Working timetable downloads

[shawmat]

Many readers will be aware that WTTs are freely available to download from Network Rail's archive pages. They have gone back to 1994 (the Railtrack era) and scanned those that were originally in book form, but also offer the later native-PDF files. That's a big change in outlook by our railways from when WTTs were always stamped "Private and Not for Publication".

There are over 2,200 PDF files available. It can be a challenge (or a bit of a drag, if you prefer) to find and download what you want. The scanned PDFs are way-way bigger than the native PDFs!

Timetable World has set up a mirror site that you might find easier (and still free) to use. It offers the PDFs as logical bundles but it also includes links to Network Rail's archive if you really do only want one book. The bundles are organised as follows:

• Area bundles - All timetables 1994-2022 for a given area in one download. There are 45 area bundles.
• Periodic bundles - All timetables for a given period in one download. There are 112 period bundles.

Although the timetable only changed twice a year, the large number of periodic bundles is caused by timetable revisions being issued later.

The bundles are all ZIP files. In many cases, the ZIP file splits into several parts of up to 1GB each. You have to download all parts to the same directory on your computer for the archive to open correctly. Yes, you need a decent broadband service without data limits.

Click the images to go to the ordering page:

 

[AVK17]

That's a big change in outlook by our railways from when WTTs were always stamped "Private and Not for Publication".

The ‘Private and not for publication’ marking was there to prevent the company from having to send a copy of each timetable (or other physical book-like publication) to the six legal deposit libraries. It wasn’t primarily there to deter enthusuasts, though most people assume that it was.

 

[ainsworth74]

Excellent work! I had spotted these not so long ago on Network Rail's site but the logistics of combing through seemed insurmountable for any casual browsing, so having them slightly more organised by area will be very helpful!

 

[midland1]

The ‘Private and not for publication’ marking was there to prevent the company from having to send a copy of each timetable (or other physical book-like publication) to the six legal deposit libraries. It wasn’t primarily there to deter enthusuasts, though most people assume that it was.

But Great Western WTT used have Private and not for publication on them, also did (do) Signalling notices.