RealTimeTrains website

[swt_passenger]

I've noticed on RTT over the past couple of days a glitsch in the Northern unit allocations. The unit numbers have been correct, but many of the unit formation graphics have got into the wrong order. e.g. a picture of a class 333 unit with two driving motor cares nose-to-tail at one end of the unit!

Data error from Northern, it’s been going on a while, and has been noted a few times eg post #1156 in May.

 

[D6130]

Data error from Northern, it’s been going on a while, and has been noted a few times eg post #1156 in May.

Thanks for that!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Data error from Northern, it’s been going on a while, and has been noted a few times eg post #1156 in May.

Every time I've seen it, it looks to me as if the railway's data feed is providing the formation in carriage number order with the highest number first?

 

[Tom]

Will any other Train Operating Companies or Freight Operating Companies be joining Realtime trains in the future at all?

Yes.

A question of much greater significance than when / whether this or that TOC shares their allocations / know your train data with RTT, is whether GBR are going to do so. And to date the only rumblings I've heard haven't been that encouraging.
Hopefully someone's heard more encouraging news?

Sounds like you know more than I do.

Are there any plans to show the livery for 43184 on RTT? Currently it still shows in XC livery

Yes.

And how come Glasgow Queen Street is there rather than Glasgow Central?

GLQ is more popular than GLC on RTT.

Every time I've seen it, it looks to me as if the railway's data feed is providing the formation in carriage number order with the highest number first?

Yes, it's in numerical order.

 

[Peter0124]

Another question for Tom: in the event of a Scottish Independence Yes vote, will Scottish services/stations still be supported on the site?

 

[pdeaves]

Another question for Tom: in the event of a Scottish Independence Yes vote, will Scottish services/stations still be supported on the site?

Why not? Why would ‘they’ suddenly stop disseminating information?

 

[ABB125]

Another question for Tom: in the event of a Scottish Independence Yes vote, will Scottish services/stations still be supported on the site?

All those big issues which get overlooked in the independence debate: will Scottish trains appear in RTT; will Scotland use the same data feeds as the rest of the country etc...

 

[Peter0124]

It was a genuine question though as I do worry, cause I am thinking of maybe working for Realtimetrains in the future in Software Development (if they have vacancies in 5 or so years) and I don't want to learn the site only for it to be discontinued in Scotland if we go Independent and hope that railmiles doesn't either

 

[Bletchleyite]

It was a genuine question though as I do worry, cause I am thinking of maybe working for Realtimetrains in the future in Software Development (if they have vacancies in 5 or so years) and I don't want to learn the site only for it to be discontinued in Scotland if we go Independent and hope that railmiles doesn't either

If it did you could always build your own!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Getting a bit far fetched here

 

[Tom]

I think the only answer is another question... how long is a piece of string?

 

[Peter0124]

So basically we don't know what'll happen with the Scottish side of RTT/Railmiles if or when Scotland is independent?

I understand independence is something that may or may not happen, though I would like clarity if possible. Sorry for asking so much and lets try steer clear of going too Off-Topic

I think the only answer is another question... how long is a piece of string?

 

[Mag_seven]

I think we can do without a discussion about Scottish Independence (at least at the moment) on this thread thanks.

 

[Roger B]

A question of much greater significance than when / whether this or that TOC shares their allocations / know your train data with RTT, is whether GBR are going to do so. And to date the only rumblings I've heard haven't been that encouraging.
Hopefully someone's heard more encouraging news?

Tom: Sounds like you know more than I do.

My comments are based upon the interaction we had on this thread back in June '21.
I suggested that "Perhaps when the changes to becoming Great British Railways become more embedded, the doors may open for all national operators to share their data. I'd expect the TOCs to become less autocratic." (post #840), to which you replied:
"I currently anticipate the opposite. I believe there may be a systemic risk to the future of RTT." (post #841).

It would be great if you could give us an update of how you anticipate things developing now, and whether you're more or less confident in the future of RTT than you were then, please. Although recognising that there may be sensitive discussions ongoing that mean you're unable to provide an update at this time.

I am one of the very many on this site who find RTT immensely useful, and are extremely grateful to you for driving its development - huge thanks.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Roger B I had understood the warning of the website’s future being at risk to be a way of stopping people moaning about the increased use of on-site adverts.

 

[Tom]

I am no more comfortable with the position of any further TOCs coming on board as a result of GBR. I still think there is a risk to RTT, and all open data sites in general, with the introduction of the Rail Data Marketplace which supposedly is open data first but the name of it really aggressively indicates otherwise. We have been having those debates elsewhere.

There are a few more TOCs on the way though that I merely haven't had time to finish up - and that's probably not going to change for the next few weeks unless I miraculously find some time in the midst of having Covid right now and travelling for the next 2 months.

In terms of the long term future of the site from a financial perspective, the advertising changes have put it on a much more comfortable footing and while the business is still taking consultancy work it's now much more of a pick and choose the good bits approach rather than the whatever approach of before. The accounts of the business are a matter of public record so I'm sure those who are interested will look in the appropriate place.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

In terms of the long term future of the site from a financial perspective, the advertising changes have put it on a much more comfortable footing and while the business is still taking consultancy work it's now much more of a pick and choose the good bits approach rather than the whatever approach of before.

