Cliffe Enterprise provides rail and bus timetable printing, print management and multi-address distribution for transport operators, local authorities and other public-sector organisations throughout the UK.
Our documented experience includes producing more than 3.1 million rail and bus timetables in eight days and distributing them to 212 stations throughout the South and Midlands within three days.
Timetable production can involve demanding quantities, multiple versions, different formats and tightly controlled delivery schedules. As an independent print-management company, Cliffe can select specialist production partners and manufacturing routes according to the requirements of each project.
This gives us the flexibility to manage anything from relatively small quantities through to large-volume timetable programmes while taking account of print specification, quantity, finishing, packing, distribution schedule and budget.
Our documented transport-sector experience includes multi-year printing and distribution contracts for organisations including Network SouthEast, South West Trains, the Go-Ahead Group and Hampshire County Council Passenger Transport Group.
Already have a timetable specification? Ask us to price it.
Still planning quantities, versions or distribution? Talk to us before you finalise the requirement.
Timetable Printing and Distribution
Timetable projects are often as much a logistics requirement as a printing requirement.
Material may need to be produced in substantial quantities, divided into different versions or routes, packed according to destination and delivered across a network within a tightly controlled timetable.
The production decision therefore needs to consider:
- quantity;
- finished size and format;
- pagination or folding;
- paper;
- number of versions;
- production method;
- packing;
- destination quantities;
- distribution schedule; and
- final delivery deadline.
The lowest manufacturing price is of little value if the production route cannot support the required distribution schedule.
We therefore consider manufacture, packing and distribution as parts of the same requirement.
Rail Timetable Printing
Rail timetable production can involve large quantities, numerous route or service versions and fixed implementation dates.
Individual publications may need to be produced for different routes, services or operating areas while forming part of one coordinated programme.
This places particular importance on version control, production scheduling, quantity allocation and distribution.
Cliffe’s historical rail-sector experience includes timetable and supporting passenger-information contracts for Network SouthCentral, Network SouthEast and South West Trains.
That experience included timetable production alongside derivative books, passenger information, posters and supporting printed material.
For large timetable programmes, the objective is not simply to manufacture each individual item efficiently.
The complete programme has to reach the appropriate locations within the required implementation schedule.
Bus Timetable Printing
Bus timetable requirements can range from individual route information through to coordinated production programmes covering numerous routes and operating areas.
Different routes may require different quantities, formats or versions.
Material may then need to be divided between bus stations, information points, local authorities, operators and other distribution locations.
Cliffe’s documented experience includes timetable and transport-information work for the Go-Ahead Group and Hampshire County Council Passenger Transport Group.
As with rail timetable production, manufacturing and distribution should ideally be planned together.
Selecting the Production Route
Different timetable requirements can suit different printing processes.
Shorter quantities, multiple versions or frequently changing material may favour digital production.
Larger stable quantities may be more efficiently produced lithographically or through other high-volume production methods.
The appropriate process depends on more than total quantity.
Finished size, number of versions, paper, folding or finishing requirements, production schedule and distribution deadline can all affect the decision.
As an independent print-management company, Cliffe is not restricted to a single printing plant.
We can select production capability according to the quantity, format, specification and schedule of the particular project.
Multi-Version Timetable Production
Transport printing can involve numerous versions within the same overall programme.
Different routes, operating areas, stations or services may require separate artwork while still forming part of one coordinated production requirement.
Version control, quantity allocation and production scheduling therefore become particularly important.
A project involving a very high total quantity may still consist of many individual versions with significantly smaller quantities.
The manufacturing route needs to accommodate both the overall volume and the individual version quantities efficiently.
This is one reason why total quantity alone does not determine the most appropriate printing process.
Timetable Formats, Paper and Folding
Timetables can take many forms depending on the amount of information they need to contain and how passengers will use them.
The specification may involve:
- folded single-sheet timetables;
- multi-panel leaflets;
- stapled publications;
- route books;
- derivative timetable books;
- posters; or
- other passenger-information formats.
Paper needs to be appropriate to the format, folding requirements, expected handling and distribution method.
For large production quantities, format and paper utilisation can also have a significant effect on manufacturing cost.
Where the format remains flexible, considering production efficiency before artwork is finalised can therefore be worthwhile.
Packing and Multi-Address Distribution
Once produced, timetables may need to be divided and packed for individual stations, depots, offices, information points or other distribution locations.
Where hundreds of destinations are involved, accurate allocation becomes critical.
Each destination may require a different quantity or combination of timetable versions.
Packing and distribution requirements should ideally be established before production so that finished material can move efficiently from manufacture into the distribution network.
Cliffe can coordinate timetable production with print fulfilment and multi-address distribution as part of the same managed requirement.
Working to Fixed Timetable Change Dates
Transport information often has to become available from a specific operational date.
That makes the final delivery deadline fundamentally different from a conventional flexible print delivery date.
Production schedules may need to accommodate:
- final artwork approval;
- multiple versions;
- printing;
- folding or binding;
- packing;
- allocation by destination;
- transport; and
- final distribution.
