A train reporting number in Limaru identifies a particular train service. It consists of:
- A single-digit number, indicating the speed (priority) of train, followed by
- A two-digit or three-digit number, identifying the individual train, followed by
- A letter, indicating the destination area.
The train reporting number is often called the headcode, a throwback to when the number was physically displayed at the head of a train.
Train reporting numbers in Limaru rarely gives any indication on the type of train, instead indicating to the signaller what speed and priority a train has. For instance, a train with a speed of 1 will always receive priority over a train with a speed of 4, unless the timetable denotes otherwise.
Components
The main purpose of a train reporting number is to assist the signaller in routing and regulating the train correctly, and is especially useful when service is distrupted.
Train Priority
The first digit denotes the priority of the train. Trains with lower numbers will always receive priority over trains with higher numbers, unless the timetable denotes otherwise. To help dispatchers and depot staff in determining which numbers to use, the following guidelines are followed:
- Special Express, Limited Express or any other faster passenger train, including all high speed services. Also included are government mail and parcel services that need to be delivered in the shortest time possible, or anything that cannot afford to stop.
- Express passenger trains and semi-express passenger trains which skip stations periodically, but not as fast as limited express trains. On train lines entirely formed of high-speed track, this speed is used for slower all-stations services.
- Fast freight and mail trains. At night, sleeping trains commonly carry this designation despite being express or limited express trains as their punctuality is less important than day trains.
- Local all-station trains on conventional lines.
- Slow freight trains that can afford to stop behind local services and empty coaching stock trains.
- Freight train which are limited to 95 km/h.
- Freight train which are limited to 60 km/h.
- Freight train which are limited to 45 km/h or lower.
- Special slow trains that do not fit any of the above category. These can be special runs that require more monitoring, maintenance trains, or track recording trains that should not deviate from their route.
0. Special fast trains that do not fit any of the above category. These can be VIP trains, rescue trains or snow plough trains.
Individual identifier
The second to third (or fourth) digit are used to indicate the route and separate individual services. Since any two trains running on the same track within 12 hours cannot bear the same identifier, routes with high traffic volumes (e.g. routes with metro trains) frequently employ three digits while routes with lower traffic volumes or more branching (e.g. main lines) frequently employ two digits and use the destination indicator instead to determine the route.
Destination letters
The last letter is used to identify the destination of the train. While each region of Limaru can set its own localised destination letters, the following letters are the same throughout the server:
- E: Emmaru region
- L: Lipan region
- B: Buryland
- Y: YJJ City
- W: International routes via Twyford International
- D: International routes via Norden International
A train going from one region to another is given the letter of the destination region in its headcode. However, given the large volume of metro trains between the Lipan and Emmaru regions in Greater Limaru, metro lines that use third rail are usually their own region and therefore carry a special "destination letter" that is their own line abbreviation instead. The following lines use this standard:
- Tozai Line (Main line only): T
- Namboku Line, Central Shuttle: N
- Cotton Line: C
Entetsu Practice
For lines controlled by Entetsu, each mainline is its own region. However, all lines in Enshima fall under an "Enshima Region".
South Coast Mainline
- K: Katsuragi
- F: Flower Hill
- A: Mitakihara
- R: Takarazaki
- U: Lexington Union
Trains on the SCML use E for trains to Katsuragi. The K designation are for through-running trains from other lines.
North East Mainline
- M: Mizuno Filius
- U: Uragawa
- T: Kimitsu
- S: Shinten
- D: Komaki
Trains on the NEML use E for trains to Epping
Enshima Region
- Q: Katsuragi (Platforms 30-34)
- M: Manseibashi
- T: Lake Tori
- A: Losning Airport
- J: Nijo
- N: Oku-Enshima