This document is the first published version of the new NRE Usage Charging Document. The document contains information about usage charges for NRE information feeds. The contents will be discussed at the NRE Developer Engagement Day.
2. Overview
Most of our Information feeds are provided free of charge to everyone; whether you are a
commercial entity, a not-for profit organisation, a public body or a small independent developer.
Some of our Information feeds are subject to usage based charges over and above a free threshold
that has been defined as “High Volume Usage”.
If you consistently generate a high volume of traffic, usage limits will apply and you will need to pay
for extra usage. But don’t worry, if you go over the limits we won't immediately impose charges,
shut off your access or display error messages on your product. If you exceed the free allocation
we’ll contact you to let you know so that you can adjust your usage. If you continue to exceed your
usage for more than three consecutive railway periods, we’ll attempt to get in touch with you to talk
about payment.
Summary
Darwin Information feeds
3 Darwin Information feeds are subject to charges for High Volume Usage: Darwin Webservice
(public & staff version) & Darwin Push Port;
Public Body users are not subject to any charges for the Darwin Webservice or Darwin Push Port;
Independent and/or commercial users of the Darwin Webservice and the Darwin Push Port have
a free allocation of 5 million enquiries per 28 day railway period; and
All enquiries above the 5 million per 28 day railway period are charged at 0.04 pence per
enquiry.
Journey Planning Information feeds
One Information feed is chargeable with no free allocation, namely the Real-time Journey
Planning (RTJP) Webservice.
All RTJP Webservice enquiries are chargeable at a cost recovery rate of 0.0371 pence per
enquiry.
RTJP Webservice enquiries for trains departing in the next 2 hours will access Darwin, thus will
count towards the High Volume Usage threshold of 5 million enquiries per period.
What is the “High Volume Usage” threshold?
High Volume Usage is set at 5 million enquiries per user per 28 day railway period. It applies to the
Information feeds that are subject to the High Volume Usage threshold only, namely the Darwin
Webservice and the Darwin Push Port. Use of NRE Information feeds by public bodies is not subject
to the High Volume Usage threshold, unless the public body commercialise the information provided
through the service, in which case the High Volume Usage threshold will apply.
3. NRE Information feeds with Associated Charges
1. Darwin Webservice (Public Version & Staff Version)
The Darwin Webservice attracts charges for some users over and above a given threshold as
follows:
Threshold: 5 million enquiries per 28 day railway period
Charge: 0.04 pence per enquiry
Example: 0 to 5,000,000 = 0 chargeable = £0
6,000,000 = 1,000,000 chargeable @ 0.04 pence = £400
10,000,000 = 5,000,000 chargeable @ 0.04 pence = £2,000
2. Darwin Push Port
The Darwin Push Port attracts charges for some users over and above a given threshold as
follows:
Threshold: 5 million enquiries per 28 day railway period
Charge: 0.04 pence per enquiry
Example: 0 to 5,000,000 = 0 chargeable = £0.00
6,000,000 = 1,000,000 chargeable @ 0.04 pence = £400.00
10,000,000 = 5,000,000 chargeable @ 0.04 pence = £2,000.00
3. Real Time Journey Planning Webservice (RTJP Webservice)
The Real Time Journey Planning Webservice attracts charges for all users with no free allocation
of enquiries, because NRE is charged by its supplier for each enquiry:
Threshold: No free allocation threshold applies, all enquiries are charged at the rate NRE are
charged
Charge: 0.0371 pence per enquiry (subject to indexation)
Example: 100,000 enquiries, chargeable @ 0.0371 pence = £37.10
1,000,000 enquiries, chargeable @ 0.0371 pence = £371.00
5,000,000 enquiries, chargeable @ 0.0371 pence = £1855.00
4. What Constitutes an 'Enquiry' in the Context of Usage Limits That Apply to NRE feeds?
Due to the different technical composition of our Information feeds, an ‘enquiry’ in this context
takes on a different meaning depending on the service that is being referenced, as follows:
1. Darwin Webservice (Public Version & Staff Version)
The Darwin Webservice is request and respond API. In this case, and ‘enquiry’ means to submit
a request through the webservice for information to be pulled from Darwin and served as a
response to the initiator of the request.
Specific examples of a single ‘enquiry’ include:
An arrivals or departures request is loaded by a web page or application;
The request is refreshed for more up-to-date information;
A request for details on a specific train is made through a web page or application; or
Any other request is made for information to be pulled through the webservice
2. Darwin Push Port
The Darwin Push Port is a continuous stream of information that is ‘pushed’ to the user. In this
case an ‘enquiry’ means any enquiry by your customer, to your Information feeds or products,
that returns information derived from the Darwin Push Port.
*PLEASE NOTE: By using this service you agree to provide NRE with a usage report each period.
