. Object positioning over different lines and routes 

Objects are defined with a timetable on the entire length or on a partial section of a line or route, but the object information is stored per location. Therefore, objects may appear either fully, or partially on the other line/route charts and in the search results depending on the selected line and route and their potential timetable overlap. 

 

 

5. The search function 

5.1. Search function 

To refine the search, search filters are available. Search results list all objects according to the search filters. Each object is accessible by clicking on its title and a new tab with the page object opens.  

The All-Line-Route switch is available for the search function. If the user selects the route-based search, the “From location” and “To location” shall be inserted by the user and the tool calculates the shortest route between these two locations considering the waypoint (optional field). The tool generates the results list with the objects that are fully and partially positioned on the route. As soon as there is one common location between an object and the route, the object is listed.

 

5.2. Export function (available with read-only and editor roles)

Search results can be exported to excel (feature located at the bottom of the results page). 

 

5.3. Overlapping objects detection 

The overlapping objects detection feature is accessible at the bottom of each object page and lists in a new tab the objects overlapping with the base object. Objects are listed in the results as soon as they have one common location with the base object.

This feature is supposed to be a "conflict detection" feature, but as the tool has limited information about the infrastructure, it has been named “overlapping detection”. To provide some indication about potential conflict risk, each overlapping object is listed with a priority level. For example, an overlap with a total closure TCR has a high priority, while two paths overlapping each other at a station has low priority because crossing a total closure TCR is very likely to be a critical conflict while overtaking between two stations can happen even as planned. 

The feature is available at the bottom of the object page: 

 

 

 

6. Object creation, editing and import (available with editor role) 

In the Data menu’s drop-down list, the user selects the object type they want to manage and a new page with the import (section 7.2), adding/editing an object, object bulk operation (section 7.1.5) and search functions appear. 

 

6.1 Object creation and editing 

6.1.1. Search function and general guidelines  

• Search function 

The search function contains the same filters and has the same layout as the search function in the search menu. The user can search for objects and edit or choose one of the other operations available in the drop-down list of the column "Operations".

The All-Line-Route switch is available for the search function. If the user selects the route-based search, the “From location” and “To location” shall be inserted by the user and the tool calculates the shortest route between these two locations considering the waypoint (optional field). The tool generates the results list with the objects that are fully and partially positioned on the route. As soon as there is one common location between an object and the route, the object is listed.

 

• General guidelines 

In order to create an object, the user should click on the add new object button (“add new path” in the above screenshot example) and a new page opens. 

General guidelines when creating and editing objects:

• Mandatory fields are marked with an * and must be provided

• Circulation days and calendar: selection of the applicable weekday(s) and/or selection of the exact dates in the calendar. Note that if weekday(s) are selected, the calendar remains editable if specific dates need to be added/removed to/from the selection. 

• Timetable period: timetable period, for which the object is published. 

Line or route selection:

• The locations sort order is important as it indicates the running sequence of the object (start location on top). The sort order can be reversed with the reverse order feature (double arrows with opposite directions).

• For route-based objects: the “From location” and “To location” shall be inserted by the user and the tool calculates the shortest route between these two locations considering the waypoint(s) (optional field) and generates the timetable accordingly. As soon as there is one common location between two lines, the tool assumes the transfer of the train from one to another is possible.

• If needed, the line/route section can be shortened with “From location” and “To location”.

• Timetable: 

  • Timetable refresh: when an object needs to be created on a shortened line or route, the timetable needs to be refreshed after entering the customised locations by clicking on the button "Refresh timetable" 

  • Times are mandatory: at the first and the last location

  • Offset: automatically set if the tool detects a midnight crossing, but the user can also apply manual offsets, in case of a long dwell time at a station. 

 

Relevant object-specific additional information is listed below. 

 

6.1.2. Add/edit paths and catalogue paths 

Paths and catalogues paths are two distinct objects in the ECMT. However, the editing of these objects is identical. 

Train parameters: applicable for the entire line/route (if imputed). 

 

6.1.3. Add/edit Temporary Capacity Restrictions (TCRs) 

• Validity period: TCR dates need to be defined within the validity period for a specific timetable period. 

