eTCD: electronic Ticket Control Database

What is eTCD?

eTCD, electronic Ticket Control Database, is a centralised, real-time passenger ticket management system developed by UIC with the support of Hit Rail B.V., for use by railway companies around the world. The service is defined by UIC IRS 90918-4, the common specification for the exchange of control information on railway tickets between ticket issuers and passenger carriers.

What does eTCD offer?

The service helps railway companies to control non-reservation barcode ticket information onboard trains for all rail travel. Information is exchanged in real-time between ticket issuers and passenger carriers.

This means:

Ticket issuers receive up-to-date information on railway ticket verification and usage, and
Railway carriers receive complete information on the lifecycle of tickets, including when tickets are checked by other organisations and/or cancelled by the issuers

Thanks to eTCD, ticket security and fraud prevention is increased with real-time exchange of information on:

Cancellation and refunding of tickets after ticket inspection on trains
Refunding of tickets in another country at ticket offices
Re-use of tickets on the same train or on subsequent train journeys

In addition, the eTCD service also communicates information on the extension of validity, delay confirmation, declaration of non-used tickets, class upgrades and downgrades as well as ticket gate checks.

eTCD Deployment