Hello all! I meant to write this ages ago. I wanted to make a list of the routes you can run in the timetable and show what headcodes they use. That should help you when finding a service type and you'll be able to search for them better. This should mostly focus on passenger services. Headcode example: 1A02 1 = priority (1 express passenger, 2 stopping passenger, 9 international passenger). A = destination, this is how you can relate each service. Chances are 1A02 runs the same route as 1A04, but 1J02 will likely run to a different place than 1A02. 02 = number in the pattern, usually 01-90, then repeating if there are more that day. For example, 1A04 departs at 07:55, 1A06 departs half hour later, for the same destination. 1A | Southern London Victoria to Brighton (2tph) Brighton to London Victoria (2tph) Unique services: 1A99 Drivable section: London Victoria to Brighton This service begins full operation after the peak hours end and runs throughout the day as 377s, with 387s taking over most services after 18:00. Only 3 services are run by a 377 after 18:00, 1A51, 1A50 & 1A63. 1C | Southern London Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis (1tph) Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis to London Victoria (1tph) Southampton Central & Bognor Regis to London Victoria (1tph) - (See 1J for other direction) Drivable section: London Victoria to Three Bridges During the day, this service runs the above routes, during early and late hours, it also runs to/from other places: Horsham, Bognor Regis only, Chichester & Bognor Regis, Havant & Portsmouth & Southsea. Joining/Splitting would occur off-route at Horsham. 1D | Gatwick Express London Victoria to Gatwick Airport (2tph) Drivable section: London Victoria to Gatwick Airport (some depot moves to Lovers Walk) Non-stop service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport. 1F | Southern London Victoria to Littlehampton & Ore (1tph) Littlehampton & Eastbourne to London Victoria (1tph) Unique services: 1F96 Drivable section: London Victoria to Wivelsfield/Haywards Heath to London Victoria Along with 1H, these routes run the Victoria to Coastway services, most of which split at Haywards Heath. Though some morning/evening services won't and can go only one way, splitting at Lewes and Eastbourne. 1H | Southern London Victoria to Littlehampton & Eastbourne (1tph) Littlehampton & Eastbourne to London Victoria (1tph) Littlehampton & Ore to London Victoria (1tph) London Victoria to Littlehampton (1tph) Littlehampton to London Victoria (1tph) Drivable section: Varying between London Victoria to Preston Park, Haywards Heath to Preston Park, Preston Park to Haywards Heath & Haywards Heath to London Victoria. These also run the London to Coastway services, most splitting at Haywards Heath. 1I | Southern London Victoria to Horsham (1tph) Horsham to London Victoria (1tph) London Victoria to Dorking (1tph) Dorking to London Victoria (1tph) Drivable section: London Victoria to Clapham Junction These are the Sutton & Mole Valley services which operate via Hackbridge. 1J | Southern London Victoria to Southampton Central & Bognor Regis (1tph) - (See 1C for other direction) Drivable section: London Victoria to Three Bridges These are down direction 1Cs that operate from Southampton 1L | Southern London Victoria to East Grinstead (2tph) East Grinstead to London Victoria (2tph) Unique services: 1L02 Drivable section: London Victoria to East Croydon These services can be seen running as 4, 8 and 12 coach trains. 1M | Gatwick Express Brighton to London Victoria (4tph 06:00-09:00, 2tph 09:00 - 00:00+1) Drivable section: Brighton to London Victoria This service serves Brighton, Gatwick Airport and London Victoria during the day. Making additional stops between Brighton and Gatwick Airport in the peak hours. 1O | GWR Reading to Gatwick Airport (1tph) - (See 1V for other direction) Drivable section: Reigate to Gatwick Airport These services are split into two parts due to the reversal at Redhill. 1P | Southern London Bridge to Caterham & Tattenham Corner (2tph) Tattenham Corner to London Bridge (2tph) Drivable section: East Croydon to Purley These services split at Purley. 1R | Southern London Victoria to Reigate (2tph) Reigate to London Victoria (2tph) Unique services: 1R01 Drivable section: London Victoria to Reigate Some of these services are known to use Redhill P2 and others known to use Redhill P0 towards Reigate. 1U | Gatwick Express Gatwick Airport to London Victoria (2tph) Drivable section: (some depot moves from Lovers Walk) Gatwick Airport to London Victoria Non-stop service between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria. 1V | GWR Gatwick Airport to Reading (1tph) - (See 1O for other direction) Drivable section: Reigate to Gatwick Airport These services are split into two parts due to the reversal at Redhill. 1W | Gatwick Express London Victoria to Brighton (2tph 05:00 - 06:00, 4tph 06:00 - 07:00, 3tph 07:00 - 08:00, 2tph 08:00 - 00:00+1) Drivable section: London Victoria to Brighton This service serves London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton during the day. Making additional stops between Gatwick Airport and Brighton in the peak hours. 1Y | Southern London Victoria to Caterham & Tattenham Corner Caterham & Tattenham Corner to London Victoria Unique services: Yes. Drivable section: London Victoria to Purley These are peak semi fast services, all of which are unique in their routes. 1Z | Southeastern London Charing Cross to Hastings (2tph) Hastings to London Charing Cross (2tph) Drivable section: East Croydon to Redhill These services are replicating times when the line between Tonbridge and Orpington is blocked, and services get diverted via Redhill. 2B | Southern London Victoria to Sutton (2tph) Sutton to London Victoria (2tph) London Victoria to Epsom Downs (2tph) Epsom Downs to London Victoria (2tph) Drivable section: London Victoria to Selhurst 2C | GWR Redhill to Gatwick Airport (2C47) Drivable section: Redhill to Gatwick Airport One of those unusual early morning runs. 2F | Southern London Victoria to London Bridge (2tph) London Bridge to London Victoria (2tph) Drivable section: London Victoria to Balham These operate via Crystal Palace 2G | GWR Gatwick Airport to Reading (2G46) Drivable section: Gatwick Airport to Reigate One of those unusual late evening/early morning runs. 2I | Southern London Victoria to Epsom (2tph) Epsom to London Victoria (2tph) Drivable section: London Victoria to Balham These operate via Hackbridge and do not call at Battersea Park & Wandsworth Common. 2J | Southern London Bridge to Caterham (2tph 08:30 - 17:00, 0tph 17:00 - 18:30, 2tph 18:30 - 00:00+1) Caterham to London Bridge (2tph 09:00 - 17:30, 0tph 17:30 - 19:00, 2tph 19:00 - 00:00+1) London Bridge to South Croydon (2tph 17:00 - 18:30) South Croydon to London Bridge (2tph 17:30 - 19:00) Drivable section: Streatham Common to South Croydon/Purley Runs non-stop between East Croydon and Purley unless running between 17:00 and 18:30. 2K | Southern London Victoria to West Croydon (2tph) West Croydon to London Victoria (2tph) Drivable section: London Victoria to Balham These operate via Crystal Palace. 2M | Southern East Croydon to Milton Keynes Central (1tph) Drivable section: East Croydon to Clapham Junction These call at all stations apart from Wandsworth Common. 2O | Southern Milton Keynes Central to East Croydon (1tph) London Victoria to East Croydon (2O92) Drivable section: Clapham Junction to East Croydon These call at all stations apart from Wandsworth Common. 2O | GWR Reading to Redhill (1tph) - (See 2V for other direction) Reading to Gatwick Airport (2O01) Drivable section: Reigate to Redhill/Gatwick Airport (2O01) 2T | Southern London Bridge to Coulsdon Town (2tph, begins after 10:00) Coulsdon Town to London Bridge (2tph, begins after 10:30) Drivable section: East Croydon to Purley 2V | GWR Redhill to Reading (1tph) - (See 2O for other direction) Gatwick Airport to Reading (3tpd) Drivable section: Gatwick Airport/Redhill to Reigate
Great write up. Not only does this give many people an insight into the meaning of headcodes, but also makes it much easier to navigate the extremely large service roster for BML.
A big thanks Joe for taking the time to list these, it really does show how much effort you and your colleagues put into this epic timetable alone. Here's hoping more routes are able to get the same as this shows a lot of dedication and passion! Just to add, going to be good to go through this list and find some of those more unusual services.
I'll echo the thanks too. As someone who used to program PIS systems manually and compile power box simplifiers (before the days of computer networking), I know what an involved task this can be
Very helpful Joe if you have East Coastway is 1A96 operable that route since you might have a player might do the following. Play BML 1st leg 2nd leg East Coastway with same weather conditions
I can’t remember if you said you were definitely doing this but I’ve been waiting hopefully anyway. Top job, just the info I wanted. Some of the most interesting services are the shorter ones that a lot of players might be missing. I love the 2B services (and the 1Y services but those ones have a high rate of crashing on my PS5). I’ve been finding services by accident. I spent this afternoon just taking over the next train at the destination the last one took me to, one after the other, and had a great time mainly on the section between East Croydon and Clapham Junction. So much variety.
I probably felt too exhausted at the time. Still, glad I got round to it, hope it helps you all to discover even more of this timetable!
Joe, I was wondering, could you provide any of the times for AI traffic on London Commuter. Of course, there are the obvious examples like the GWR HST or the Tonbridge service at Redhill, but I notice to the north of Clapham Junction you see Class 66s etc.
Great spot! It appears every hour towards Imperial Wharf around the same time as the HST. In the other direction, I forgot lol I can get you more timings when I get back to DTG
As promised, some more timings for you: The Eastbound Battersea freight appear at XX:09-13 each hour and westbound appear at XX:38-43 each hour. The GWR 166 can be seen at Brighton between 08:35 and 08:59 as well as between 16:12 and 17:02. You might see the SE 375/SN 377 at Victoria from 07:35-07:55 and every other hour at the same times until 21:55. Though there is a chance it could be either two 377s, two 375s, one of each and one of each the other way around. So you may not always see it at these times. Hope that helps!
Just to expand a bit on headcode first digits you might encounter on BML: 5- empty stock moves. These tend to retain the other numbers of the last headcode, so that 1D16 would become 5D16 going to Lovers Walk. 4- fast freight 6- heavy freight. In the game only Class 66s, obviously. Limited to 75 and 60 mph respectively. (There are also 7 and 8, even slower, used for trains pulling extremely heavy per-wagon loads, or older wagons with weak brakes. 8 also covers snowplows and the like. 9 used to be for antique, brakeless wagons, but since those are long gone it was repurposed for the Chunnel.) I don't think there are any 3's, express parcel trains, priority ECS and a few other mid-priority services. Nor, I believe, any 0's (light locos/loco convoys)
