22 February 2021 · Creating a Railway Timetable

Presenter: Gawain Nicholson

For our February meeting we were joined by Gawain Nicholson, Assistant Permanent Diagramming Manager for Great Western Railway, to present “Creating a Railway Timetable”.

Gawain went through the aspects to be considered when compiling the timetable, starting with timings, rolling stock and traincrew diagrams, to deliver a right time railway. Timetable planners have to work with other planners often in other departments, including possession strategy, rolling stock maintenance, traincrew rostering, resourcing and linking.

The general process begins with the franchise document, which specifies the services the operator is contracted to operate. The TOC staff then have to implement the timetable and “bid” to Network Rail nine months before it is due to commence. Once validated, it is returned to the operator six months prior, with the completed timetable published around twelve weeks in advance of launch. Once the timetable is agreed, the stock and train crew diagrammers start on their work, reflecting changing needs and stock availability, and then this has to be agreed with the trade unions.

Timings are governed by timetable planning rules and timing loads, which set out running and dwell times for each type of stock between and at each station. There is then input from stock and crew diagrammers from their own rules and resource availability, such as turnaround times at termini.

The finished timetable has to then be workable for purposes of stock diagramming and fleet management, which needs to be able to provide the appropriate train type and capacity for each service, and so that diagrams start and end at appropriate locations for stabling and maintenance.

Gawain also spoke about the challenges of short term plans, which the diverse GWR network sees more than its share of with additional services for major events like Glastonbury, racing at Cheltenham and rugby at Cardiff; and strengthening summer trains to Newquay and St Ives.

We thank Gawain for a fascinating presentation on all of the work that goes into creating a timetable that delivers good service for the operator and the customer.

Report by: David Goddard