The Central Reference File Database (CRD) (formerly known as Central Repository Domain) is a centralised database that stores Location Codes and Company Codes required by European regulation, and makes them available to users.
RNE Members and Working Groups are involved in further development to enhance both the quality and quantity of the reference files. RNE provides support to RUs who wish to import their Subsidiary Location codes. Support is also provided regarding user management, data collection, access to data and maintaining and ensuring data quality.
The CRD contains the following reference files:
List of Countries (ISO 3166)
The Location Reference File which uniquely identifies physical rail points (e.g. stations, customer sidings, loading places)
- The Country Code as part of the Location Code
- The Partner Reference File uniquely identifies all rail actors who exchange information (Company Codes)
- Each company actor must have a unique Company Code assigned by UIC
The Company Code is a precondition for the usage of the Common Interface and CRD. It is used in TAF/TAP messages to identify senders and receivers. A Country Code can be obtained as follows:
- Apply for a Company Code (aka RICS code) at the central European entity UIC
- After registration, the Company Code will be maintained in the CRD.
How to provide data to the CRD?
Users who work with CRD for the first time deliver the first Locations Data Set to CRD to create an initial population as seen in the graph below. Location Reference files are maintained only by national entities (or registered companies for defined subsidiary type codes).
How to use the data provided by the CRD?
The download of Reference Files from CRD via a web browser is supported in .CSV or .XML format. Users who operate Common Interface-scheduled replications are supported by a web service published within the CRD.
The output that is received by the CRD-using company and their legacy systems can be filtered (e.g. country, last date modified etc.) and it is possible to define the scheduler as well.
Metadata about self-contained schemas from TAF TSI are part of CRD and can be found here.