Ancestors

Written by Christian Lawson-Perfect on 2025-01-03 at 10:51

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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Written by David Weir :v_enby: on 2025-01-03 at 11:00

@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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Written by Christian Lawson-Perfect on 2025-01-03 at 11:01

@davidjamesweir reading between the lines, I think they use live location data from passengers' phones.

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Written by LittleFrank on 2025-01-03 at 11:48

@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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Toot

Written by Christian Lawson-Perfect on 2025-01-03 at 11:48

@LittleFrank @davidjamesweir or there was a delay getting the location data to your device.

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Descendants

Written by Hambone Fakenamington on 2025-01-03 at 23:55

@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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