The headcode (also known as a train reporting number) identifies a train service, helping to smooth out communications between drivers, dispatchers, guards and signallers. They were first introduced in The Big Update, and have since become an important system in Stepford County Railway. Headcodes consist of four characters:
- A single-digit number indicating the type of service
- A letter indicating the service's destination
- A two-digit number indicating the specific train
Headcodes directly affect train priority, which goes as follows: high priority services (9), semi-fast services (1), stopping services (2), services from the depot (3). Signallers may go against this system if it would reduce delays.[1]
Formation
First digit
The first digit indicates what type of service the train is operating.
| Use | Headcode | Priority[note 1] |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Stepford Express services | 9 | 1 |
| AirLink Shuttle and Leighton Link services[2] | 2 | |
| Slow Stepford Express services | 1 | 3 |
| All mainline AirLink services to Stepford Central | 4 | |
| Fast Stepford Connect services, including semi-fast services | 5 | |
| Slow Stepford Connect services | 2 | 6 |
| All Waterline services | 7 | |
| All Metro services except R137 | 8 | |
| Metro services on R137 | 9 | |
| Not in service (given while the train moves from the depot to the first station) | 3 | 9 |
Former arrangements
| Use | Headcode | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V1.0 - V1.0.22 | V1.1 - V1.4 | V1.4.1 - V1.7.4 | V1.8 - V2.1.5 | |
| Fast Stepford Express services | N/A | 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Fast AirLink services, and AirLink Shuttle services | ||||
| Slow Stepford Express services | 9 | 1 | 1 | |
| Slow AirLink services | ||||
| Fast Stepford Connect services, including exclusive services (R026 and R036) | 2 | 9 | 9 | 9 or 1 |
| Slow Stepford Connect services | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| All Waterline services | ||||
| All Metro services except R137 | N/A | |||
| Metro services on R137 | ||||
| Not in service (given while the train moves from the depot to the first station) | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Destination letter
The letter is alphabetical and indicates the train's destination. Select letters are given to two different stations, though comparing with the first digit and with the train's operator will always allow for easy differentiation between the two stations.
Last two digits
The last two digits are numerically ordered, increasing from a random integer until they reach xx98, where it will then roll over to xx00. A headcode should never overlap with another one that is in service, though in some cases this still happens.
The last two digits remain the same from the ECS headcode, e.g. 3J29 will be 2J29.
Examples of headcodes:
- 9S32 (Fast service to Stepford Central)
- 9M23 (Shuttle service to Morganstown)
- 1A65 (Semi-Fast service to Stepford Airport Central)
- 1W40 (Semi-Fast service to Westwyvern)
- 2P78 (Local service to Port Benton)
- 2E11 (Local service to Edgemead)
- 3D15 (Empty Coaching Stock [ECS] to Willowfield)
- 3L02 (Empty Coaching Stock [ECS] to Llyn-by-the-Sea)
History
Headcodes were introduced in The Big Update. At this time, all services carried a 2 headcode, and the second character was used to differentiate between Stepford Connect (C) and Waterline (W).
With the introduction of AirLink in Version 1.1, the second character was changed to represent destinations rather than operator. In addition, the first digit was split up to use four different numbers. Fast AirLink services were given a 1 headcode, slow AirLink services as well as skipping Stepford Connect services were given a 9 headcode. Other services remained with their 2 headcode, and trains moving to their first station (ECS) were given a 5 headcode.
In Version 1.4.1, the 1 and 9 headcodes were swapped. Due to this, all Stepford Express and AirLink routes had their headcodes changed, though Stepford Connect routes kept their 9 headcode. The headcode digit for ECS services was changed from 5 to 3. This led to many players being confused in the first days. Additionally, the priority system was amended to take headcodes into consideration even for delayed trains, which was not the case previously and delayed trains always had priority.
Stepford Connect routes with a 9 headcode were migrated to using a 1 headcode in Version 1.8, apart from routes R009, R026 and R036.
With Version 1.10, all letters of the alphabet were assigned to a station. Additionally, for the first time, a headcode letter was assigned to two different stations. This letter was P for both Port Benton and Stepford Airport Parkway.
With the addition of the Rayleigh Bay branch in Version 2.0, a second letter (R) is now shared between two stations (Leighton Stepford Road and Rayleigh Bay).
As part of Version 2.2, the Signaller guide stated that 9XXX headcodes have equal priority to 1XXX headcodes, where 9XXX were "high-priority" trains with special routes (e.g. 
R137), but this was reverted a day later. Additionally, remaining Stepford Connect routes with a 9 headcode (R009, R026 and R036) were migrated to the 1 headcode in Version 2.2. With this, Stepford Connect now also no longer uses all different options for the first headcode digit. Furthermore, a third letter is now shared between two stations, this being B between Benton and Barton.
Since Version 2.2.6, the rewritten Dispatcher guide now clarifies that Metro services with a 9XXX headcode should be treated as a 2XXX headcode.[3]
As part of Version 2.3, R is now used between three stations, with Stepford Bay additionally taking the letter. Two new headcode letters are now shared between two stations, those being J and G. However, P is no longer shared between two stations as Stepford Airport Parkway is no longer a terminus.
Gallery
Version 2.0 – present
The Big Update – V1.10.13
_Headcode.png "Semi-Express (9) Headcode.png (44 KB)"){kind=small}
_Headcode.png "Local (2) Headcode.png (40 KB)"){kind=small}
Notes
- ↑ Headcode takes priority over lateness. Lateness takes priority over operator, in which late trains take priority over on-time trains. Express takes priority over AirLink, AirLink over Connect, Connect over Waterline, Waterline over Metro.
References
- ↑ Dweller4, HORNBYOliver, SpaceIDragon, thestargateking (5 May 2025). Signaller Operations Guide. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ↑ Shuttle: R060 & R063, Leighton Link: R056 & R057
- ↑ PietMantel5, Greeism, TheSiriusET, vedr1c, trampoline202, HawkerMatty, thomascook1980 (29 November 2025). SCR Dispatching Guide. Retrieved 6 January 2026.