The theoretically cheapest manufacturing option is of little value if it cannot meet the operational deadline.
Early production planning gives a wider choice of manufacturing routes and provides more contingency for complex distribution requirements.
Documented Timetable Printing Experience
Cliffe Enterprise’s historical transport-sector work includes the following documented contracts.
The Go-Ahead Group
Contract: Print and Distribution of Train Timetables
Contract period: 2011–2014
The Go-Ahead Group
Contract: Promotional Print for Train Operating Companies
Contract period: 2012–2014
The Go-Ahead Group
Contract: Promotional Print for Bus Operating Companies
Contract period: 2010–2016
Hampshire County Council Passenger Transport Group
Contract: Printing and Distribution of Bus and Rail Travel Timetable Guides
Contract period: 2012–2016
South West Trains
Contract: Printing and Distribution of Passenger Train Timetables, Commuter Cards, Derivative Books and Supporting Leaflets
Contract period: 1996–2002
Network SouthEast
Contract: Printing and Distribution of Passenger Train Timetables, Derivative Books, Line of Route Posters, General Posters and Supporting Leaflets
Contract period: 1993–1998
Network SouthCentral
Contract: Printing and Distribution of Passenger Train Timetables, Departure Posters, Emergency Engineering Work Posters and Supporting Leaflets
Contract period: 1991–1995
High-Volume Timetable Production
Large timetable programmes require more than access to high-volume printing equipment.
Production capacity has to be combined with version control, finishing, packing and distribution capability.
Cliffe’s documented project involving more than 3.1 million timetables produced in eight days and distributed to 212 stations within three days demonstrates the scale and time sensitivity that timetable projects can involve.
For requirements of this nature, manufacturing-partner selection needs to consider available capacity and schedule as well as price.
An otherwise suitable production plant may not be the correct solution if the required capacity is unavailable during the production window.
Independent print management allows us to consider those factors when selecting the production route.
Timetable Print Fulfilment
Timetable fulfilment can involve much more than sending finished print to a single delivery address.
Material may need to be:
- divided by route;
- separated by version;
- allocated by destination;
- packed in specified quantities;
- labelled;
- palletised or parcelled;
- distributed to multiple locations; and
- delivered within a coordinated schedule.
For complex programmes, fulfilment requirements should therefore form part of the original production planning.
That allows the print, packing and logistics requirements to work together.
Why Use Independent Print Management for Timetable Production?
Timetable production can combine high print volumes, numerous versions, tight deadlines and complex distribution.
Cliffe Enterprise has managed these requirements since the early years of the business.
Our role is not to force the work through a particular printing press.
We establish the specification, quantity, versions, production requirements, schedule and distribution requirement and then determine an appropriate manufacturing and logistics solution.
For a shorter multi-version requirement, that might favour one production method.
For a very high-volume stable requirement, a completely different manufacturing route may be more appropriate.
For transport operators, local authorities and other organisations managing timetable or route-information requirements, this provides a single managed process from print specification through to final distribution.
Timetable Printing FAQs
Do you print rail timetables?
Yes.
Cliffe has documented historical experience managing rail timetable printing and distribution, including contracts involving Network SouthCentral, Network SouthEast, South West Trains and the Go-Ahead Group.
Do you print bus timetables?
Yes.
Our documented experience includes bus and rail travel timetable guides for Hampshire County Council Passenger Transport Group and transport print for the Go-Ahead Group.
Can you manage multiple timetable versions?
Yes.
Different routes, operating areas or services can be managed as separate versions within a coordinated production programme.
Quantity allocation and version control form an important part of the production planning.
Can you manage high-volume timetable printing?
Yes.
Our documented experience includes a project involving more than 3.1 million rail and bus timetables produced within eight days.
The appropriate production route depends on quantity, versions, format, schedule and distribution requirements.
Can you distribute timetables to multiple stations or locations?
Yes.
Timetable production can be coordinated with packing, allocation and multi-address distribution.
Our documented experience includes distributing a major timetable programme to 212 stations throughout the South and Midlands within three days.
What printing process is best for timetables?
There is no single best process.
Shorter quantities or numerous versions may suit digital production, while larger stable quantities may favour lithographic or other high-volume production methods.
The complete specification and schedule determine the appropriate route.
Can you produce folded timetables?
Yes.
Timetables can be produced in a range of folded, leaflet, booklet and other passenger-information formats according to the content and intended use.
Can timetable printing and distribution be managed together?
Yes.
For complex projects we recommend considering production, packing and distribution together because each stage can affect the schedule and overall efficiency of the project.
When should we involve Cliffe?
Ideally before the production route and schedule are completely fixed.
That allows quantity, versions, manufacturing capacity, packing and distribution to be considered as one requirement.
If the timetable specification is already complete, we can still assess and price the production requirement.
Talk to Us About Timetable Printing
If you have an upcoming rail timetable, bus timetable, route-information or transport-print requirement, send us the specification, quantities, number of versions, required delivery date and distribution requirements.
If the production route has not yet been determined, involve us before the specification is fixed so that manufacturing and distribution can be considered together.
