EC onboard map

[dbrb2]

Travelling on EC from Edinburgh to London, and very bored, I noticed the real-time position map on the wifi launch page. The map itself was just a google mashup, but was also awful.

I've put together a nicer map at:

http://bbarker.co.uk/eastCoast/

Now this will not actually work unless you are on a train - or at least on a train using the same wifi provider (http://www.icomera.com/) as EC (and more importantly the same API for accessing train position). This looks like it might include people like Megabus and Virgin - though I haven't actually tested it.

Additionally, whilst you can access raw lat/lng without paying for access, to get maps you need internet access- and thus to either have paid directly, or indirectly through your 1st class tickets

Cheers,

Ben

 

[Jdrowlands]

Nice job Ben, will test this out when I'm next on East Coast (should be Wednesday).

 

[Yew]

if I take my laptop on my EMT journey in a few weeks, Ill test it out.

 

[dbrb2]

The company that runs this service has exposed the real poisition of an arbitrarily chosen EC train. Whilst onboard, the map will show train location as before. When not, it will show the location of this random train

 

[Aictos]

I don't often use East Coast's wifi offering but I will certainly bookmark this, thanks

 

[HugePilchard]

Now make it show the ACTUAL train in the satellite view. Then I'll be impressed!

 

[ainsworth74]

I used this a while ago on a EC service and have to say it was much better than the one that EC provide. It was rather interesting knowing exactly where we were rather than relying on my educated guess work so thanks

 

[OxtedL]

The company that runs this service has exposed the real poisition of an arbitrarily chosen EC train. Whilst onboard, the map will show train location as before. When not, it will show the location of this random train

I see... So that's why I'm currently watching what mus be the 1454 York to Newcastle hit 108mph...

 

[Darandio]

I see... So that's why I'm currently watching what mus be the 1454 York to Newcastle hit 108mph...

And as he is 5 early through Northallerton, he is pacing himself on a 125mph stretch.

 

[OxtedL]

Yes, a ridiculous amount of padding. Didn't get above 109mph the whole way.

And braking for Darlington...

 

[marks87]

According to that map, I'm currently travelling between 98-100mph northbound between Durham and Newcastle.

You'd think I'd have noticed being teleported out of my house

 

[OxtedL]

See above... :roll:

In case anyone cares, it got into Newcastle 10 minutes early in the end. God knows what it would take for it to be late.

 

[Darandio]

So presumably, that default setting is connected to one single set? If so, what is it working next?

I see it is off to Heaton now.

 

[OxtedL]

Yay, a whole new way to watch trains...

It seems to have stopped, and on the mainline... Must be waiting to be able to get in.

 

[Darandio]

Needs to cross the up main to get into Heaton.

 

[marks87]

See above... :roll:

Ah...

Note to self: read the thread before posting

 

[OxtedL]

The map is very precise. We can probably tell what road it's sitting in in Heaton...

Just in case anyone is enjoying the live commentary but finds it lacking in information, we reckon this is the ex-1S18 1300 [stn]KGX[/stn] to [stn]NCL[/stn].

 

[HugePilchard]

So presumably, that default setting is connected to one single set? If so, what is it working next?

I'd guess that whatever parameters Ben lifted from the page when he was using EC's wifi are specific to one particular set (Is it the DVT on electric sets? What is it on an HST?)

Maybe there could be a forum effort to collect the data, and allow the page to track any EC train?

 

[Darandio]

Maybe there could be a forum effort to collect the data, and allow the page to track any EC train?

If that was possible, that would be very, very interesting.

I think it may well work 1E22 back to the capital.

 

[OxtedL]

Well, it's going back into Newcastle.

It could still run 1E21, but that leaves it 18 minutes to get sorted, so I think you're right.

[1E21 is the 1659 to KGX, 1E22 is the 1728 to KGX]

 

[dbrb2]

Unfortunately, the URL I call is not train specific - or at least does not accept any train specific parameters.

When on a train, since all traffic from connected onboard devices goes through the trains wifi gateway, I would guess the system is smart enough to return the data for that train.

When not on a train, I would guess that a random train has been chosen for demo purposes.

I'm sure it is technically possible to get data for any train - but that would require EC to provide a way of accessing that data

 

[Darandio]

Well, it's going back into Newcastle.

It could still run 1E21, but that leaves it 18 minutes to get sorted, so I think you're right.

[1E21 is the 1659 to KGX, 1E22 is the 1728 to KGX]

Quite often they can run back in only 10 minutes before departure so it may well form 1E21.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Maybe one day this sort of thing will be available for all trains, afterall there are plenty of sites providing similar tracking for planes.

Train I'm getting is just slowing for Newcastle at the moment.

 

[OxtedL]

OK, so it looks like it was 1E21 after all.

GPS tracking of all trains would probably be useful for the TOCs themselves in at least some way, if not just for the hell of it, so maybe not too far in the future we can have a big UK sized map...

 

[AlterEgo]

I'm watching something just about to pull away from Darlington.

Fascinating!

 

[andylloyd]

am following the 1E21.
Is this setup to watch one or are you able to say what you what you watch from indoors?

 

[First class]

It's good when you have LDB on another tab.

Made up 3 minutes between NCL and DAR...

Anyone using Chrome get the plugin called Auto Refresh Plus and set to 2secs.

1D32/1N34 for next work??

 

[OxtedL]

We're only able to see what you can see, so we need to wait for the OP to come back and comment on this I think.

It's this one, btw: http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/ldbdetails/6pA5qFhAswwZWj3cmqK3kw==

 

[dbrb2]

I am reasonably certain that the feed is from one train, independent of who is viewing it.

The only way to get data from a specific train is to be on it.

Of course I'd be very suprised if data from every EC train is not returned to some servers somewhere - however it is not currently possible to pick and choose where the feed comes from.

If EC were to decide to make that info available, then the fun could really start

 

[First class]

I'm confused.

The feed for the map is coming from 1E21 at the moment, regardless of who looks at it.

So it is just going through Northallerton as I'm sat at home.

Am I missing something?