FAQ

Question

What is the railML certification?

Answer

The railML certification was initiated to ensure the correct implementation of railML in applications/interfaces. This is important in order to ensure exchangability of data without errors or loss of data. For more information please visit the certification site.

Question

Is the railML format equivalent to the XML format?

Answer

No, railML is not equivalent to XML. railML (Railway Markup Language) is a dialect of XML (Extensible Markup Language).

This means that railML is designed according to the rules and structure of XML with a special focus on the representation of railway data (e.g. timetable, infrastructure, rolling stock, interlocking). railML is not compatible with every other XML dialect. For instance the ERA (European Railway Agency) introduced a RINF-XML, which is not compatible with railML.

In order to guaranatee railML exchangeability amongst all software with railML interfaces, a certification of all railML interfaces was introduced.

Question

What does <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> mean? Does this refer to a railML version 1.0?

Answer

No, it doesn't. The above shown example is a pure XML line, railML only starts one line further down. It means that your railML-version is based on XML 1.0.

If it is OpenDocument or SVG, XML-schemas always start with a line like this.

Question

Where can I find the version of a railML file?

Answer

There are several ways to identify the railML version of a document:

• The initial railML tag can be used to determine the version of the document.
• As recommended by the W3C - the schema the railML document is based upon - the version is indicated by the xsi:schemaLocation attribute. The URI this attribute provides can be used to determine the actual version of the railML document. Unfortunately the version is not indicated by the URI directly. However there is a mapping available, which allows determining the railML version for a given URI.
• As the subschemas (such as timetable, infrastructure, …) are developed individually, each can have a different version. These version of the sub schemas are indicated by the version attribute of the sub schemas root element (e.g. <infrastructure version=’1.1.99’>…</infrastructure>, or <timetable version=’2.0’>…</timetable>).

Question

Can I use XML files from other companies (e.g. DB Netz) with my railML interface?

Answer

You can only use these files with your railML interface if they are also based on railML. Otherwise they won´t be compatible. Even though they might look similar, because both are based on XML, they won´t work with an railML interface.

Question

How much does the use of railML cost?

Answer

railML is for free, but for exchanging data with third parties you have to certify your interface. You can read an outline on the terms here.