Air carrier taxiing for departure from stl crossed a runway based upon taxi instructions but was adv...

Narrative:

Just after push back; my first officer had called ramp control. We both had expected a short taxi clearance to a nearby spot. The aircraft was still facing the terminal. Instead; the ramp controller issued a taxi clearance to the departing runway with a clearance to cross. In reading back the clearance; my first officer may have switched the read back from 'taxi papa to delta and cleared to cross 'and read back' taxi delta to papa; cleared to cross.' we both talked and reviewed this during cruise flight afterward. In any case; I had it in my mind and expected that this clearance was a cleared to cross 12R to taxi to 12L. It was not. Upon reaching taxiway papa at the intersection of 12R; I asked my first officer to confirm we were cleared to cross. He asked ground control (same controller running both frequencies although we had switched from ramp control during taxi) if we were indeed cleared to cross. The answer was 'affirmative.' this confusion led us to crossing runway 12R; which we were holding short of. After crossing; the controller made clear that the instructions he had issued from the ramp were to cross runway 6/24 and not 12R. The intended departure runway was 12R. We then were instructed to taxi down to runway 12L; hold short and contact tower. We then departed without incident. 'I think having the 10-9 page out even during ramp contacts would help. I did not have it out and under light as I had not expected a full taxi clearance from ramp control so I failed to look at the airport diagram after receiving the clearance. We were late and this may have contributed to our haste. Also; when asking for a clearance to cross; we should have specified which runway we were asking about. In this case; it was the runway straight ahead of the aircraft but the response from ground control was 'affirmative' and was not runway specific.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier taxiing for departure from STL crossed a runway based upon taxi instructions but was advised by ATC the crossing was not authorized; the reporter listing confusion between Ramp and/or Ground instructions.

Narrative: Just after push back; my First Officer had called Ramp Control. We both had expected a short taxi clearance to a nearby spot. The aircraft was still facing the terminal. Instead; the Ramp Controller issued a taxi clearance to the departing runway with a clearance to cross. In reading back the clearance; my First Officer may have switched the read back from 'taxi Papa to Delta and cleared to cross 'and read back' taxi Delta to Papa; cleared to cross.' We both talked and reviewed this during cruise flight afterward. In any case; I had it in my mind and expected that this clearance was a cleared to cross 12R to taxi to 12L. It was not. Upon reaching Taxiway Papa at the intersection of 12R; I asked my First Officer to confirm we were cleared to cross. He asked Ground Control (same Controller running both frequencies although we had switched from Ramp Control during taxi) if we were indeed cleared to cross. The answer was 'affirmative.' This confusion led us to crossing Runway 12R; which we were holding short of. After crossing; the Controller made clear that the instructions he had issued from the ramp were to cross Runway 6/24 and not 12R. The intended departure runway was 12R. We then were instructed to taxi down to Runway 12L; hold short and contact Tower. We then departed without incident. 'I think having the 10-9 page out even during Ramp contacts would help. I did not have it out and under light as I had not expected a full taxi clearance from Ramp Control so I failed to look at the airport diagram after receiving the clearance. We were late and this may have contributed to our haste. Also; when asking for a clearance to cross; we should have specified which runway we were asking about. In this case; it was the runway straight ahead of the aircraft but the response from Ground Control was 'affirmative' and was not runway specific.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	985453
Time
Date	201112
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	STL.Tower
State Reference	MO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 170
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90 Flight Crew Type 700
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown

Air carrier taxiing for departure from stl crossed a runway based upon taxi instructions but was advised by ATC the crossing was not authorized; the reporter listing confusion between ramp and/or ground instructions.