Train reporting number (Australia)

National (ARTC)

The national interstate network is operated by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). The ARTC uses a systemwide train reporting number based on letters and numbers to identify trains operating on its network. The train operating number is different depending on the network to which the train is operating, being the Interstate Network, the Heavy Haul (Hunter Valley Coal) Network or the ARTC managed sections of lines within state boundaries (Intrastate Networks). Passenger trains are sometimes numbered differently. Other systems are used for specific circumstances, for example light running engines, maintenance trains, or heritage trains.

Interstate Network Numbering

The Interstate Network is the network that connects all main capital cities. It uses a four character numbering system. This is applied to both freight and passenger trains.

Heavy Haul Network Numbering

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

Hunter Valley Coal Network

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

South and West Coal Network

The South and West Coal network are 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.

Intrastate Network Numbering

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 that 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 numbering systems are often based on the state system used elsewhere in that state by the state based line 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

Other systems are used for specific circumstances, for example passenger trains, light running trains, maintenance trains, heritage trains. These are detailed in the relevant Train Operating Manual, but are consistent with those used in the state numbering systems.

New South Wales

There are two other rail network administrators in New South Wales, being John Holland Group for the Country Regional Network, and Sydney Trains for the metropolitan network bounded by Berowra, Emu Plains, Macarthur and Waterfall.

Country Rail Network

The Country Rail Network numbering system is a continuation of the numbering system developed over time by the various administrators of the network, being mainly the NSW Government or agencies thereof. It is currently managed by John Holland, though numbering remains the property of Transport for New South Wales.

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.

Victoria

Weekly Notice 4/77 (25 January 1977) advised that "Train Describer Numbering System" was to be introduced. Originally introduced for all train in the Metrol Controlled area the numbering system spread statewide by 1981. The following is a summary of how the numbering system works. It is a four digit system. All trains in Victoria are allocated a train number for operation of the radio system.

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 weather 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).

4. The following special train numbers are used in certain circmstances
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

For trains operating on the ARTC Standard Gauge network within Victoria that do not run into South Australia or New South Wales. These codes are allocated by the ARTC.

South Australia/Northern Territory

The Adelaide–Darwin railway and South Australian branch lines are administered by Genesee & Wyoming Australia. For the Adelaide–Darwin Railway the numbering system used resembles the ARTC numbering system, however there are differences in some of the lettering conventions.

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

Queensland

The Queensland Rail train numbering system, in its present format, has been in use since the late 1970s. The first version was very limited. Mainly numeric but the letters A to F were used in the Brisbane Suburban Area (BSA) for second character only. Since then, it has grown to a very complex system that describes a train in great detail. With today’s train numbering system, it is possible to know a great level of detail about the train, for example what is hauling it, how fast it can go, where it is going and in the case of EMUs, how many cars long. It is the most detailed numbering system in use in Australia.

With the exception of suburban passenger traffic, all trains are provided with a second identification, known as a “service” number. In most cases, the service number is the last 3 characters of the “Train” number with an alpha suffix that identifies the business group to which the train belongs (e.g. Q301/301T – ‘T’ = Traveltrain). At present, control software does not support the use of five character train numbers. When complete, the service number will disappear and five character train numbers will be introduced. Some train numbers you might hear might be – 1119C, 0FB9Z, C742X, 9Y32M or M594H. The below is a character by character description of the QR Train Numbering system.

Notes:
1. Where the 2nd character is ‘F’ (Various destinations), the 4th character can be odd or even, irrespective of direction. This is usually for “trip shunts” (7F30) and work trains (0FB9).
2. In the Brisbane Suburban Area (BSA), if a freight train changes direction to complete its journey, the Train Number assigned when the train entered the BSA is retained. (e.g. 6749 Toowoomba – Acacia Ridge freight travels in the Down direction from Toowoomba to Yeerongpilly thence in the Up direction to Acacia Ridge. The odd number is retained).
3. 2800 class locomotives are “Out of Dimension of Standard Transit (ODST – outside the rollingstock gauge) which is why they have a separate train ID. Oddly enough, if a train is not hauled by a 2800 class, but has one as a vehicle in tow, then the applicable train number is used (6, 7, 8, C, D, F) and an OOG Authority is generated for that train.
4. Boonal loadout serves two mines. See “3rd Character” for train number differentiation.
5. With coal and BSA suburban traffic, trains are usually numbered progressively starting from either xxx1 (Down) or xxx2 (Up) at midnight each day. For all other traffic, there is no real pattern to numbering.