SimSig South Humberside

Regulation

Some useful notes on traffic regulation compiled by onlyDJW (Daniel Wilson) for his timetable, included here for reference. Updated 5 July 2011.

Whilst testing the first version of this timetable, it became apparent that some players are unaware of the need to regulate the heavy freight trains to allow passenger trains to pass. This is very apparent now the timetable has been re-written with realistic acceleration rates and freight all running to freight line speeds (the default South Humberside timetable is incorrect in both of these areas). Those trains booked to run close to passenger trains are shown as booked onto Goods lines or into loops to allow passenger trains to pass, but in cases of late running, additional regulation is required to keep delays to a minimum.

Here are a few notes on regulation which will help the smooth running of this timetable, taken from real life practises and recommendations, which make gameplay more realistic and will help keep delays to a minimum (and are relevant to other South Humberside timetables too):

• Loaded freights from Immingham which are going to pass Brocklesby within 6-8 minutes of a following passenger train, should be routed onto the Goods Line, where the Barnetby operator can hold it to follow that passenger train. Note – if you send the freight fast line, and then route it onto the Slow at Barnetby, it takes much longer as the train is checked at each signal at Barnetby East until it can gain access to the slow line. Passenger trains are not permitted to use the Goods Line from Brocklesby Jn.

Note – the Main and Goods routings from Barnetby are only a guide – trains should be sent on the appropriate route depending on the state of the network at the time. The only trains which should definitely run Goods Line are those booked to be held at Wrawby Jn.

• Similarly, freight within 12 minutes of a passenger train at Barnetby heading towards Scunthorpe should be held at Barnetby (10 minutes for ore trains to Santon), having been routed Goods line at Brocklesby Jn. Note – in real life, there are often phone calls between Barnetby East, Wrawby Jn and Brocklesby Jn signalboxes on such matters to reach a joint decision – it is recommended you communicate with the other affected operators in multiplayer games!
• Freight heading towards the Lincoln line at Wrawby Jn should have at least 25 minutes headway over a following passenger train, as it takes a lot longer to reach Lincoln, where the next loop is!
• Freight heading towards Brigg at Wrawby Jn should have at least 7 minutes headway over a following passenger train.
• In any of the instances above, and in the case of a freight train being booked to stand for a period of time at Wrawby Jn, the freight train being regulated should run goods line from Brocklesby Jn to minimise any impact on other services.
• Freight trains heading towards Immingham (particularly coal trains) should be regulated where loops or slow lines exist to run to time if running early. In reality, the receiving terminal would not be able to accept the train early (it would probably have a train already loading). For empty coal trains heading for Humber International Terminal, there is a section of bi-directional line near Immingham West Jn that can be used (and is in reality). If a train arrives early at it’s destination, then it’s next working may then also run very early (the rules allow for a bit of recovery), which in some cases, may snowball and mean a train running when there is no path for it! Likewise with other early running trains – there are loops, such as Gunhouse and Barnetby platform 1 where freight can be looped.
• Trains entering the sim in the Immingham area early should be held at their entry points where it causes no other conflicts to await their booked paths – this means no resultant delays will occur from these delaying other trains running to time. If still running early at Brocklesby, they should be routed goods line if there is a following passenger train, or freight train booked ahead of the early running one. Hopefully the freight train will have been regulated in the Immingham area at least in part.
• Scunthorpe area – as at Barnetby, freight in the Scunthorpe area should be regulated if running close ahead of a passenger train. The official guidelines are 10 minutes for a down freight, and 8 minutes for an up freight ahead of a respective passenger train. Up trains can also be regulated in Gunhouse Loop.

MAJOR TIP – don’t be afraid to route trains via the IN/OUT/Transfer lines at Scunthorpe, particularly those to/from Trent Yard/Anchor Sidings/Redbourne Sidings, or if there is a passenger train shunting in Scunthorpe station. Just because the timetable says it’s booked through the station, doesn’t mean you have to hold it and delay it to follow this!

Other than that – use your common sense! Passenger trains run faster than freight trains. In reality, freight isn’t allowed to run early (without special authority from control). Unfortunately, this is difficult to simulate in Simsig, so needs manual regulation.

Last edited by GeoffM on 15/09/2016 at 03:00