• Line/route:

  • Line/route where the TCR takes place.

  • Station closure: If the user wants to create TCR for only one station. "From location" and "To location" must be the same (positioning in yellow in the chart below for station B closure). Please note that the origin and destination station of a TCR are not considered as station closures.

• Temporal expansion: 

  • Continuous: the object will be shown from the first running “From time” until the last running day “To time”. 

  • Periodical: the object will be shown for all the selected running days with its “From”/”To” times 

• Timetable: 

  • “From time” and “To time” refer to the timeframe within which the TCR takes place at the corresponding location. By default, “From time” and “To time” times are mandatory; if no exact timing is available when the object is created, 00:00 can be used. 

  • The start and end times of the TCR at the first and last locations can be different.  Therefore, different TCR shapes are possible.

The TCR characteristics can be defined with the following fields (click on the header of each characteristics section to open the additional values): 

 

6.1.4. Add/edit Capacity Bands 

• Slots: 

  • The number of slots available within the band (the number of paths included in the band). 

  • If required, a different number of slots can be provided depending on the calendar. When editing the object after its creation, if the slot default number is updated, the tool will request confirmation on whether all dates need to be updated with the new default slot value or only those who were using the previous default value. 

 

 

6.1.5. Object bulk operation 

The bulk operation function is available when at least one object from the search results is selected.  

After the objects are selected, button "Bulk operations" is enabled and clicking on it opens a new page. 

 

The operation needs to be selected by the user. Depending on the operation, input fields will change to enable the action. 

All selected objects can be deleted in bulk by clicking on the always available "Delete" button. 

 

6.2. Object import function  

The import function is accessible via the data menu. 

 

6.2.1. General guidelines 

• Supported format: xlsx 

• Each object type shall be imported in a separated file. 

• Export file and import file have the same structure. Exporting an objects list containing at least one object per object type provides the required structure for the import file. 

• The order of columns in the import file is irrelevant. Missed out columns only triggers warning and additional columns are ignored. 

• Columns in the import file must have the same name as in the tool. 

• The import file is not case sensitive. 

• Time format: hh:mm 

• Date format: dd.mm.yyy 

• If applicable, an error message with the errors list appears after uploading the file. 

  

6.2.2. Catalogues and Paths 

Paths and catalogues paths are two distinct objects in the ECMT however, they have the same following import constraints: 

• ID (mandatory): numbering common to rows belonging to the same object (minimun two locations, so two rows, shall belong to an object) and that do not yet exist in the tool for any object type. To identify the last already used object ID, the user should sorts the object IDs smallest to largest in the search function, finds the last number already used and uses the next ones as ID in the import sheet”.

• Title (mandatory): object title 

• Colour (mandatory): 1 = red, 2 = green, 3 = black, 4 = blue, 5 = yellow, 6 = purple, 7 = brown  

• Harmonization status (mandatory): rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Traffic type (mandatory): rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Line type: rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• TTP: number format, e.g. 2022.  rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Valid from (mandatory with “Valid to” if no input in “Calendar”): to be in line with the TTP, if given. Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Valid to (mandatory with “Valid from” if no input in “Calendar”): to be in line with the TTP, if given. Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Line (mandatory if line-based object): rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• OP (mandatory): location for the corresponding timetable shall in ECMT belong to the selected line. 

• Arr: arrival time 

• Arr offset: if applicable. 

• Dep: departure time 

• Dep offset: if applicable. 

• For the following columns, number format and rows belonging to the same object must have the same input: Weight, Length, Speed, P1, P2, C1, C2 

• For the following columns, 1 = the object circulates on that day; 0 = the object does not circulate: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 

• Calendar (mandatory if no input in “Valid from” and “Valid to”) 

• Object type: not mandatory and can remain empty or the correct abbreviation needs to be used: "PA" for the path, for catalogues "CP" = Catalogue path or "PP" = pre-arranged path

• Company 

• Core element 

• Variant 

  

6.2.3. TCRs 

• ID (mandatory): numbering common to rows belonging to the same object (minimun two locations, so two rows, shall belong to an object) and that do not yet exist in the tool for any object type. To identify the last already used object ID, the user should sorts the object IDs smallest to largest in the search function, finds the last number already used and uses the next ones as ID in the import sheet”.

