Timetables define the AI service pattern on a map:

• which trains spawn (compositions)
• which route they drive (stops)
• on which platforms they stop
• when and how often services repeat
• how depot and dispatching logic supports the timetable traffic

Timetables are usually created in your map's Map.lua inside:

• `function <MapClass>:loadTimetables()`

This page explains the full timetable workflow using the TestMap example.

Related:

• Map.lua

Before creating timetables, ensure:

• stations are fully defined in `loadStations()`
• platform numbers / lengths / directions are final
• the map loads correctly without timetables first (recommended)

Timetables reference station objects, so stations must exist before you build schedules.

A typical `loadTimetables()` builds:

• `self.timetables` — list of actual service entries (the ones that spawn trains)
• templates per line/direction (used for cloning)
• optional lookup tables (`self.templatesByLine`, `self.templatesByDirection`)
• depot spaces (`self.depots`)
• dispatching strategies (`self.dispatchingStrategies`)

At the end, the map registers them via:

controlCenter:setTimetableList(self.timetables, self.dispatchingStrategies, self.depots);

Templates describe the route and the allowed compositions, but do not spawn trains by themselves.

Example:

-- Direction 1 (TS -> TSA)
self.TestLine_Dir1 = Timetable:new("U1", 0)
	:addTrainComposition("Berlin_HK_1x", 0.5)
	:addTrainComposition("Berlin_HK_2x")
	:addTrainComposition("Berlin_A3L92_1x", 0)
	:addTrainComposition("Berlin_A3L92_2x", 0)
	:addTrainComposition("Berlin_A3L92_3x", 0.5)
	:addTrainComposition("Berlin_A3L92_4x")

Stops define the route as a sequence of station/platform/time entries.

:addStop({
	station = self.stations.TS,
	platform = 2,
	departure = 0,
	speedLimit = 70,
	routeSettingMaxETA = 0.5,
})

Example:

altPlatform = { "2", }

Use strings (`“1”`, `“2”`) because platform identifiers are commonly handled as strings in dispatch/routing.

Weights control probability of selecting a composition for AI spawning.

A composition with weight `0.0` can still exist in the content system and be selectable for the player.

Templates must be cloned into real timetable entries.

local DM = DayMask;

TableUtil.insertList(self.timetables, self.TestLine_Dir1:clone(daytime(04, 30)):repeatUntil(daytime(23, 30), 10));
TableUtil.insertList(self.timetables, self.TestLine_Dir2:clone(daytime(04, 35)):repeatUntil(daytime(23, 35), 10));

table.insert(self.timetables, self.TestLine_Dir1:clone(daytime(12, 07), DM.Weekdays));
table.insert(self.timetables, self.TestLine_Dir2:clone(daytime(12, 12), DM.Weekdays));

Use this when you need exact control (first/last train, gaps, specials).

Terminate at `TSD`:

local TS_to_TSD = self.TestLine_Dir1:clone(0, nil, true):terminateAtStation("TSD", true);
table.insert(self.timetables, TS_to_TSD:clone(daytime(05, 10), DM.Weekdays));

Start at `TSD`:

local TSD_to_TSA = self.TestLine_Dir1:clone(0, nil, true):startAtStation("TSD", true);
table.insert(self.timetables, TSD_to_TSA:clone(daytime(05, 20), DM.Weekdays));

local TS_Platform1 = self.TestLine_Dir1:clone(0, nil, true);
TS_Platform1:getFirstStop().platform = 1;
 
table.insert(self.timetables, TS_Platform1:clone(daytime(06, 00), DM.Weekdays));

local DP_to_TS_SR = self.TestLine_Dir2:clone(0, nil, true)
	:startAtStation("DP", true)
	:terminateAtStation("TS", true)
	:setIsServiceRun(true);
 
table.insert(self.timetables, DP_to_TS_SR:clone(daytime(04, 10), DM.Weekdays));

local Variant = self.TestLine_Dir1:clone(0, nil, true);
Variant:forceUniqueStopList();

Depots and dispatching strategies support the timetable traffic and keep trains moving.

`self.depots` groups depot tracks into named blocks.

Example:

---@type table<string, Depot_DepotSpace[]>
self.depots = {
 
	["DP_51_54"] = {
		{ station = self.stations.DP, platform = "51", direction = 2, noParkingTimetable = false },
		{ station = self.stations.DP, platform = "52", direction = 2, noParkingTimetable = false },
		{ station = self.stations.DP, platform = "53", direction = 2, noParkingTimetable = false },
		{ station = self.stations.DP, platform = "54", direction = 2, noParkingTimetable = false },
	},
 
	["DP_60"] = {
		{ station = self.stations.DP, platform = "60", direction = 2, noParkingTimetable = true },
	},
};

Dispatching strategies define how trains are handled outside normal passenger services:

• turnarounds at terminals
• spawning trains from depots
• sending trains back to depots
• resolving conflicts / keeping traffic stable

Basic structure:

---@type table<Station, ControlCenter_DispatchingStrategy[]>
self.dispatchingStrategies = {
    [self.stations.TS] = {
        -- strategies for TS
    },
}

Strategies are evaluated top to bottom (order matters).

{
	sourceStation = self.stations.TS,
	targetStation = self.stations.TS,
	sourcePlatforms = { "1", "2" },
	targetPlatforms = { "1", "2" },
	replaceFirstPlatform = true,
	keepLine = false,
	minLayover = 4,
}

Hidden timetables are used for internal shunting and must be service runs:

{
	sourceStation = self.stations.Go,
	targetStation = self.stations.Go,
	sourcePlatforms = { "1" },
	targetPlatforms = { "2" },
	minLayover = 3,
	timetable = Timetable:new("", 0)
		:setIsServiceRun(true)
		:addStop({
			station = self.stations.Go,
			platform = "6",
			departure = 2,
			turnAround = true,
		})
		:addStop({
			station = self.stations.Go,
			platform = "2",
			departure = 3,
		}),
}

{
	sourceStation = nil,
	targetStation = self.stations.WA,
	targetPlatforms = { "1", "2" },
	depotName = "WA_06_09",
	overrideFirstPlatform = "3",
	timetable = Timetable:new("", 0)
		:setIsServiceRun(true)
		:addStop({
			station = self.stations.WA,
			platform = "7",
			departure = -5,
		})
		:addStop({
			station = self.stations.WA,
			platform = "3",
			departure = -3,
		}),
}

`sourceStation = nil` means the train comes from a depot.

{
	sourceStation = self.stations.WA,
	sourcePlatforms = { "1", "2" },
	targetStation = nil,
	depotName = "WA_11_18",
	timetable = Timetable:new("", 0)
		:setIsServiceRun(true)
		:addStop({
			station = self.stations.WA,
			platform = "3",
			departure = 2,
		})
		:addStop({
			station = self.stations.WA,
			platform = "11",
			departure = 6,
		}),
}

`targetStation = nil` means the train leaves traffic into a depot.

Hidden timetables:

• are not shown to the player
• should always use `setIsServiceRun(true)`
• are used only for internal movements

• station short names not matching BP_StationDefinition
• platform ids mismatching the BP_StationDefinition platform array
• compositions not registered or misspelled
• wrong dispatching strategy order
• forgetting to insert cloned services into `self.timetables`

After your timetables are configured:

• build and test your mod

→ Build Mod (.pak)