Practical Train Planning and
Performance Management Course

From time to time the IRO offers a Practical Train Planning & Performance Management Course.
This is part classroom-based and part work-based and is designed for those who are fairly new to the subject or those who wish to further their career development and expertise in this field. It is a four-day course which runs over three non-consecutive weekends. (Weekends have been chosen to ensure availability of expert tutors and for ease of releasing staff) and students are required to commit to all four days in order to be accepted.

Course Overview

Day 1
• Introduction/Background/Objectives
• The need for planning Timetables
• Rolling Stock
• Crew
• Short Term v Permanent
• Public v Working Timetable
• Rules of the Plan Sectional Running Times
• Acceleration & Braking
• Headways & Junction Margins
• Dwell times
• Allowances
• Exercises within own company

Day 2
• Report back
• Track layouts
• Syndicate work
• The Planning Cycle
• Guest Speaker
• Hands on a Driver Simulator
• Group Dinner

Day 3
• Diagramming
• Rolling Stock
• Crew
• Use of typical software
• Capacity and Robustness
• Exercises within own company

Day 4
• Report back
• The Business Context
• Guest Speaker (TOC MD or similar)
• Feedback and Conclusions


The course fee is £1,300.00 per person and will cover all direct costs. Travel and overnight accommodation are not included. If overnight accommodation is required this can, on request, be booked by the Institution. Payment is to be made in advance, by cheque payable to the Institution of Railway Operators or by purchase order. Further information and booking places:

Mike Hill
Education Programme Administrator
The Institution of Railway Operators
51 Cedar Drive
Sunningdale SL5 0UA

Email: education@railwayoperators.org
Tel: 01344 875328


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