Question on train signal clasifications?

Question

with train signals a train driver i was talking to said that passenger express trains were in the signals eyes class one menaing they get priority and empty coaching stock was class five so they are at the bottom of the pile i was wondering what are classes 2,3 and 4

Answer 1

It seems that what you are asking about are train reporting numbers or "Headcodes" as they are more commonly known. Basicly this is a 6 figure code, but drivers and signallers only use the last 4 digits these being for example "1C22". 1 designates that this train is an express or fast service, C indicates the route that the train is taking and 22 is the trains number, i.e. it's the 22nd that day over that route.

Class 2 trains are normally local stopping trains, Class 4 are fast freight ("Freightliner" Container trains etc) Class 5 trains are usually empty passenger trains. Class 6 and 7 are mostly engineers trains.

Out of interest 1X01 is the headcode for the royal train.

If you check on Network Rail's website,  and look in the rulebook section, there is a full explanation of train headcodes.

Answer 2

Yes, I think there's a bit of confusion creeping in here - as has been said, a signal is a signal, and invariably trains run to a timetable whether they be the Royal Train or a humble shunting loco on its way back to a depot, so there's no such thing as a 'class' of signal.

There ARE classes of trains - like what is nowadays the high speed train (the old "Express" services), right down to the single-carriage 'train' running on a country branch line or freight trains anywhere, but none takes priority at a junction unless it would mean putting a fast train (an inter-city express for instance) behind a slow one stopping at every station, and that would just be (very!) bad practise and is normally avoided in the timetable for very good operational reasons.

Answer 3

i work for the railway and know that a signal is a signal...period, there are no priority's involved at all as humans cant be classed in order of preference so hes talkin out of his hole!!!