I've just discovered https://www.map.signalbox.io/ which shows the real-time position of every train on the British mainland.
It will make me a much less anxious traveller next time I'm waiting for a train!
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@christianp Very cool! It would be interesting to know what the "sophisticated GPS and mapping technology" is that they use; I don't think the API to live train data in the UK provides the level of granular detail needed to work out exactly where the trains are without extra input.
In Finland, they really do, see e.g. https://www.vr.fi/en/live-train-tracker-map
There are also sites like https://vaunut.org/kulkutiedot which use the public API to show you live updates as trains enter and exit track sections.
[edited to add screenshot of live block section data]
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@davidjamesweir reading between the lines, I think they use live location data from passengers' phones.
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@christianp @davidjamesweir I just watched a train move at what looked like 200mph+ across an area without tracks, so I guess there are some GPS accuracy issues somewhere.
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@LittleFrank @davidjamesweir or there was a delay getting the location data to your device.
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@christianp @LittleFrank @davidjamesweir I just watched one on the small line near me start going backwards.. then forwards again.. I suspect the "tech" is geolocation of a device to a specific train and not mega accurate locations of trains. My best guess is using the train feeds to estimate the current location which is why it is possible for them to go backwards if the timings end up going out.
https://traksy.uk/live is my go-to for train locations (and maybe opentraintimes maps).
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@christianp@mathstodon.xyz @davidjamesweir@mementomori.social no, they do not
I looked into this a while ago, they only use signal level data + some interpolation iirc, this isn't any better than using a signal map (ie https://signalmaps.co.uk) but might be easier to understand for the average person
Also it runs terribly on phones from experience, maybe some phones/browser combos fare better on that point
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@davidjamesweir @christianp I remember from when I was in Denmark how impressive this official one is:
https://www.rejseplanen.dk/bin/help.exe/mn?L=vs_dot.vs_livemap&tpl=fullscreenmap&view=dsb&disabledTimeout=yes
In germany, switzerland, holland, france... there is also this one, but I have never used it in "real life"
https://mobility.portal.geops.io/world.geops.transit?layers=paerke,strassennamen,haltekanten,haltestellen,pois,world.geops.traviclive&x=1382002.55&y=5930775.39&z=5.02&baselayer=world.geops.travic
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@apt12 @davidjamesweir @christianp cc @Gaelan look
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@chx @apt12 @davidjamesweir @christianp ooh very cool
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@davidjamesweir @christianp it is likely to be based on train-describer berth occupancy data as, to my knowledge, GPS train data or mobile phone data is not readily available as open data. There are also some technical challenges around the rail GPS feeds.
Alternative views of this data are available. For example I often use OpenTrainTimes https://www.opentraintimes.com/in or RealtimeTrains https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk
(I don't mean to cast shade here, just it won't be GPS data behind this)
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@wnd Yes, been using RTT for many years, and very happy with it! Finland's open data, however, is less easy to make use of, but much richer.
@christianp
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@christianp well that worked lol, there's a train line that runs behind my house and when I opened the map it showed there was a train approaching and then I heard it pass by π
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@christianp@mathstodon.xyz There's also https://traksy.uk/live but that's more for nerds
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@als I'm a nerd but apparently not that kind of nerd. It looks more useful for train spotters than passengers.
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@christianp @als I do like https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/ though. Often has the platform number way earlier. Especially useful for Eurostar.
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@christianp I've used signalbox for a couple of years, it's very helpful (if occasionally glitchy). But this really should be provided by National Rail.
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@christianp This is amazing - thanks for posting!
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@christianp I find https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/ really helpful for reducing train travel anxiety too, you can stalk your trains :-)
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@christianp There appear to be no trains at all in the Highlands between Inverness and Thurso/Wick. If this is indeed driven by passenger mobile data then I wonder whether this might be a coverage/passenger issue?
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@christineburns I'd be more confident making a guess about that on a day with better weather!
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@christianp excuse me? That's amazing!?
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@christianp that's cool. Do you know if there is also something like this for other countries, Germany in particular?
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@florianjehn a couple of people have replied with similar things for other countries, but I don't think I've seen a German one
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@christianp
Hope cool is that! I just sat here in my study and watched a train go past on my green and on the line outside!
How does it work? Two options: on board mobiles expressing their location, but more likely rail sections used for signalling... anyone know?
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@christianp
Hmm, just watched a long fuel freighter go through the village which was NOT shown on map.signalbox.io but was shown on TRAKSY. That means it's not signalling sections that are being used but is more likely now to be personal mobile phone locationing.
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@incredibish yeah, their main site doesn't say in detail what they do, but it gives me the impression they're using location data from phones of passengers with their apps installed
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@incredibish @christianp Traksy & RealTimeTrains do include freight and loco movements, but this - while excellent - is only for passenger servicez
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@christianp very cool.
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@christianp that website is so aesthetic
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@christianp Holy Shit, this is so useful!
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@christianp the next level of this is using traksy.uk/live or signalmaps.co.uk/#crossrail:2598 to tap into signalling data :3
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@christianp tagging @Weehaj π
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@christianp i found https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/ useful as it quickly tells you the train time and the platform number.
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@christianp another foreign one is https://treinposities.nl/
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@christianp Wow this is really cool!
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@christianp
I saw a train move - there must be something wrong with the site!
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@christianp This is the best app ever!
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@christianp Wow! Thank you!
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@christianp this is so cool
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@christianp @WiteWulf new favourite website unlocked. It is amusing me though how my heritage railway is marked on there,I don't think our steam locos come up though somehow
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