Guidance

NTSN: control, command and signalling

National Technical Specifications Notices (NTSNs) relating to control, command and signalling (CCS).

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 2 May 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

NTSN: Control, Command and Signalling (CCS) (Issue 2, 2 May 2025)

PDF, 1.13 MB, 183 pages

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NTSN: Control, Command and Signalling (CCS) (Issue 1, 1 January 2021)

ODT, 257 KB

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Appendix D: restrictions and added functions template

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 32.9 KB

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Details

National Technical Specification Notice (NTSN) for control, command and signalling (CCS) applies to rail projects that will seek authorisation to place new, upgraded or renewed railway equipment into service.

The documents supplied are:

• issue 1 of the NTSN relating to CCS, published 1 January 2021
• issue 2 of the NTSN relating to CCS, published 2 May 2025
• the restrictions and added functions template, appendix D

Issue 2 replaced issue 1 of the NTSN and applies to projects seeking an authorisation to place CCS subsystems into service after 2 May 2025 (without prejudice to exemptions and transitional phases). Systems before May 2025 are still governed by the first issue.

Appendix D was announced in the second issue of the CCS NTSN and provides a standard technical template to list and describe the restrictions and functionality of CCS systems. The template information supports a project’s technical file by recording and certification status, limitations and conditions that may affect European Rail Traffic Management System interoperability.

The NTSNs were published by the Secretary of State for Transport according to regulation 3B of the Railways Interoperability Regulations 2011. 

In May 2025, the Secretary of State made updates to 7 NTSNs, which were informed by a consultation exercise and industry recommendation facilitated by the Rail Safety and Standards Board.

The NTSN CCS rules are applicable in Great Britain only.

Published 2 May 2025