The Short-Term Ad Hoc (STAH) tool has been launched, making cross-border train path booking at the Basel border more seamless than ever.

The joint initiative by RailNetEurope (RNE) and its members DB InfraGO and SBB now enables applicants to book trains between the two countries through a single system.

For the first time ever, cross-border rail capacity can be ordered within a single tool. The response can take as little as a few minutes thanks to the partially automated path construction.
This represents an important milestone: a clear signal of where the journey is heading and proof that the sector is actively preparing for the future of rail by using European standards like TAF TSI.
– Harald Reisinger, RNE Chief Information Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Introducing the Short-Term Ad-Hoc Tool

Originally called the ‘Capacity Broker’, the Short-Term Ad-Hoc (STAH) application, developed as a ‘Minimum Viable Product’ (MVP) answering the reported needs of the market. It enables applicants to book train paths up to two days before departure between Germany and Switzerland via the Basel border, specifically for locomotive trains.

It acts as a bridge between the two national systems and places the path requests on their behalf, while making sure that the offers match.

This is possible due to the three systems communicating via TAF TAP TSI messages.

So far, applicants had to place multiple path requests for a single train run between the two countries. While starting as a test for a specific use case, the MVP STAH tool will be expanded over time to become a key feature in RNE’s Path Coordination System (Capacity Broker version), with the vision of scaling availability across Europe.

Advancing Towards Digital Capacity Management

As RNE is preparing for the implementation of the Capacity Regulation, the tool marks an early but decisive milestone for Digital Capacity Management (DCM).

Automated path allocation, one of the main goals of DCM, is now one step closer.

Looking Ahead

The MVP STAH marks a major advance in cross-border bookings by providing a seamless, unified system for applicants for cross-border path booking.

As it becomes a core part of RNE’s digital infrastructure, users will benefit from greater flexibility and efficiency in international path allocation.

This collaboration between RNE and its Members paves the way for a smarter, fully digital capacity management.

If you are interested in joining this pilot, the following use cases currently apply:

• Basel border
• Locomotive trains
• Request 48 hours to 45 minutes before departure

Contact RNE about the MVP STAH: andras.till@rne.eu

^{Photo Credit Title Image: Basel Aerial, SBB}