Headcodes

[upasalmon]

Not sure again whether this is the right category but I am talking about a practice which is history but could be revived. As a child (in the last years of BR steam) me and my family would ride a DMU from Huyton to Liverpool Lime Street which would bear the headcode 2F50. During the 1970s modern signalling practices meant that headcodes were no longer displayed, although when I first looked it up found out that 2F50 is still used for the same journey. I thought this was like a bus route number, but its not as simple as that!
Another reason for their disappearance is that the blind linen would often become worn out as bus indicators do.As most buses have electronic displays, could not the headcode display be restored? As trains have electronic destination blinds it shouldn't be too expensive. I suggest a largish eight segment LED be used. How's about it, Network Rail?

 

[JonathanH]

Not sure again whether this is the right category but I am talking about a practice which is history but could be revived. As a child (in the last years of BR steam) me and my family would ride a DMU from Huyton to Liverpool Lime Street which would bear the headcode 2F50. During the 1970s modern signalling practices meant that headcodes were no longer displayed, although when I first looked it up found out that 2F50 is still used for the same journey. I thought this was like a bus route number, but its not as simple as that!
Another reason for their disappearance is that the blind linen would often become worn out as bus indicators do.As most buses have electronic displays, could not the headcode display be restored? As trains have electronic destination blinds it shouldn't be too expensive. I suggest a largish eight segment LED be used. How's about it, Network Rail?

Headcodes (actually reporting numbers) aren't really that helpful to passengers - a route number may be more practical - but the requirement is only to show a destination.

A few old threads

Why were headcode boxes discontinued?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-745-stadler-flirts-intercity-trains.191504 In the old days, trains used to display these codes at the front. They seem to have disappeared now, or have I been looking in the wrong place?

www.railforums.co.uk

Train Numbers

Has anyone ever thought that train running numbers should be made public in timetables, departure boads etc. Just returned from a trip accrues Belgium and Germany and it makes it 100% easier to find one's train. Any thoughts?

www.railforums.co.uk

Train Numbers

Is there any reason we don't use train numbers to identify services. For example my Eurostar tickets have a clear "Valid on train number 9132" - I know Voyagers display the Retail ID, but could there not be a national numbering system?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[30907]

Worth saying also that the common 60s practice of using the last two digits as a route code like 2F50 has long gone.

 

[upasalmon]

2F50 is still in use as there is reference to it on Google, although the website is down it is a 2020 article.

 

[30907]

2F50 is still in use as there is reference to it on Google, although the website is down it is a 2020 article.

There were six different 2F50s when I looked at RTT yesterday, none on Merseyside.

 

[Spartacus]

There were six different 2F50s when I looked at RTT yesterday, none on Merseyside.

Wrexham - Bidston? There's usually a Lime Street - Wigan NW too.

Then there's:
Knottingley - Leeds
Colchester - Walton
Fenchurch Street - Shoeburyness
Moorgate - Stevenage
Caerphilly - Cardiff
Sevenoaks - Charing Cross

and depending on what day it is:

Woking or Guildford - Waterloo
Victoria or Crystal Palace - London Bridge.

and that's just the WTTs.

You see, one headcode often applies to a number of different trains, in theory not on the same area at the time, but....

There really is no need to display them, they were only really for the benefit of signallers anyway before some had a better means (TRUST) of checking which train was which, and might only serve to further confuse passengers, especially when it comes to timetables changes when the headcodes won't necessarily remain the same, or when there's diversions and a certain train doesn't go to where it normally would.

 

[30907]

There really is no need to display them, they were only really for the benefit of signallers anyway before some had a better means (TRUST) of checking which train was which, and might only serve to further confuse passengers, especially when it comes to timetables changes when the headcodes won't necessarily remain the same, or when there's diversions and a certain train doesn't go to where it normally would.

Maybe true for 4-character codes, but route codes were well known by passengers, at least on the SR. And would be changed if there were planned diversions. But that's a well worn theme and OT.

 

[jfollows]

The other things with headcodes, at least in the Manchester area but probably in the Liverpool area also, is that they "used" to be a designator of the route. By which I mean that (obviously pre-Metrolink) Altrincham-Crewe via Stockport were 2K62, via Styal 2K61, Altrincham-Alderley Edge via Stockport 2H54, via Styal 2H53, and so on.

I think this is what 30907 is alluding to in the earlier post.

This changed quite a number of years ago so that trains have more "unique" reporting numbers, so 2K29 Manchester-Crewe today will be followed an hour later by 2K30, then 2K32, and so on.

Your 2F50 is certainly used by some - but not all - Liverpool to Wigan services today. In fact, tomorrow, https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...28/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=pax-calls&order=wtt, I think it's only used for the 20:46 departure. The reporting numbers are used in a different way today than they used to be, and this changed a number of years ago.

 

[6Gman]

Under TOPS the 4-digit Reporting Numbers were expanded to 7 digits with a two figure prefix being the originating area (as defined by TOPS location codes) and a single letter suffix (IIRC) to give an individual identity.

So a 2H32 Crewe-Manchester could become 422H32a followed by 422H32b etc

 

[Diplodicus]

With the advent of digital communications and area signalling most of the need for headboards has disappeared. Platform information digital matrix boards are far more informative than ever rather disgruntled platform porters (at least at Clapham Junction in my old experiences). There's enough to go wrong on trains without adding yet more dodgy consumer electronics to the front and side of them. They cost enough already!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Avanti trains still show the train headcode on the electronic side panels of Pendolinos/Voyagers (introduced by Virgin).
The rest of Europe doesn't have any problem showing unique train numbers on train/station PIS systems to "confuse" passengers - quite the reverse, in fact.

 

[SargeNpton]

Avanti trains still show the train headcode on the electronic side panels of Pendolinos/Voyagers (introduced by Virgin).
The rest of Europe doesn't have any problem showing unique train numbers on train/station PIS systems to "confuse" passengers - quite the reverse, in fact.

As an aside, that field on the side panels was supposed to show the Retail Service ID - which would also be printed on passengers' tickets when seat reservations were made.

 

[Trackman]

Avanti trains still show the train headcode on the electronic side panels of Pendolinos/Voyagers (introduced by Virgin).
The rest of Europe doesn't have any problem showing unique train numbers on train/station PIS systems to "confuse" passengers - quite the reverse, in fact.

Never looked on Avanti, I thought the train number on the panels were something like 'VT1234' rather than a headcode.

 

[Horizon22]

Interesting some 345 TfL Rail / Crossrail trains now show the headcode, although on Hayes & Harlington terminators these are often incorrect and start with '8'

 

[Bigbru]

Interesting some 345 TfL Rail / Crossrail trains now show the headcode, although on Hayes & Harlington terminators these are often incorrect and start with '8'

The 8 headcode is a dummy headcode as the correct '9' one sets the PIS to Heathrow where it should be going by now.

 

[Horizon22]

The 8 headcode is a dummy headcode as the correct '9' one sets the PIS to Heathrow where it should be going by now.

Yeah 8s on Hayes terminators and also Heathrow trains. 9s on Reading which match up. Wonder why they have dummy headcodes anyway.