That’s very reassuring to hear.

 

[Roger B]

I am no more comfortable with the position of any further TOCs coming on board as a result of GBR. I still think there is a risk to RTT, and all open data sites in general, with the introduction of the Rail Data Marketplace which supposedly is open data first but the name of it really aggressively indicates otherwise. We have been having those debates elsewhere.

There are a few more TOCs on the way though that I merely haven't had time to finish up - and that's probably not going to change for the next few weeks unless I miraculously find some time in the midst of having Covid right now and travelling for the next 2 months.

In terms of the long term future of the site from a financial perspective, the advertising changes have put it on a much more comfortable footing and while the business is still taking consultancy work it's now much more of a pick and choose the good bits approach rather than the whatever approach of before. The accounts of the business are a matter of public record so I'm sure those who are interested will look in the appropriate place.

Many thanks Tom. Appreciate the huge amount of work you put in behind the scenes to continually enhance RTT. It's good to hear the finances are on a stronger footing - and that a few more TOCs may be coming on board. Best wishes for your travels - a hard-earned break.

 

[Falcon1200]

Many thanks Tom. Appreciate the huge amount of work you put in behind the scenes to continually enhance RTT. It's good to hear the finances are on a stronger footing - and that a few more TOCs may be coming on board.

Many thanks from me also @Tom, RTT is an incredibly useful resource and more power to your elbow !

 

[D6130]

Many thanks from me also @Tom, RTT is an incredibly useful resource and more power to your elbow !

I'll third that! Many thanks!

 

[Strat-tastic]

I think the only answer is another question... how long is a piece of string?

The maximum distance between its two ends

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the only answer is another question... how long is a piece of string?

Twice as long as half of one?

 

[Peter0124]

I am no more comfortable with the position of any further TOCs coming on board as a result of GBR. I still think there is a risk to RTT, and all open data sites in general, with the introduction of the Rail Data Marketplace which supposedly is open data first but the name of it really aggressively indicates otherwise. We have been having those debates elsewhere.

There are a few more TOCs on the way though that I merely haven't had time to finish up - and that's probably not going to change for the next few weeks unless I miraculously find some time in the midst of having Covid right now and travelling for the next 2 months.

In terms of the long term future of the site from a financial perspective, the advertising changes have put it on a much more comfortable footing and while the business is still taking consultancy work it's now much more of a pick and choose the good bits approach rather than the whatever approach of before. The accounts of the business are a matter of public record so I'm sure those who are interested will look in the appropriate place.

Will there be an option to fund the site via an annual Subscription? Would be happy to do so as I find the adverts can be quite annoying.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

@Tom is there somewhere I can message to tell you the up to date details for the unit drawing liveries? Well over 50% of Transport for Wales’ fleet have the wrong livery on the little pictures, and a handful of SWR as well. I can inform on which units need updating About thirty units are yet to be updated.

 

[brad465]

Something I've just discovered, and apologies if it's already been pointed out in this very large thread, is a number of GN diagrams still have "Pathed as 365 EMU" in the description, despite the fact the class no longer exists (ignoring the preserved bits), and even has this description on Ely/King's Lynn diagrams, despite the fact 365s left this route on a regular basis much earlier than their full withdrawal.

Also, are there any plans for Southeastern services to join other operators in diagrams having the specific units involved revealed on the day? SWR services have this feature, including their 450/455/458/707 diagrams, which suggests the difficulty of a variety of rolling stock types on a multitude of different diagrams can be overcome.

 

[Steddenm]

Does VCN mean a service has been cancelled?

 

[swt_passenger]

Something I've just discovered, and apologies if it's already been pointed out in this very large thread, is a number of GN diagrams still have "Pathed as 365 EMU" in the description, despite the fact the class no longer exists (ignoring the preserved bits), and even has this description on Ely/King's Lynn diagrams, despite the fact 365s left this route on a regular basis much earlier than their full withdrawal.

“Pathed as” 365 effectively just means “timed for a 365 or anything with similar or better performance”. There are examples all over the place of services timed for traction that’s either no longer in use, or has never been used on a route. For example many Chiltern services are timed for 158/168/170/175.

 

[Andy Pacer]

“Pathed as” 365 effectively just means “timed for a 365 or anything with similar or better performance”. There are examples all over the place of services timed for traction that’s either no longer in use, or has never been used on a route. For example many Chiltern services are timed for 158/168/170/175.

Similar to many Northern services referring "Class 15x Pacer" for example

 

[Class 466]

Does VCN mean a service has been cancelled?

Yes, that’s a VSTP (Very Short Term Plan) Cancellation

 

[XAM2175]

Also, are there any plans for Southeastern services to join other operators in diagrams having the specific units involved revealed on the day? SWR services have this feature, including their 450/455/458/707 diagrams, which suggests the difficulty of a variety of rolling stock types on a multitude of different diagrams can be overcome.

That's covered by the references to "allocations" earlier in the thread. There isn't any inherent difficulty to displaying "a variety of rolling stock types on a multitude of different diagrams" - it simply relies on the operator being willing to share the allocations data with RTT.