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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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Toot

Written by Skye on 2025-01-03 at 13:29

@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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