NDS migration FAQs

Intro

The Swedish rail market has recently undergone a significant change in how tickets are retailed. At the heart of this change is the migration to a new digital system, the National Distribution System (NDS).

NDS is based on the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM) and is designed to connect rail and bus operators in a single distribution solution, simplify the ticketing process and boosting cross-selling opportunities.

SilverRail would like to draw Partners' attention to the following summary:

• The migration to the National Distribution System (NDS) impacts ticket sales booked after April 16, 2024, for travel from June 4, 2024 onwards.
• Sweden's national railway company SJ and most Swedish rail carriers went live with a new inventory system (S3) for reservations and ticketing. This change impacts ticket sales from June 4, 2024 onwards.
• SilverRail started distributing tickets through NDS on 27 April for travel from June 4 onwards and will be adding more content and functionality in line with the roadmap.

SilverRail roadmap

If you have any questions about the changes mentioned in this article, please email silverdesk.se@silverrailtech.com.

Glossary of terms

General Questions

Why has SilverRail changed the way its API and Linkonline work?

Due to the ongoing system change in the Swedish market and the introduction of Samtrafiken's National Distribution System (NDS), SilverRail needs to adapt its services to the new system and its functionality.

SilverRail is actively working to minimize the impact, but because of the dependencies on external systems (e.g. NDS and carrier IMS), SilverRail cannot guarantee that the functionality currently available in its platform will be available in the same way after the system change.

What is NDS?

NDS stands for "National Distribution and Sales Solution" and is provided by Samtrafiken.

What is the OSDM standard?

OSDM stands for "Open Sales and Distribution Model" and is a standard for booking public transportation. The NDS uses the OSDM.

What is an IMS?

IMS stands for 'Inventory Management System', which is the system used by rail carriers to hold their fares and availability data.

Will there be limitations in content or functionality after the migration?

There will be limitations. SilverRail is committed to informing Partners proactively about those changes. Known changes are published in this FAQ and will be communicated via the usual channels for our respective products.

After the migration, will there be a difference between what is available in the carriers' sales channels and SilverRail's content?

Yes, and there are two reasons for this. The first is that rail carriers choose what content is available (e.g., train, bus, taxi) and what products are made available via the NDS.

Secondly, SilverRail needs to adapt its integrations to offer updated content and products from rail carriers.

We sometimes experience longer response times compared to before the migration. Why is that?

Because SilverRail's system needs to access external systems for content and availability, response times have increased in some scenarios. We are, together with the other parties involved in the ecosystem, investigating how to improve response times.

Following the migration, what timetable period will be available through SilverRail?

Samtrafiken is responsible for the timetable. Currently, Samtrafiken has provided SilverRail with a timetable that is available until 14 December, 2024.

Why is my booking not labeled as Resplus in some combinations?

Passengers can still book a combined Resplus journey (e.g. an SJ train journey combined with a connecting journey by train, bus, or other mode of transport) in one booking. However, for a limited period, some booking combinations will not be labeled RESPLUS, and the Resplus compensation guarantee will not apply.

If the guarantee applies and where the information is provided, this will be visible in the booking flow and on the ticket.

Roadmap and timelines

Will all accessible content be available via SilverRail's applications (Linkonline and SilverRail API) at the same time as SilverRail's start of sales?

For a period, there may well be gaps in content availability. We are working hard with all parties to make content available as soon as possible. Please see the roadmap for more details.

Will there be a disruption in the sales of SJ multi-ride tickets?

Yes, there will be a disruption in selling monthly cards/multi-ride tickets. Please see the roadmap for more details

Will sales of annual cards be affected?

The plan is that annual cards will be available for sale from 3 October, 2024 through SilverRail sales channels. For more information, please refer to the document "Linkonline versionsinformation"

Is it possible to book corporate fares?

Yes, it is possible to book corporate fares for SJ and VR. SilverRail is investigating, together with the carriers, how this can be better supported in the future.

Carrier availability

Following the migration, what content will be available and when?

Currently, SJ and Samtrafiken (e.g. Public Transport Authorities (PTA), Express bus, Öresundståg, Tågab, Vy Flygbussarna) VR, TAXI and Vy Buss/Bus4You as well as Norrtåg and Vy tåg content, is available.

However, RESPLUS journeys will not be available for combined trips, including VR or Vy Buss/Bus4Yo, after the migration. SilverRail will provide an update when more information on RESPLUS combinations with these carriers is available.

When will Snälltåget be available via SilverRail?

We target to have Snälltåget available in Q4 2024.

Are replacement buses available via SilverRail?

Yes, since July 11, 2024, replacement buses are available via SilverRail.

Can I still book trains to Arlanda with a travel date after the migration?

Yes, booking trains to the Arlanda station for all carriers is possible.

Functionality

Will there be any changes to how tickets are distributed (e.g., via email or SMS) following the migration?

As of today, SMS tickets are not supported by the NDS. Only E-Ticket is available via email.

