Start with Hinterland Container Notification Rail

In the video, we explain step by step how to work in Hinterland Container Notification Rail (HCN Rail). Below the video, you will find the topics and steps written out for reference.

Also available in Dutch or German.

Navigating to the service

You can start HCN Rail as follows:

1. Go to iamconnected.eu
2. Click Log in at the top right of the screen and follow the steps to sign in
3. Within the Port Community System (PCS), under the Rail section, select the service Hinterland Container Notification (Rail)

No access yet?

Then follow this guide to create a new account. Ask the Portbase main administrator of your organisation to grant you access to the service by adding your account to the correct user group. Here you can find the steps the main administrator needs to follow for this.

The Rotations and Handlings dashboard

The Rotations dashboard

Here you have real-time insight into your rotations and the associated terminal visits. The dashboard displays the rotations in the following categories:

• Expected: all scheduled, future rotations.
• In Operation: all rotations currently in progress.
• Completed: all completed rotations.
• Cancelled: all cancelled rotations.

The Handlings dashboard

This dashboard provides insight into the cargo on your trains in the form of pre-notifications and status requests. Just like on the Rotations dashboard, different categories are used:

• Detached: all status requests. These are containers for which only the container status has been requested and which have not yet been linked to a train. As a result, these containers are not visible on the Rotations dashboard. Pre-notifications you have cancelled also fall into this category.
• Expected: all containers that have been pre-notified on all scheduled, future rotations.
• In operation: all containers that have been pre-notified on rotations currently in progress.
• Completed: all containers that have been pre-notified on completed rotations.

Creating a new rotation and terminal visit

Creating a new rotation

1. In the Rotation dashboard, go to the + New rotation button at the top right of the screen.
2. Fill in the required fields.
3. Click the Save rotation button to create the rotation.

Creating a new terminal visit

1. Open an existing rotation and click + Add visit.
2. Fill in the required fields.
3. Choose one of the following options:
   • Save visit: save the terminal visit without sending the request to the terminal immediately.
   • Save & send visit: save the terminal visit and send it immediately to the terminal.
   • Cancel visit: if necessary, you can also cancel your terminal visit.

Would you like to add multiple terminal visits to the same rotation? Then repeat the above steps.

Does the same terminal appear two or more times in your route?

You can report this route as a single rotation. The example below explains the steps you need to follow:

• AB/12-BA/34 ECT Delta Friday
• AB/12-BA/34 EMX Saturday
• AB/12-BA/34 APMT2 Saturday
• AB/12-BA/34 RWG Saturday
• AB/56-BA/56 ECT Delta Sunday

Follow these steps:

1. Create a rotation in Portbase with loading number AB/12 and unloading number BA/34.
2. Create the visits in the usual way.
3. For the second visit to the same terminal (in this case, ECT Delta scheduled for Sunday), indicate that this visit has a different loading/unloading number. Do this while creating the visit. Enter the different loading number AB/56 and unloading number BA/56 in the fields shown below.
4. Add the pre-notifications to the visits.
5. The pre-notifications will be sent to the terminal with the correct loading/unloading number.

If you change the loading/unloading number (either at visit or rotation level) after a pre-notification has already been made, we will not send a new COPINO. The CODECOs that are returned on the previously given trip number will therefore not be matched.

Where can I find my rotation, terminal visit, or container details?

Rotation details

Follow these steps to view your rotation:

1. Open your rotation. You will now see the rotation including the associated terminal visits.
2. Open the rotation.
3. Choose one of the tabs for more information:
   • Voyage details: shows the details of the rotation
   • Cargo declarants: shows the main rail operator and any additional rail operators
   • History: shows all actions performed on the rotation

Terminal visit details

Follow these steps to view your terminal visit:

1. Open your rotation and select the desired terminal visit.
2. Choose one of the tabs for more information:
   • Visit details: shows the details of the terminal visit
   • Handlings: shows all status requests and pre-notified containers. Here you can also add new status requests or pre-notifications.
   • Train composition: shows the train composition if it has been submitted by the rail operator. You can also upload (an update to) the train composition here.
   • History: shows all actions performed on the terminal visit.

