Purpose: This paper aims to define the need for a route modelling language in e-learning, identifying requirements and candidate languages, before providing a recommended approach. Design/methodology/approach: Several sources of requirements are drawn from the literature then used to review available approaches to route modelling. The best candidate is then applied in a number of case studies to check its applicability. Findings: An existing open standard, IMS learning design, is identified as meeting the requirements. To date the standard has been applied in a different area, so the match to the route modelling problem is favorable. Research limitations/implications: The scope of the work excluded an examination of requirements arising in the lifecycle management of routes; further investigation should check this point. Practical implications: Practical application is hampered by the lack of an appropriate e-learning infrastructure in which to apply the approach. Pilot infrastructures should become available in the next 18 months to two years. Originality/value: The work puts an existing e-learning specification in a new light, avoiding the need to develop a new language. Since tools and experience with the specification are already available, prospects for its adoption in a new role are favorable. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)