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Victor and Oscar for Train IDs of the same service in opposite directions

SECR 65

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2 Apr 2026
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657
Location
East Sussex
It has come to my attention that the letters 'V' and 'O' are commonly found to be used by the same route / service, but trains running in opposite directions.

One example is the GWR services on the North Downs Line.
I can recall seeing other examples of this.
I have just seen on TikTok that Grand Central plan to run a new service out of London Waterloo, and again, it's V and O.

Is there a specific reason for this, and why always these letters? Are there any other pairs of letters which share the same trait? Are there examples of V and O in an area where they are for different routes? More generally, are there any other letters which have special properties in Train IDs?
 
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westcoaster

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4 Dec 2006
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4,491
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DTOS A or B
Thameslink operate V & O on the sutton loop service group

V to Sutton via Wimbledon
O to Sutton via Mitcham Junction
 

godfreycomplex

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Joined
23 Jun 2016
Messages
1,750
Means that it’s going between the former British Rail regions that were in place when headcodes were introduced

xOxx- destination Southern region
xMxx - destination Midland region
xExx - destination Eastern region
xSxx - destination Scottish region
xVxx - destination Western region

Sometimes these letters are used outwith this (for example Kingston rounders are 2Oxx and 2Kxx, and Hounslow rounders are 2Rxx & 2Vxx) but that’s the basic principle
 

D6130

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12 Jan 2021
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Location
West Yorkshire/Tuscany
It has come to my attention that the letters 'V' and 'O' are commonly found to be used by the same route / service, but trains running in opposite directions.

One example is the GWR services on the North Downs Line.
I can recall seeing other examples of this.
I have just seen on TikTok that Grand Central plan to run a new service out of London Waterloo, and again, it's V and O.

Is there a specific reason for this, and why always these letters? Are there any other pairs of letters which share the same trait? Are there examples of V and O in an area where they are for different routes? More generally, are there any other letters which have special properties in Train IDs?
Traditionally in BR days, the letter O was used for inter-regional trains terminating in the Southern Region and the letter V for those terminating in the Western Region. As the North Downs line is an inter-regional route, it would appear that these letters are still in use today.
 

SECR 65

Member
Joined
2 Apr 2026
Messages
657
Location
East Sussex
Thanks all - that's very interesting to know.

I wonder if people have any other examples of services still using the same letters, just for fun?
 

D6975

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26 Nov 2009
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3,046
Location
Bristol
Within the Eastern region, N was for services to the North East. I think this is still adhered to.
 

Harpo

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21 Aug 2024
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Location
Newport
Means that it’s going between the former British Rail regions that were in place when headcodes were introduced

xOxx- destination Southern region
xMxx - destination Midland region
xExx - destination Eastern region
xSxx - destination Scottish region
xVxx - destination Western region

Sometimes these letters are used outwith this (for example Kingston rounders are 2Oxx and 2Kxx, and Hounslow rounders are 2Rxx & 2Vxx) but that’s the basic principle
xLxx towards Anglia region
 

The exile

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31 Mar 2010
Messages
9,312
Location
Somerset
Bristol - Weymouth services are V northbound and O southbound - again inter regional
 

TransportHub

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Joined
20 May 2015
Messages
176
Location
London
1Mxx 1Sxx are used on the anglo scot services on the West coast mainline

1Exx 1Sxx on the East Coast
 

j37401

Member
Joined
16 Feb 2017
Messages
102
4O21 Trafford Park - Southampton in the week. On Saturday it stables at Didcot for the weekend so changes to 4V21.
 

xotGD

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4 Feb 2017
Messages
7,819
xLxx towards Anglia region
Before Anglia was split off as a separate region, services from elsewhere in Eastern Region to (for example) Great Yarmouth would be 1Pxx.
 

Gloster

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Joined
4 Sep 2020
Messages
12,943
Location
Up the creek
Within the Eastern region, N was for services to the North East. I think this is still adhered to.

When the four character system was introduced the North Eastern Region still existed with an equal status to the other five regions. It was abolished in 1967, officially 31 December 1966 (reportedly), but there was no need to alter the the N letter that had been used for trains from outside of it that terminated within it.
 

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