Container details

Follow these steps to view your container:

1. Open your rotation and select the desired terminal visit.
2. Go to the Handlings tab, where you will find all status requests and pre-notified containers.
3. Open a status request or pre-notified container and choose a tab for more information:
   • Handling Details: shows the details of the container.
   • History: shows all actions performed on the container.

How do you recognise an update from the terminal on a visit?

A blue dot indicates that the terminal has made a change.

• If the blue dot is next to a rotation, this means a change has been made in one (or more) of the visits within that rotation.

• If the blue dot is next to a visit, there is a change in that specific visit. Open the terminal visit and view the change in the highlighted fields.

An example of such a change is the acceptance of the visit by the terminal.

The blue dot disappears for all users as soon as the Acknowledge update button is used. When all changed visits have been acknowledged, the blue dot next to the rotation will also disappear automatically.

Creating pre-notifications and status requests

You can enter containers into HCN Rail in several ways. The three options are explained below.

1. Via the ‘Handlings’ dashboard

1. Go to the Handlings tab.
2. Click Add handling at the top right.
3. Under Link to existing visit, choose whether you want to link the container to an existing terminal visit.
   • Yes: enter the call ID of the scheduled terminal visit. The visit details will be filled in automatically. In the Pre-notification field, you can select whether you want to submit the container as a pre-notification or as a status request.
   • No: enter the visit details yourself. If you choose not to link the container to a scheduled visit, you can only submit your container as a status request.
4. Fill in the other required fields.
5. Click Submit status request / Submit pre-notification to send the status request / pre-notification to the terminal.

You can find status requests on the Handlings dashboard in the Detached category. Pre-notifications can be found in the Expected category.

2. Via the ‘Rotations’ dashboard

1. Go to the Rotations tab.
2. Select the desired rotation.
3. Select the desired visit.
4. Go to the Handlings tab.
5. Click Add handling.
6. Under Pre-notification, choose whether you want to submit the container as a pre-notification or status request.
7. Fill in the other required fields.
8. Click Submit status request / Submit pre-notification to send the status request / pre-notification to the terminal.

You can find all submitted status requests and pre-notifications on the Handlings tab of the visit. Status requests are grouped at the top, with pre-notifications listed below.

3. Via an Excel upload

With an Excel upload, you can submit multiple containers at once as status requests and/or pre-notifications.

1. On both the Handlings and Rotations tabs, you can click on the Add handling button and then on Download XLS template. See the steps above for how to access the Add handling button in the Handlings / Rotations dashboard.
   • On the Handlings tab, you can only submit the containers as status requests.
   • On the Rotations tab, you can submit the containers as both status requests and pre-notifications.
2. Open the Excel file and read the instructions on the Guide tab.
3. Enter the required information on the Pickup and/or Delivery tabs.
4. Save the file.
5. In HCN Rail, click on Upload Handlings (next to the Add handling button in both the Handlings and Rotations dashboards).
   • Are you uploading via the Rotations tab? Then choose whether you want to submit the containers as status requests or pre-notifications.
6. Select the saved Excel file.

Train composition functionality

The Train composition functionality allows you to share the planned inbound and outbound train composition for all terminal visits in your rotation. The planned inbound and outbound train composition shows the entire composition of the train, including the discharge and loading containers and the remain-on-train containers.

With the Train composition functionality, you can share the full planned train composition for all terminal visits in your rotation, including discharge, loading, and remain-on-train containers.

Sharing planned inbound and outbound train composition with the terminal

Step 1: assign traction supplier to rotation

You must assign the traction supplier to each rotation in HCN Rail, otherwise the traction supplier will not be able to download the actual train composition after the operation has been completed by the terminal. You can assign the traction supplier to both a new and existing rotation or rotation template, in the Traction supplier field. See below.

Assigning traction supplier to new/existing rotation

Assigning traction supplier to new/existing rotation template

Step 2: download the Excel template

Download the Excel template for sharing the planned inbound and outbound train composition with the terminal. Go to the Rotations tab, open the rotation and the visit, click on the Train Composition tab and then on Download Excel template.

Step 3: enter the required information

Save the Excel template and fill in the mandatory fields. Refer to the Guide tab in the Excel template for an explanation of the required information for the inbound/outbound train composition. Which fields you need to fill in per container depends on whether the container will be loaded or discharged at a terminal that is or is not connected to HCN Rail.

Make sure you fill in both the inbound and outbound train composition! For this, you only need to enter the wagon position, wagon number, and wagon slot once. To view the outbound train, you need to scroll to the right in the Excel template.

Container is/will be loaded/discharged at a terminal that is connected to HCN Rail

If there is a container on the planned inbound/outbound train composition that is/will be loaded/discharged at a terminal that is connected to HCN Rail, some of the mandatory information can be retrieved using the Handling Id or the container number. It is important that all pre-notifications for the entire rotation have already been submitted.

• The Handling Id is a unique number to identify a pre-notification and can be found by navigating to the rotation and the visit, then opening the Handlings tab and within the handling, opening the History tab. You must enter the Handling Id in column D of the Excel template for the planned inbound train composition and in column S for the planned outbound train composition.
• It is also possible to use the container number. You must enter the container number in column G of the Excel template for the planned inbound train composition and in column V for the planned outbound train composition. It is not possible to load containers by reference using the container number; for this, use the Handling Id.

In addition to the Handling Id/container number, you must also enter the following information:

• wagon position
• wagon number
• wagon slot
• loading terminal
• discharge terminal.

The Excel template contains a grey-shaded section with an example of a container where some of the required information is retrieved using the Handling Id. The grey-shaded fields are for example purposes and cannot be overwritten.

Are you retrieving the container information using the Handling Id/container number? Then you must fill in the Cargo weight (kg) and Tare weight (kg) fields in the pre-notification for the relevant handling. These are mandatory fields for the train composition.

If you are transporting dangerous goods in the container, you are also required to enter the UN number, Hazard class, and GEVI in the pre-notification. To do this, click on + Add Good in the pre-notification. Three fields will then appear where you can provide this information.

It is possible to include container remarks in the pre-notification, which will then be transferred to the train composition. So far, these container remarks on the train composition are only processed by ECT. If you want to pass on a container remark to another terminal via the train composition, we recommend contacting that terminal separately.

Container is/will be loaded/discharged at a terminal that is not connected to HCN Rail

If there is a container on the planned inbound/outbound train composition that is/will be loaded/discharged at a terminal that is not connected to HCN Rail, you must enter all the required information yourself.

UN number, Hazard class, GEVI, limited quantity, packing group, and description only need to be filled in if dangerous goods are being transported in the container.

The Excel template contains a grey-shaded section with several examples of containers where the required information has been entered manually. The grey-shaded fields are for example purposes and cannot be overwritten.

It is possible to enter container remarks in the Excel template. So far, these are only processed by ECT. If you want to pass on a container remark to another terminal, we recommend contacting that terminal separately.

Step 4: upload the completed Excel template in the HCN Rail web screens

Once you have finished filling in the Excel template, save it and upload it in the HCN Rail web screens. The upload button is only available if the terminal operation has not yet started. After uploading the Excel template, the train composition will appear in the web screen. To update the train composition, the Excel template must be uploaded again with the amended information. It is not possible to update the train composition directly in the web screen.

Adding an accompanying rail operator

It is possible to add one or more rail operators to your rotation as accompanying rail operator(s). This rail operator can independently submit pre-notifications to the terminals on the visits of your rotation as an accompanying rail operator. The accompanying rail operator will then be charged for the submitted pre-notifications. There are two ways to add an accompanying rail operator to a rotation.

Option 1: Add accompanying rail operator to a specific rotation

1. Select the rotation to which you want to add an accompanying rail operator.
2. Go to the Cargo declarants tab.
3. Click on the Add declarant button to add an accompanying rail operator. Note: the accompanying rail operator must be connected to HCN Rail.
4. Click Save declarants.

Option 2: Permanently add accompanying rail operator to a recurring rotation

1. Select the Configuration tab and then open the saved templates by clicking on Rail rotation templates.
2. Select the template to which you want to add the accompanying rail operator.
3. Go to the Cargo declarants tab.
4. Click on the Add declarant button to add an accompanying rail operator. Note: the accompanying rail operator must be connected to HCN Rail.
5. Save the changes by clicking on Save template at the bottom of the page. Each time you create a new rotation using this template, the accompanying rail operator will be added automatically. After adding the accompanying rail operator, the rotation will also be shown on the Rotations tab in the web screens of the accompanying rail operator and/or in the TMS of the accompanying rail operator via the API system interface. The accompanying rail operator can now independently add handlings to this rotation. The accompanying rail operator only has access to their own handlings and the container statuses of their own handlings. This means the accompanying rail operator can only edit their own handlings.

To remove the accompanying rail operator as the main operator, the accompanying rail operator must first delete all created handlings.

Linking, unlinking, and moving handlings (containers) on a train visit.

Via the Handlings and Rotations dashboards, you can unlink, link, and move the container to another Call id.

Linking and moving

1. Select the container
2. Click on Attach container
3. Enter the desired Call id of the train visit
4. Click on Attach
5. You will find the container under the train visit in both the Rotations and Handlings dashboards

Unlinking

1. Select the container
2. Click on Detach container to unlink from the Call-ID
3. You will find the container in the Handlings overview under Detached Handlings

Shipments

Watch the video below for more information about shipments.

Also available in Dutch.

With the Shipments function, you have insight into which containers have been assigned to you through nomination. You can also nominate another inland operator for the pre-notification and collection of the container. This is a new way of working to share data securely, also known as the Secure Chain.

Components

From the HCN Rail service, go to the Shipments tab.

Here you will see an overview of all containers for which you have been nominated via the Secure Chain and for which further action may be required.

Under the Arrivals tab, the containers are displayed per seagoing vessel. Under the Shipments tab, the containers are grouped per client or cargo director.

With the filter above the containers, you can quickly find your container(s).

Make sure the date range is set to the ETA of the seagoing vessel.

Actions to perform

At container level, you can perform a number of actions. Select one or more containers and at the bottom of the screen you will see three buttons with actions:

• Forward: nominate another inland operator
• Cancel forward: withdraw a nomination
• Download: download container data

Forward

1. Click the Forward button to nominate an inland operator for the handling of the transport and the pre-notification.
2. Then type in the name of the organisation you wish to nominate. As you type, the relevant organisations will appear on the screen.
3. Select the correct organisation and it will be linked immediately.

You have now outsourced the pre-notification and transport of the container to another inland operator. The chosen inland operator is now visible in the container details. The container remains visible to you and you can continue to monitor the container status, planned and actual pick-up times. Only your own status request or pre-notification will be cancelled upon transfer.

Cancel Forward

Do you want to withdraw your nomination for one or more containers? After selecting a container, click Cancel Forward. This container will disappear from your overview. You can then nominate another inland operator.

Download

Via the Download button, you can download an Excel file with data of the selected containers for your own TMS.

Container status

• Rotation level: At rotation level, the number of containers to discharge and/or load is shown. If there are containers that require attention, a red triangle with an exclamation mark and the number of containers will appear.
• Visit level: By clicking on the visit, the terminal visits within the rotation are displayed. At visit level, the number of containers to discharge and/or load is also shown, with a red triangle with an exclamation mark (and the number of containers) that require attention. By opening the visit, the containers that require attention are shown at the top of the list by default.
• Container/handling level: For each container, the statuses below are displayed (green = in order, red = action required). Also visible via the Handlings dashboard.

Delivering a container

• Padlock icon = block
• Document icon = customs document known at the terminal
• Clock icon = cargo opening started at the terminal
• Key icon = acceptance reference known at the terminal

Collecting a container

• Padlock icon = block
• Document icon = customs document known at the terminal
• Square with check mark = container available at the terminal
• Euro icon = commercial release known at the terminal

Railwise

Portbase has, at the request of the Rail Connected programme, developed a dashboard – called RailWise – that provides insight into the efficiency, capacity and reliability of rail freight transport (containers only). These insights are based on data from HCN Rail and are therefore only available for terminals connected to this service.

How do I get access to RailWise?

In 2025, agreements have been made with the participating parties regarding the subscription to the dashboard. If you are not yet using the dashboard but would like to do so for the coming year, please let us know before 16 October by contacting our Sales department.

How do I navigate to RailWise?

You can navigate to the dashboard by clicking on the RailWise tab at the top of the screen in HCN Rail. The dashboard is available on weekdays from 8am to 6pm.

Which metrics does RailWise show?

The dashboard consists of several tabs with different metrics, see below.

3.1 KPI’s tab

This tab shows the metrics below. These metrics are based on the underlying data of the graphs on the other tabs. Your KPI’s shows the metrics based on your own data and Market KPI’s shows the market average for the metrics.

See the example below. The screenshot was taken in week 47. The large numbers show the values for the past week (week 46). The smaller values below show the figures for the previous week (week 45). In the background you see a grey graph showing the development of these metrics over the past period.

Example graph number of voyage omits.

1. Number of voyage omits
2. Average number of handlings per hour
3. Average operation time
4. Average call size
5. Average adjusted call size

3.2 Turnaround port tab

The metrics on the Turnaround port tab provide insight into how many rotations are changed/cancelled after the planning is finalised in the Spoorboekje in HCN (and not at ProRail!) on Thursday at 23:59.

1. Percentage of cancelled and changed voyages per week market average
2. Number of cancelled and changed voyages per week

3.3 Terminal tab

The metrics on the Terminal tab provide insight into how efficiently and predictably the operational handling at the terminal is carried out.

1. Operation time: percentage of visits with deviation (proforma vs actual) incl. market average
2. Terminal efficiency: average handlings per hour incl. market average

3.4 Call size tab

The metrics on the Call size tab provide insight into deviations in the call size.

1. Call size: proforma vs replanned vs actual number of equipment
2. Number of calls with deviation proforma vs actual
3. Number of calls with deviation proforma vs replanned

3.5 Definitions tab

This tab contains definitions and explanations of the metrics, KPIs and terms used in the dashboard. Consult this tab to interpret the figures correctly.

How can I filter the metrics?

The filter options allow you to search your data in a targeted way. It is possible to apply the filters below within the dashboard. The filters may differ per tab.

1. ETA: filter your journeys and visits by a specific time period.
2. Rail operator: this filter is only relevant for traction suppliers and terminals and allows them to search specifically for the journeys and visits of one or more rail operators. As a traction supplier/terminal, you do not see all journeys and visits of this rail operator, but only the journeys and visits that have been carried out by you for that rail operator / at your terminal.
3. Traction supplier: this filter is only relevant for rail operators and terminals and allows them to search specifically for the journeys and visits of one or more traction suppliers. As a rail operator/terminal, you do not see all journeys and visits of this traction supplier, but only the journeys and visits that have been carried out by that traction supplier for you / at your terminal.
4. Terminal: filter your visits by one or more terminals. As a rail operator/traction supplier, you do not see all journeys and visits at this terminal, but only your own visits at that terminal.
5. Shuttle name
6. Loading voyage number
7. Discharge voyage number
8. Deviation: filter by positive/negative deviations.

Which data can I view?

Throughout the dashboard, each organisation only sees its own data and, for some metrics, also the market average. The Port of Rotterdam Authority does have access to your data, provided you have given your consent. The Port Authority will contact you separately for this. For questions about this, you can contact the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

History

Under Rotation, Visit (Train visit) and Handlings (Container), all actions and timestamps can be viewed. A reference of all actions performed and updates. For this, click for example via Rotation, Visit or Handling on the History tab to see all updates. This way, you always have insight into all changes that have taken place. Hover your mouse over an update and click on the pop-up icon to view your rotation at that point in time.

Report Issue button

Click Report issue to inform our Customer Service directly about your problem with working in HCN Rail.