Statistical Terms Glossary

Any person, excluding members of train crew, who makes a journey by railway vehicle.

A passenger alighting from a railway vehicle after having been conveyed by it.
Note: A passenger transfer from one railway vehicle directly to another one, regardless of the railway transport operator, shall not be regarded as disembarkation/embarkation. Whenever during the transfer another mode of transport is used, this is to be regarded as disembarkation/embarkation.

A passenger who boards a railway vehicle to be conveyed by it.
Note: A passenger transfer from one railway vehicle directly to another one, regardless of the railway transport operator, shall not be regarded as disembarkation/embarkation. Whenever during the transfer another mode of transport is used, this is to be regarded as disembarkation/embarkation.

The combination between the place of embarkment and the place of disembarkment of the passengers conveyed by rail whichever itinerary is followed.

Unit of measurement representing the transport of one rail passenger by rail over a distance of one kilometre.

The smallest distance between a pair of rails measured between the inside surfaces of the rail heads.

Rail transport in the same railway vehicle through a country between two places (a place of loading and a place of unloading) both located in another country or in other countries.

Any movement of goods and/or passengers using a railway vehicle on a given railway network.

Non-tractive railway vehicle forming part of a passenger or goods train and used by the train crew as well as for the conveyance of luggage, parcels, bicycles, accompanied road passenger vehicles, etc.

Wagon specially built or equipped for the transport of intermodal transport units (ITUs) or other goods road vehicles. Types of wagons are:
- Pocket wagon: rail wagon with a recessed pocket to accept the axle/wheel assembly of a semi-trailer;
- Basket wagon: rail wagon with a demountable sub frame, -fitted with devices for vertical handling to allow the loading and unloading of semi-trailers or road motor vehicles;
- Spine wagon: rail wagon with a central chassis designed to carry a semi-trailer;
- Low floor wagon: Rail wagon with a low loading platform built to carry, inter alia ITUs;
- Rolling-Road wagon: rail wagon with low floor throughout which, when coupled together, form a rolling-road;
- Double stack wagon: rail wagon designed for the transport of containers stacked on top of each other;
- Bimodal semi-trailer: a road semi-trailer that can be converted into a rail wagon by the addition of rail bogies.

Railway vehicle with motor constructed for the conveyance of passengers or goods by rail. The definition of the various categories of locomotives (electric, diesel) apply, mutatis mutandis, to railcars.

Passenger railway vehicle coupled to one or more railcars.

A railway is a line of communication made up by rail exclusively for the use of railway vehicles.

An unwanted or unintended sudden event or a specific chain of such events (occurring during train operation) in which at least one moving rail vehicle is involved, and which has harmful consequences.
The following are the main categories of railway accident:
- Collision;
- Derailment;
- Level-crossing accident;
- Accident to persons caused by rolling stock in motion;
- Fire in rolling stock;
- Other.
Note: By definition, the suicide is excluded as it is a deliberate act. Terrorist acts are also excluded.

An estimated monetary value reflecting the current stock of physical railways transport infrastructure assets.

A private or public enterprise acting mainly as a railway transport operator, an infrastructure manager or as an integrated company.

Any wagon belonging to a railway enterprise.

An occurrence, other than an accident, highlighting potential safety issues in railway operations.
Note: Sometimes also referred to as accident precursor, or near-miss.

A firm or body responsible for establishing, managing and maintaining railway infrastructure, including traffic management and control-command and signalling.

Any movement of a railway vehicle from a specified point of origin to a specified point of destination.

Line of transportation made up by rail exclusively for the use of railway vehicles and maintained for running trains.
Note: A line is made up of one or more tracks, according to the definition of “Track” and the corresponding exclusion criteria.

All railways in a given area.

Specific railway line connecting two or more geographical reference points. Each segment has a start and an end, being a track crossing, a country border or a railway station.

The movement by railway of a passenger from the embarkation station to the disembarkation station, whichever itinerary is followed on the railway network.

An accident involving at least one rail vehicle in motion, resulting in at least one killed or seriously injured person. A serious injury is a casualty resulting in incapacitation for more than 72 hours commencing within 7 days from the date of injury. Accidents in workshops, warehouses and depots are excluded.

Accident involving at least one rail vehicle in motion, resulting in at least one killed or seriously injured person, or in significant damage to stock, track, other installations or the environment (damage that exceeds an internationally agreed threshold), or extensive disruptions to traffic. Accidents in workshops, warehouses and depots are excluded.
Note: This definition is used by the International Union of Railways. The threshold for significant damage, adopted by the International Union of Railways, was set at EUR 150 000 in 2007.

A railway establishment either open or not to the public, generally staffed and is designed for one or more of the following operations:
- Formation, dispatch, reception and temporary stabling of trains;
- Stabling and marshalling of rolling stock;
- Boarding and alighting of passengers;
- Generally, where open to public, providing facilities for the purchase of tickets;
- Loading and unloading of goods

Any movement of a railway vehicle on lines operated.

Any movement of railway vehicles within a national territory irrespective of the country in which these vehicles are registered.

Movement of goods and/or passengers using a railway vehicle on a given railway network.
Note: When a railway vehicle is being carried on another rail vehicle, only the movement of the carrying vehicle (active mode) is being considered.