In 2020, UIC completed the procurement process for the implementation of the PRIFIS replacement tool and the design of the new related specification called DRTF (Database for Rail Tarif and Fairs).
The DRTF replaces the former PRIFIS international tariff distribution tool, a shared database containing prices and tariffs for non-reservation tickets. 36 railways upload their prices and tariffs twice a year.
The DRTF is a Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud-based solution. Its architecture enables the ongoing introduction of future UIC services relating to the distribution of tariff and price data. The technical components of the solution are deployed in a fully virtual, enterprise-grade cloud environment.
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Distribution: The PSG is actively involved in the commercial and distribution domains, with the aim of consolidating existing cooperation and further improving current initiatives. Follow-up and implementation of OSDM will be part of the PSG agenda.
Commercialisation of MERITS database: The PSG, through the MERITS Steering Board, analyses the MERITS evolution and other developments.
Commercialisation of OTCD service: The PSG decided to open to any company the train ticket control marks database.
New multimodal groups now focuse on air + rail distribution and door to door seamless journeys.
Global Passenger Forum (GPF): The following PSG priorities have been endorsed by the GPF:
The Passenger Experts Subgroup (PES) is the umbrella body for the PSG’s commercial and technical activities maintaining international distribution cooperation between UIC members. The PES transforms commercial and regulatory requirements into technical standards and interfaces for international sales and distribution systems.
The activities of the working groups within the PES focus on ticket layout and security (TLG and TSG), reservations and dynamic pricing booking (PSS, OSDM, ITCD), NRT (Non Reservation Ticket) and IRT (Integrated Reservation Ticket) tariff models for day and night trains, tariffs between Eastern and Western European countries (IWT), and the preparation and maintenance of the related international standards (IRS). The Special Conditions of International Carriage are issued by PES subgroups: Sales Process Group (SPG) and East West Tariff (EWT).
Since 2020, the OSDM Executive Committee and the OSDM Technical Working Group introduced under the umbrella of PES, have been tasked with preparing the OSDM Application Programming Interface (API) implementation by UIC members and third parties: ticket vendors, GDs (Global Distribution System), OTAs (Online Travel Agency) and IT providers.
Based on the business needs of PSG members as expressed by the SPG and subgroups, the PES also ensures the correct implementation, maintenance and evolution of the related UIC IT systems such as eTCD (E-Tiket Control Database), Public Key Management Website (PKMW), the Persons with Reduced Mobility Assistance Booking Tool (PRM-ABT), and the OSDM Platform (formerly PRIFIS).
OSDM Working Group (OSDM WG) Chair: Clemens Gantert, DB Systel Vice-Chair: Andreas Schlapbach, SBB This technical group designs and implements improvements to the OSDM standard. It is thus responsible for translating the functional specifications identified by the SPG/PES and ETT23 into a technical specification document. To ensure focus, the work in progress should not be larger than seven items. The working group takes special care not to break existing implementations, thus securing investments made by all parties.
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Publication:
The Sales Progress Group creates and maintains the framework of mutual trust for international tariff cooperation between railway undertakings. They aim to harmonise the conditions of carriage and sales and contribute to the draft of Special Conditions of International Carriage (SCIC). The group also collaborates with the UIC PSG technical groups on the development of specifications and IT solutions for each commercial unit.
There are three subgroups within the SPG, each focusing on specific topics:
Non-Integrated Reservation Tickets (NRT) group objectives:
Integrated Reservation Ticket (IRT) group objectives:
Night Train (NT) group objectives:
This committee aims to organise tariffs and accounting between Eastern and Western European countries, given the differences in the systems, and aims to:
The Passenger Services Solutions oversees the development and maintenance of specifications for data exchange for the distribution of international rail tickets. The specifications for data exchange cover timetable enquiries, reservations, ticket inspection, etc.
In particular, the PSS maintains the specifications for the old reservation interfaces (IRS 90918-1), the new specification for control, ITCD (IRS 90918-4), specifications for the booking of PRM assistance (IRS 90918-6), and new specification for ticket distribution OSDM (IRS 90918-10).
The group works closely with the TLG and TSG groups and the commercial units to translate their requirements into solutions specific to each unit (IRT, NRT, NT and EWT). The PSS also coordinates with the ERA on the synchronisation of UIC IRSs with the TAP-TSI TD (Telematics Applications for Passengers – Technical Specifications for Interoperability Technical Documents).
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This group deals with the security features of international rail tickets. Rail tickets can be protected by Security in Paper (security background, defined by CIT), Security in Data (most often a 2D barcode), Security in System (reference to a contract on a server) or a combination of two or more of the above.
In 2018, TSG developed the Flexible Content Barcode (FCB) to allow multiple legs and passengers to be embedded in one unique FCB Barcode.
In 2021, TSG developed the new FCB with the possibility to include an elliptic curve encryption mechanism and a new double encryption to allow the in motion barcode on screen. The public key management website is used to exchange public keys to enable ticket inspection on trains and to ensure that barcodes are not counterfeited.
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Publications:
Flexible Content Barcode (FCB)
The Ticket Layout Group defines rail ticket layouts on CIT (International Rail Transport Committee) paper, blank paper (print-at-home tickets) and on-screen display formats, and aims to:
In 2021, because of the new business possibilities offered by the FCB, the Ticket Layout Group developed the new Universal Rail Ticket (URT) layout to display all kinds of rail tickets on one piece of blank paper or on screen.
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Better integration for door-to-door journeys (UIC D2D)
Integration between rail and other surface transportation services, such as local public transportation, buses, car sharing and bikes, is beneficial for all parties involved.
For rail companies, the main benefits include improving customer service, additional passenger volumes, encouraging modal shift, new ancillary revenue sources and the opportunity to evolve from a pure transport operator to a mobility service provider.
The project will enable rail companies to offer door-to-door journey packages through digitally-enabled ticketing, journey management and validation systems, and will leverage the growing adoption of account-based ticketing by transport providers.
Moreover, the project has defined guidelines and formats for the exchange of real-time data, including train tracking.
Common distribution with air transportation (UIC AIR+RAIL)
Integration between rail and air transportation provides several benefits to rail operators, including access to a global network of online and traditional travel agents, additional international sales opportunities and an increased market share in ground mobility solutions connecting to airports.
Following the UIC-IATA MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) in April 2020, the two organisations’ retail experts are collaborating closely to define common standards for technology platforms enabling the distribution systems for multimodal tickets and new business models for intermodal transport solutions.
The project increases awareness and member knowledge about Air+Rail intermodal integration, removing or mitigating major technical barriers and providing technical guidance and standards to facilitate integration, as well as technical solutions to accelerate adoption.
The project facilitates the establishment of multiple partnerships between airlines and rail companies enabling airlines to offer Air+Rail journeys through any sales channel (website, mobile, GDS, OTA, etc.).
Each year, PSG organises a focus on innovation, as a specific working group within which all PSG members are invited to contribute to specific workshops on the following topics:
Passenger services digitalisation:
Blockchain:
Intermodality:
Artificial Intelligence:
