David Williams (asker) Mar 29, 2010:

How about if it is the "Täglicher Vorbereitungs- und Abschlussdienst (VA)" for a locomotive?
An Italian colleague of mine translated this as "Daily preparation and finishing service".

Bernd Runge Mar 22, 2010:

Neue Rechtschreibung Abschlussdienst
... as additionally provided service ;-)

polyglot45 Mar 22, 2010:

in which case... it is his signing on and signing off process. Normally they have to do things like brake tests before they can set off. So I suppose that the driver has to prepare his train for maintenance and, when he gets it back, check that it is functioning properly.

David Williams (asker) Mar 22, 2010:

Tf soll laut mein Kollege eigentlich Triebfahrzeugführer sein.

Bernd Runge Mar 22, 2010:

German style Auf gut deutsch würde ich sagen, dass entweder der Text irgendwas falsch darstellt, oder dass David sich irgendwie getäuscht hat.

polyglot45 Mar 22, 2010:

@Bernd That's what I would think but from David's addendum it would appear not... I see it as pre- and post-maintenance operations on the multiple unit

Bernd Runge Mar 22, 2010:

Meine Meinung Es gibt Vorbereitung (vorher) und Abschluss (nachher).

polyglot45 Mar 22, 2010:

for greater clarity the two procedures are both pre-maintenance ? Have I understood you correctly ?

Bernd Runge Mar 22, 2010:

Tf is mainly used as abbreviation for Triebzugführer, not Triebzug itself, and Dienst ist obviously duties, shift, etc.

David Williams (asker) Mar 22, 2010:

Yes This is Re. the maintenance schedule (the first of the "Stufen des Instandhaltungsplans des Fahrzeugs").

polyglot45 Mar 22, 2010:

more context ? I presume Tf = Treibfahrzeug ? These are obviously operations before and after maintenance but which operations ? It could be introducing and removing protective measures or dismantling and refitting parts....