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Alpha — Headcode is currently in alpha. APIs and data may change without notice.
Headcode Docs

Identifiers

Headcode accepts common UK rail identifiers and returns normalised records with all known equivalent codes where possible.

Station identifiers

Section titled “Station identifiers”
  • CRS: three-letter station code, for example KGX.
  • TIPLOC: timing point location code used in schedules.
  • STANOX: numeric Network Rail location identifier.
  • NLC: National Location Code used in retail and fares data.
  • ATCO: NaPTAN stop area or stop point code.
  • UIC: international station code.
  • Slug: human-readable Headcode identifier.

Service identifiers

Section titled “Service identifiers”
  • Darwin RID: run identifier for a service on a specific day.
  • CIF UID: timetable service identifier.
  • Headcode / train ID: four-character signalling identity, when available.
  • RSID: retail service identifier.

Identifier handling is intentionally forgiving: clients can use the identifier they already have, then rely on Headcode to return a consistent response shape.