Section 1 : Timetabling; The Basics

A Simple Timetable & Bus Schedule

In this example, a very simple timetable and bus schedule will be constructed from scratch for the operation of service No 2 between Town Centre and Goodwin. 

Running Time:	16 minutes each way
Minimum Layover:	2 minutes at each terminal point
Headway:	12 minutes

Calculate the number of buses required

The number of buses needed to operate the service is calculated by applying the following scheduling formula:

Round Journey Time / Headway = the Number of Buses

Round journey time is found by adding together the running time in each direction and the layover time at each terminus

16 + 16 + 2 + 2 / 12 = 3 buses

Prepare a Working Timetable

The Working Timetable shows all the trips to be operated on the service, times of arrival and departure, and a bus working number over each trip which indicates how the service is resourced in terms of buses

Step 1

Prepare a grid showing the timing points down the left hand side:

Bus No
Town Centre
Goodwin
Goodwin
Town Centre

Step 2

Enter the times for the first trip in the timetable

Bus No
Town Centre	0700
Goodwin	0716
Goodwin	0718
Town Centre	0734

Step 3

Enter departure times at 12 minute intervals (the ‘headway’) at each timing point for a one hour block

Bus No
Town Centre	0700	0712	0724	0736	0748
Goodwin	0716	0728	0740	0752	0804
Goodwin	0718	0730	0742	0754	0806
Town Centre	0734	0746	0758	0810	0822

Step 4

Repeat the block from 0800 onwards until the timetable is completed.  Then insert the bus working numbers, starting at number 1

Bus No	1			1			1			1
Town Centre	0700	0712	0724	0736	0748	0800	0812	0824	0836	0848	0900
Goodwin	0716	0728	0740	0752	0804	0816	0828	0840	0852	0904	0916
Goodwin	0718	0730	0742	0754	0806	0818	0830	0842	0854	0906	0918
Town Centre	0734	0746	0758	0810	0822	0834	0846	0858	0910	0922	0934

Step 5

The completed working timetable

Bus No	1	2	3	1	2	3	1	2	3	1	2
Town Centre	0700	0712	0724	0736	0748	0800	0812	0824	0836	0848	0900
Goodwin	0716	0728	0740	0752	0804	0816	0828	0840	0852	0904	0916
Goodwin	0718	0730	0742	0754	0806	0818	0830	0842	0854	0906	0918
Town Centre	0734	0746	0758	0810	0822	0834	0846	0858	0910	0922	0934

The number shown above each departure is the bus working number.  There are 3 buses which correspond to the prediction when the scheduling formula was applied.