• Title (mandatory): object title 

• Colour (mandatory): 1 = red, 2 = green, 3 = black, 4 = blue, 5 = yellow, 6 = purple, 7 = brown 

• Harmonization status (mandatory): rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Line (mandatory if line-based object): rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• From OP (mandatory): departure location. It shall exist in the system and belong to the selected line / route. 

• From OP from time: arrival time at departure location. 

• From OP to time: departure time at departure location. 

• To OP (mandatory): arrival location. It shall exist in the system and belong to the selected line / route. 

• To OP from time: arrival time at the destination location. 

• To OP to time: departure time at the destination location. 

• Bidirectional: 1 = yes, 0 = no 

• Temporal Expansion (mandatory) 

• TTP: number format, e.g. 2022.  rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Valid from (mandatory with “Valid to” if no input in “Calendar”): to be in line with the TTP, if given. Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Valid to (mandatory with “Valid from” if no input in “Calendar”): to be in line with the TTP, if given. Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Classification 

• For the following columns, 1 = the object circulates on that; 0 = the object does not circulate: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 

• Affected estimated travel volume: percentage format without % symbol 

• For the following columns, 1 = yes, 0 = no: 

  • Reduced Track Availability (LT) 

  • Reduced Track Availability (ST) 

  • Weight (W) 

  • Length (L) 

  • Profile (P) 

  • Total closure 

  • Speed restrictions 

  • No catenary 

  • Cancellation (freight trains) 

  • Cancellation (long distance trains) 

  • Cancellation (short distance trains) 

  • Cancellation (commuter trains) 

  • Rerouting (freight trains) 

  • Rerouting (long distance trains) 

  • Rerouting (short distance trains) 

  • Rerouting (commuter trains) 

  • Train/Bus Replacement (freight trains) 

  • Train/Bus Replacement (long distance trains) 

  • Train/Bus Replacement (short distance trains) 

  • Train/Bus Replacement (commuter trains) 

  • Estimated Delays (freight trains) 

  • Estimated Delays (long distance trains) 

  • Estimated Delays (short distance trains) 

  • Estimated Delays (commuter trains) 

  • Delay minutes (freight trains): number between 0 and 100 format 

  • Delay minutes (long distance trains): number between 0 and 100 format 

  • Delay minutes (short distance trains): number between 0 and 100 format 

  • Delay minutes (commuter trains): number between 0 and 100 format 

• Object type: not mandatory and can remain empty or the correct abbreviation needs to be used: "TC" for the TCR

6.2.4. Capacity bands 

• ID (mandatory): numbering common to rows belonging to the same object (minimun two locations, so two rows, shall belong to an object) and that do not yet exist in the tool for any object type. To identify the last already used object ID, the user should sorts the object IDs smallest to largest in the search function, finds the last number already used and uses the next ones as ID in the import sheet”.

• Title (mandatory): object title 

• Colour (mandatory): 1 = red, 2 = green, 3 = black, 4 = blue, 5 = yellow, 6 = purple, 7 = brown 

• Slots (mandatory): number format. Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Harmonization status (mandatory): rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• TTP: number format, e.g. 2022. Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Valid from (mandatory with “Valid to” if no input in “Calendar”): to be in line with the TTP, if given. Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Valid to (mandatory with “Valid from” if no input in “Calendar”): to be in line with the TTP, if given. Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• Line (mandatory if line-based object): rows belonging to the same object must have the same input. 

• OP (mandatory): location for the corresponding timetable shall in ECMT belong to the selected line. 

• From time (mandatory at origin and destination) 

• From time offset 

• To time (mandatory at origin and destination) 

• To time offset 

• For the following columns, number format and rows belonging to the same object must have the same input: Weight, Length, Speed, P1, P2, C1, C2 

• For the following columns, 1 = the object circulates on that; 0 = the object does not circulate, Rows belonging to the same object must have the same input: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 

• Object type: not mandatory and can remain empty or the correct abbreviation needs to be used: "BA" for the band

• Company: company creating the object 

• Core element 

• Variant