CTA Platform Destination Boards

CTA stands for 'Centraal bediende TreinAanwijzers' - centrally-controlled train destination boards. These are the boards that hang at each platform indicating the destination of the next train. Technically, the modern versions of these are called TBP's - 'TreinBeelscherm Perron' but most people still refer to them as CTA's.
The ChrisTrains CTA's are made of three components - the actual signs to hang at the platforms, a trigger object to place in the track, and some various masts and supports for mounting the signs.

Credits

With many thanks to community members MarkA (for help with the coding), DutchDriver, TjoeTjoe and my beta testers for getting the CTA's ready for everyone to use.

The CTA signs

In route edit mode, the CTAs can be found in the 'stations' section of the scenery:

There are 16 types of CTA, split into two sizes, with tilted and vertical versions of each. The names with 'V' in them indicate the vertical (non-tilted) versions:

CTA contents

Each CTA screen has several different items that can be changed / displayed.
1=platform number (for CTAs that contain a platform number section). 2=Destination. 3=Departure time. 4=Service type. 5=Service operator. 6="via" text (optional):

When placing these objects, they are track-linked objects and each once comes with two links that must be placed in the track facing opposite directions. It's important to place these links in the tracks for the platform they belong to.
B=Base link, 1=1st track link, D=Data entry box:

CTA data entry

For each CTA placed, a number of parameters can be set via the data entry box in the CTA properties. If the data entry box is left blank, the CTA will default to platform 1, with no destination, time, service type or operator.

CTA data entry: basic

A platform number and optionally, 'Let Op Omroep' or 'Niet Instappen' or a blank screen:

ppp_d

Examples:

									25b_0 <------- platform 25b, blank display

									8b    <------- platform 8b, blank display

									8_2   <------- platform 8, Let Op Omroep
								

CTA data entry: advanced

A fully-populated CTA sign has the following options in the data entry field:

ppp_ddd_tttt_ss_oo_vvvvv

Examples

									08_106_1244_14_13  <------- Platform 8, Schiphol airport, 12:44, Intercity, NS

									14a_026_0956_26_18 <------- Platform 14a, Arnhem Centraal, 09:56, Sprinter, RNet

									02_042_1601_28_13_Laan van NOI  <------- Platform 2, Den Haag HS, 16:01, Stoptrein, NS, via Laan van NOI

								

The CTA trigger object

In scenario edit mode, the CTA trigger object can be found in the 'track infrastructure' section of the scenery:

When placing these objects, they are track-linked objects. Hold TAB while placing them to get them nicely aligned into the middle of the track. The trigger object has two track links that must be placed appropriately for an approaching train and both links MUST point the same direction the train will be travelling.
B=Base link. The data packet will be transmitted when a train crosses this link
1=1st track link. This is where the data packet is transmitted FROM. It is important to set this toward the nearest end of the platform (for example after all switches and signals) so that the data packet can follow the track and get picked up by the platform CTA links.
D=Data entry box:

CTA trigger object data entry

Each trigger object placed has a data entry box that should be populated with information to be sent to the CTAs ahead. If the data entry box is left blank, the trigger object will not send any information.
VERY IMPORTANT: IF the data entry in the trigger object is changed AFTER it has initially been placed, then the trigger object MUST be moved slightly or the scenario editor won't register the change, and it won't be saved into the scenario properly.
The data entry field looks like this:

n#ddd_tttt_ss_oo_vvvvv

Examples

									1#022_0818_14_13    <---- Train #1, Amsterdam Centraal, 08:18, Intercity, NS

									2#037_0825_28_02    <---- Train #2, Breda, 08:25, Stoptrein, Arriva

									3#416_0703_15_15_Eindhoven    <---- Train #3, Essen, 07:03, Intercity Direct, NS International, via Eindhoven

								

If the CTA should be blank, or have 'Let Op Omroep' or 'Niet instappen' displayed:

n#d

Example:

3#1 <------- Train #3, 'Niet instappen'

DutchDriver's CTA tool

In order to make the data entry for the sign and trigger objects MUCH more user-friendly, DutchDriver has published a CTA tool to do the work for you. You can find the DutchDriver CTA tool here.

The CTA support objects

In route edit mode, a variety of masts, horizontal supports and ceiling mounts can be found in the 'stations' section of the scenery.

CTA Destinations, service types and operators

The CORE destinations for the CTAs are the same as the master destination list. However, in addition, many extra out-of-country and regional destinations are also supported.
The table below shows those extra destinations, as well as the service type numbers and operator numbers: