Temporary Capacity Restrictions (TCRs) are necessary to keep the infrastructure and its equipment in good condition and to allow infrastructure development in accordance with market needs.

The purpose of TCR coordination is the optimisation of planned TCRs, with the overarching goal being: The traffic has to flow! This can only be achieved if rail infrastructure is always available in adequate quality and quantity to facilitate traffic in line with customers’ needs. To plan traffic and communicate with end customers, reliable timetables, which reflect these market needs, are required.

Annex VII of Directive 2012/34 has defined the basic elements to be considered, to enable the implementation of a common TCR process throughout Europe.

To provide the sector with the required procedures, RNE has set up the TCR Working Group with the goal to create common coordination, consultation, and publication processes for TCRs. The TCR Working Group (TCR WG) meets twice per year and serves as a platform for measures and projects (e.g. TCR Guidelines, TCR Tool, etc.) to create, implement and improve TCR process elements.

The coordination and consultation of TCRs is handled via the TCR Tool.