Will it be possible to cancel tickets to receive a refund?

As per the business rules set by the carriers, cancelling an SJ ticket for a refund will not be possible. We will update the FAQ with information on other carriers.

Will it still be possible to refund a ticket booked through SilverRail on the carrier's sales channels or customer support?

Only the retailer where the ticket was booked can refund the whole trip. The reason is that the carriers have different IMSs, and carriers can only access their own segments. Only the retailer can manage the whole trip.

Refunds due to traffic disruptions, such as delays, canceled trains/departures, or other complaints, must be refunded by the train carrier involved.

If the traveler claims "useless travel" and wants the money back, the carrier that caused the disturbance will compensate the traveler for the entire ticket and any return journey from its payment system and not in the application that the reseller booked the ticket.

Will functionality for special refunds be available?

Yes, SilverRail will offer special refunds (Doctor's certificate and Staff Error), which are available through NDS.

When will cancel functionality (release seat) be available for paid bookings?

For SJ, performing a cancelation (release seat) will no longer be possible, as it is no longer supported. For Samtrafiken's partners and Vy tåg, it will be possible to perform the cancelation (release seat) where there is seat allocation. SilverRail is yet to implement the release seat functionality for Samtrafiken's partners.

Why do bookings need to be paid for within 60 minutes?

This change is a requirement connected to the introduction of NDS, where SilverRail needs to adapt its solution to the underlying IMS systems held by the carriers. Work is ongoing to enable an extension of the timeframe within which a booking needs to be paid.

This change doesn't affect the monthly invoicing from SilverRail to travel agencies.

Can ancillary services (e.g., breakfast) be added to my booking?

Yes, mandatory breakfast ancillary services will be added automatically, but not optional ancillaries (e.g., meals onboard). The information is available on the E-Ticket sent to the traveler.

Can a traveler add a loyalty card number (SJ prio) for bookings made via SilverRail?

It is currently not possible to add a loyalty card number to bookings made via SilverRail for trips booked for travel after 3 June, 2024. However, it is possible to add an SJ Prio Card up to 90 days post-travel date by contacting SJ directly.

Will travelers be able to see the booked trip on the carriers' respective sales channels?

Travelers will not see the whole trip in the carriers' respective sales channels/applications. The traveler will only see the travel segment(s) operated by the specific carrier in their respective sales channel/application. This is because the carriers have different IMSs and can only access their own segments, meaning only the retailer where the ticket was booked can see the whole trip.

Products

Will travelers be able to book Movingo cards after the migration?

Movingo cards cannot be booked through SilverRail. We will update you when we have further information about Movingo's availability via SilverRail.

Will booking city traffic "Stadszonbiljett" be possible after the migration?

No. City traffic "Stadszonbiljett" will not be available after the migration.

When will exchangeable tickets be available?

As soon as we have visibility from the carriers about when exchangeable tickets will be made available, we will plan SilverRail's development to support this product. We will share an update on this once we have more information.

Will the booking of international tickets be affected?

There are no known changes to international ticket bookings connected with the implementation of NDS.

Support

Where do we go for agent support?

There are no changes with regard to agent support. Please continue to use silverdesk.se@silverrailtech.com to contact us for support needs.

Will there be a user manual for all the changes in Linkonline?

Changes have been communicated via "linkonline versionsinformation", which is sent out to all users. The information is also available in "linkon Info" in Linkonline.

Seating and sleeping

When will night trains be available via SilverRail sales channels?

Night trains are currently not available. Please refer to our roadmap for updates on upcoming content and functionality.

Is it possible to book a night train compartment for travelers with a wheelchair?

It is currently not possible to book a night train compartment for travelers with a wheelchair. Please refer to our roadmap for updates on upcoming content and functionality.

Is it possible to see seat availability for travel after the NDS migration?

For travel after the NDS migration, it will not be possible to see what seats are available or whether the train is fully booked. Please refer to our roadmap for updates on upcoming content and functionality.

Will it be possible to book a seat reservation for Öresundståg?

It is not possible to book a seat reservation for Öresundståg from 4 June, 2024. This is outside of SilverRail'scontrol and is due to a limitation in the underlying systems. When available in the underlying system, it will automatically be available through SilverRail.

What are the options for booking seats according to a traveler's preference?

From the start of sales, we will not have information on seat availability, and it will not be possible for the traveler to select a specific zone (e.g., pets allowed, aisle, window, etc.). Travelers will receive the seat through an automated allocation, and there will be no information if the seat is booked in a specific zone (e.g., next to pets, etc.). The information is, however, available on the distributed E-Ticket sent to the traveler. We will keep you updated on any changes via our ordinary communication channels. Please also see our roadmap.

Will seat maps be available at the start of sales?

Seat maps are only available for VR and Vy Buss/Bus4You. Seat maps will not be available for SJ and Öresundståg via SilverRail from the start of sales on April 27, 2024. Please refer to our roadmap for updates on upcoming content and functionality.