The Industry’s Identity Card: UIC Leaflet 920 and RICS Codes

What is UIC Leaflet 920?

UIC Leaflet 920 (most notably part 920-1) is the global standard titled “Standard numerical coding for railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and other companies involved in rail-transport chains.” It is the foundational document that defines how companies in the railway sector are identified digitally.

In the past, national railway monopolies (like DB in Germany or SNCF in France) were identified by simple 2-digit codes (e.g., “80” for Germany, “87” for France). However, the liberalization of the railway market meant that multiple operators could exist within a single country. UIC Leaflet 920 was overhauled to introduce the RICS (Railway Interchange Coding System), a 4-digit code system that provides a unique ID for every Railway Undertaking (RU), Infrastructure Manager (IM), and logistics provider, regardless of their country of origin.

The RICS Code Structure

The leaflet mandates that every active company must apply for and utilize a 4-digit code. This code is the digital “fingerprint” used in all electronic data exchange, from seat reservations to freight consignment notes.

• Legacy Codes (00xx): Historic national operators often retain their identity by prefixing “00” to their old code (e.g., DB is often processed as 0080 in systems).
• New Entrants (3xxx – 8xxx): Private freight operators, new passenger companies, and service providers are allocated random codes in the 3000 to 8999 range.

Why is UIC 920 Critical for IT?

Modern rail transport relies on the automatic exchange of messages (XML files). When a train crosses a border, the IT systems need to know exactly who is operating the train and who is responsible for the track access charges.

UIC 920 ensures that there is no ambiguity. For example, in Germany, there are hundreds of freight operators. Without the unique RICS code defined in UIC 920, the infrastructure manager (DB InfraGO) would not be able to automate billing or traffic management for these distinct companies.

Comparison: Old National Coding vs. UIC 920 RICS

The table below illustrates the shift from the geographic-based coding of the past to the company-based coding of the present.

Relationship with EU Regulations (TSI)

The coding principles of UIC Leaflet 920 have been integrated into European Law via the TAF-TSI (Telematics Applications for Freight) and TAP-TSI (Passenger). Consequently, holding a valid RICS code is not just a UIC recommendation but a mandatory requirement for any company wishing to operate legally on the European network and exchange data with the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA).