Resources TCM compliance in 2026: what the TAF/TAP TSI requires from railway undertakings

TCM compliance in 2026: what the TAF/TAP TSI requires from railway undertakings

The regulatory framework

Across Europe, railway undertakings (RUs) are expected to send structured train composition data to infrastructure managers (IMs) in a standard format. The key message is the Train Composition Message (TCM). For freight, it is defined in the TAF TSI. Passenger services use the equivalent PTCM under the TAP TSI. Deadlines and technical details differ by country, and in several networks the requirement is already in force.

For many operators, the TCM still means retyping data from planning and composition systems into a portal, sometimes for up to an hour per train. This article explains the regulatory framework, what a TCM contains, where the data should come from, and how to automate it.

The message formats and data model come from two Technical Specifications for Interoperability: the TAF TSI for freight (Regulation (EU) 1305/2014) and the TAP TSI for passenger services (Regulation (EU) 454/2011). The minimum elements exchanged between RU and IM for train composition are defined in the OPE TSI (Regulation (EU) 2019/773).

Who is affected and how it works

RUs and IMs within the scope of the TSIs. In practice, an RU is bound by the requirements of every network it operates on. A UIC company code is needed to take part in the message exchange.

The RU’s system sends the TCM through a Common Interface to the IM. The IM answers with a receipt confirmation, or with an error message if the content is not compliant. Non-compliant messages can be rejected, and the consequences of repeated errors depend on each network’s rules.

The best protection is validation before the message leaves your system, not after the infrastructure manager rejects it.

What a TCM contains, and where the data comes from

Data block	Examples	Where it comes from in SoftRail
Train identification	Operational train number, start date	LogiShift (planned path imported into VerForm)
Train characteristics	Total length, total weight, maximum speed, number of vehicles	VerForm composition (maximum speed is the lowest value among all vehicles)
Traction	Locomotive number, traction mode and type	VerForm composition
Wagons	Wagon number, position in the train, axles, braking data, maximum speed, load	VerForm composition
Dangerous goods	UN number, hazard identification number, RID class, packing group, net weight	VerForm composition

Manual process versus automated process

Manual: data is collected from several systems, retyped, and checked by hand. This can take up to an hour per train, and every retyping step is a chance for error.
Automated: data is captured once at the source, validated, and sent as a standard message. Staff handle exceptions instead of routine entries.

To put it in scale: an operator running 10,000 trains a year could spend up to 10,000 working hours on manual entries.

How SoftRail supports the TCM compliance

The TCM starts from the train composition, so VerForm is where it is built and sent. LogiShift supplies the train number through the planned path that VerForm imports. The process has five steps, here on the right.

We configure the Common Interface connection with the infrastructure managers you work with. Depending on the network, a certificate from RNE may be required, which the railway undertaking obtains with our support.

VerForm also handles different national regulations and document formats in one platform, configurable per country and per activity. This matters for operators running cross-border services, where each network expects its own message version and fields. All SoftRail modules integrate with each other and offer iOS and Android apps with offline capability.

1

Close the composition

Once the train details are final, the composition is closed in VerForm.
2

Send with one click

Authorized users send the TCM from the composition section. Permissions are managed per user group by the railway undertaking’s administrators. A download option is also available.
3

Generate and validate

VerForm produces the XML file and passes it to Binary System’s Common Interface, which validates it against the schema version of the receiving network.
4

Forward or flag

Valid messages are forwarded to the infrastructure manager’s Common Interface. If the TCM does not comply with the schema, the user receives an error message before it is sent. The infrastructure manager may still reject a message for content reasons.
5

Track every submission

Every submission is recorded in the TCM log of the activity.

FAQs

What is a TCM?

A Train Composition Message is a standardized message that describes the composition of a train: vehicles, weights, personnel, tracks and restrictions.

Which regulation defines it?

The TAF TSI (Regulation (EU) 1305/2014) for freight and the TAP TSI (Regulation (EU) 454/2011) for passenger services. The OPE TSI (Regulation (EU) 2019/773) defines the minimum elements exchanged between RU and IM.

Who has to send it?

Railway undertakings operating on networks that apply the TAF/TAP requirements. Rules vary by infrastructure manager, so check each network you use.

What happens if my TCM is not compliant?

The IM can reject the message and ask for a correction. Further consequences depend on the network’s own rules.

Do I need a special system?

You need software that generates TAF/TAP compliant messages and connects to the IM through a Common Interface. You can also use a service provider to send messages on your behalf.

Ready for TCM? Let’s check together how you build and send train compositions today.