The usage report must show the number of customer enquiries made to your Information feeds
or products that returns information derived from the Darwin Push Port. NRE reserve the right
to audit the usage of this service if we believe the information we to be incorrect.
3. Real Time Journey Planning Webservice (RTJP Webservice)
The RTJP Webservice is request and respond API. In this case, and ‘enquiry’ means to submit a
request through the webservice for information to be pulled from our Journey Planner and
served as a response to the initiator of the request.
Specific examples of a single ‘enquiry’ include:
A journey plan request or refresh is loaded by a web page or application;
A request is made to search for later trains on an existing journey plan;
A request is made to see the calling points on any given journey plan; or
Any other request is made for information to be pulled through the webservice
5. What is a railway period?
A railway period is 4 weeks and refers to the start / end date used for financial reconciliation within
the railway industry. Measurement of usage will be applied between these dates. The forthcoming
railway periods are show in the table below:
Year 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21
Start Day Period 1 01-Apr-14 01-Apr-15 01-Apr-16 01-Apr-17 01-Apr-18 01-Apr-19 01-Apr-20
End Day Period 1 27-Apr-14 03-May-15 01-May-16 30-Apr-17 29-Apr-18 28-Apr-19 03-May-20
2 25-May-14 31-May-15 29-May-16 28-May-17 27-May-18 26-May-19 31-May-20
3 22-Jun-14 28-Jun-15 26-Jun-16 25-Jun-17 24-Jun-18 23-Jun-19 28-Jun-20
4 20-Jul-14 26-Jul-15 24-Jul-16 23-Jul-17 22-Jul-18 21-Jul-19 26-Jul-20
5 17-Aug-14 23-Aug-15 21-Aug-16 20-Aug-17 19-Aug-18 18-Aug-19 23-Aug-20
6 14-Sep-14 20-Sep-15 18-Sep-16 17-Sep-17 16-Sep-18 15-Sep-19 20-Sep-20
7 12-Oct-14 18-Oct-15 16-Oct-16 15-Oct-17 14-Oct-18 13-Oct-19 18-Oct-20
8 09-Nov-14 15-Nov-15 13-Nov-16 12-Nov-17 11-Nov-18 10-Nov-19 15-Nov-20
9 07-Dec-14 13-Dec-15 11-Dec-16 10-Dec-17 09-Dec-18 08-Dec-19 13-Dec-20
10 04-Jan-15 10-Jan-16 08-Jan-17 07-Jan-18 06-Jan-19 05-Jan-20 10-Jan-21
11 01-Feb-15 07-Feb-16 05-Feb-17 04-Feb-18 03-Feb-19 02-Feb-20 07-Feb-21
12 01-Mar-15 06-Mar-16 05-Mar-17 04-Mar-18 03-Mar-19 01-Mar-20 07-Mar-21
13 31-Mar-15 31-Mar-16 31-Mar-17 31-Mar-18 31-Mar-19 31-Mar-20 31-Mar-21
How will excess usage by a user be calculated and billed?
Usage is calculated against each user’s token or access credentials. Excess usage over the High
Volume Usage threshold is calculated at the end of each period. If you exceed the High Volume
Usage threshold, we will notify you at the end of the period to inform you that need to modify your
usage to avoid being subject to charges. This approach will be taken for the first and second period
that you exceed your usage limits. If you modify your usage to bring you back below the High
Volume Usage threshold within 3 consecutive periods, we will not apply any retrospective charges.
If your product generates excess usage every period for 3 consecutive periods, we will contact you
to arrange payment. An invoice will be raised for the all additional usage above the High Volume
Usage threshold over the past three periods. This approach will only be taken after the third
consecutive period of exceeding usage limits.
All charges are subject to VAT and you will be required to pay within 30 days of the invoice being
generated. NRE reserve the right to terminate your use of the Information feeds if you fail to pay on
time.
How do I avoid a large bill if my usage unexpectedly increases?
The usage charges do not take effect until the threshold has been exceeded for 3 consecutive
periods. We will contact you each period if you exceed the threshold to give you every opportunity
6. to adjust your usage before you are subject to charges. Helpful guidelines are found in the
developer guide on how to make most efficient use of the service.
Can I use more than one API key to increase my available usage over the documented
limits?
The combined usage of all chargeable NRE Information feeds is calculated against your free
allocation.
Which NRE Information feeds are NOT subject to usage limits?
Public CIS
Darwin Timetable Changes Feed
3rd
Party Alerting Webservice
Windows Vista ‘LDB’ Gadget
Apple Mac Widget
Incidents XML (Service Disruption & Engineering Works)
National Service Indicator XML
Stations XML
Stations Made Easy XML (accessibility information)
Train Operating Companies XML
Ticket Types XML
Promotions XML
