The MET code denotes that the stop is a station on a tram, underground or light rail system. It is used in conjunction with other codes for the platforms (PLT) and station entrances (TMU) and together they describe the layout of the station and reference it into the national and local numbering systems. This overcomes problems where tram stops have appeared as bus stops, or underground stations cannot be found listed as rail stations.
There are definitive notes on how to use MET codes available which support the brief explanation given here.
Because there are about 90 heritage railways and 20 tram systems around the UK many authorities may need to use the MET codes. The following is a list of rail systems which have been identified so far:
The MET code for each station will be provided in the form 9400ZZaannn where aa is a code for the rail system and nnn is a code for the station.
The PLT code for each platform at the station will be the same as the MET code but have the plaform number added to it.
940G stopareas will be created too in the Groups/csv file.
The codes that have been allocated so far are in the 940 "National -Tram/Underground" section of the NaPTAN database. In NaPTAN viewer a symbol has been allocated to MET points and their location can be pinpointed they do not seem to appear on the maps yet.
An example is Acton Town Underground Station on London Underground:
9400ZZLUACT Acton Town Underground Station 9400ZZLUACT1 Acton Town-Underground-1 9400ZZLUACT2 Acton Town-Underground-2 9400ZZLUACT3 Acton Town-Underground-3 9400ZZLUACT4 Acton Town-Underground-4The data set is completed by the local authority generating TMU (station entrance) codes. They use the local area prefix instead of 940 but the rest of the code is the same as the MET code. A suffix number is attached sequentially for each entrance to the station. For example:
4900ZZLUACT1 Station entrancewhere 4900 is the code for NaPTAN points in London.
When these have been allocated they can be notified to Thales to be added to the StopArea files for each station.
If you use full NaPTAN codes in your existing data system then you will be planning to convert your data to the new codes. If you use a look up table then the matches you have found will go into the lookup table.
Before proceeding to implement the scheme you need to discuss the plans with your traveline region and Transport Direct to ensure that all implications are considered and the transition is smooth. You will need to ensure that any implications for walk links, and interchanges are followed through in your data. Exactly how you do this will depend on your data system. One way to proceed may be for a short while to have a copy of your light rail timetable data. One copy with the old station codes the other with the new MET codes. Once the new 9400 codes appear in the National NaPTAN data you will be able to use only the new version.
Once the data has been set up it should be straightforward to maintain data coded in this way. Fortunately changes to stations, platforms and even station entrances will not occur very often.
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© traveline 2009, Last updated: 4 February 2009