• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

RealTimeTrains website

eastwestdivide

Established Member
Joined
17 Aug 2009
Messages
2,545
Location
S Yorks, usually
One minor downside to the "favicon" introduction, at least I think that's the connection: on my phone (iphone), I keep a bunch of local stations as bookmarks. Before the favicon, they each took the first letter of the (editable) bookmark name as their icon, but now they're all the same, so not quite as easy to pinpoint. I can't see any setting on the phone to ignore the favicons.
In the attached example, they used to have a big D, M and S for an icon, but now all the same:
Favicons.png

Not a big deal, but just one of those unintended consequences.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

palmersears

Established Member
Joined
20 Sep 2011
Messages
1,485
RTT.JPG

Is 'Service passed another here' correct? To my mind it should be 'Service passed by another here' as it's almost always in connection with the service being 'looped' for a faster one to pass it. Or am I missing the point entirely (which is very likely!)
 

Tom

Member
Joined
19 Jan 2008
Messages
556
Location
35,000ft
One minor downside to the "favicon" introduction, at least I think that's the connection: on my phone (iphone), I keep a bunch of local stations as bookmarks. Before the favicon, they each took the first letter of the (editable) bookmark name as their icon, but now they're all the same, so not quite as easy to pinpoint. I can't see any setting on the phone to ignore the favicons.
Most requests were to add a favicon in order to stop phones doing that kind of thing, so an unfortunate consequence.

Is 'Service passed another here' correct? To my mind it should be 'Service passed by another here' as it's almost always in connection with the service being 'looped' for a faster one to pass it. Or am I missing the point entirely (which is very likely!)
The problem with this is that the CIF activity codes A and X don't really discriminate whether it's passing another service or passed by another. A specifically is 'Stops or shunts for other trains to pass' and X is 'Passes another train at a crossing point on a single line' although you see these used a bit more liberally than that. By omitting the 'by' it means that it covers both use cases as you can add that by the relevance of its omission.
 

ainsworth74

Forum Staff
Staff Member
Global Moderator
Joined
16 Nov 2009
Messages
27,629
Location
Redcar
@Tom continues to spoil us!

LNER has today, 25th June, become the next operator to participate in our Know Your Train service.

Know Your Train gives you more information about the rolling stock actually operating on each service, such as what it will look like and what the facilities are onboard. Using data from the operator, we’re also able to tell you what orientation the train is in and where each coach is on the service (we are currently unable to provide coach letters for Azuma 5 and 10 car trains due to system limitations).

During the current pandemic, information like this has become more important than ever: every type of train is different and so are the social distancing characteristics. Even two different nine car trains with the same operator can have different overall capacity. With capacity reduced at present to support social distancing, this information becomes of even greater importance. We are actively working on ways in which we can better share information about train capacities on each service.

As well as the Know Your Train features introduced with ScotRail, LNER services will also show additional information about the facilities available in each coach. On both the Azuma and InterCity 225 fleets, there’ll be symbols below each carriage on the train showing where each onboard facility is.

Realtime Trains will not be displaying the train allocations that support this service in the detailed mode as we do for other operators at present. We will also not be identifying any trains with special liveries. The use of public transport is currently recommended for necessary journeys only and, while we acknowledge our rail enthusiast users, we do not wish to encourage travel to see particular trains for now.

 

samuelmorris

Established Member
Joined
18 Jul 2013
Messages
5,121
Location
Brentwood, Essex
That's great - with the potential confusion around the 9-car vs. 10-car operations as well as the handful of Mk4s still around, this is going to be really practical.
 

MB162435

Established Member
Joined
27 Aug 2017
Messages
1,259
Location
Penryn
The ScotRail feature seems more useful for an enthusiast as it shows the fleet number, but the LNER version is more useful for a traveller as it shows the facilities on the train: Quiet Coach, Disabled Access, First Class end and Bicycle Spaces

Either way, it's brilliant and hopefully by the time Covid is over even more companies will have this feature on RealTime Trains, as it is really useful when travelling and spotting
 

samuelmorris

Established Member
Joined
18 Jul 2013
Messages
5,121
Location
Brentwood, Essex
The ScotRail feature seems more useful for an enthusiast as it shows the fleet number, but the LNER version is more useful for a traveller as it shows the facilities on the train: Quiet Coach, Disabled Access, First Class end and Bicycle Spaces

Either way, it's brilliant and hopefully by the time Covid is over even more companies will have this feature on RealTime Trains, as it is really useful when travelling and spotting
The ScotRail feature seems more useful for an enthusiast as it shows the fleet number, but the LNER version is more useful for a traveller as it shows the facilities on the train: Quiet Coach, Disabled Access, First Class end and Bicycle Spaces

Either way, it's brilliant and hopefully by the time Covid is over even more companies will have this feature on RealTime Trains, as it is really useful when travelling and spotting
The fleet number is there, but concealed due to Covid, to avoid anybody travelling for the sake of seeing / travelling on a particular unit. I suspect the numbers will appear later once social distancing is no longer required.
 

Peter C

Established Member
Joined
13 Oct 2018
Messages
4,516
Location
GWR land
@Tom continues to spoil us!



This is excellent! :D
I can see this being even more useful when they consider it the right time to add in unit/engine numbers and I like the fact that they've chosen not to display them during the current situation. From a Train Sim perspective, this will be extremely useful in making scenarios as you can tell at a glance what kind of train forms a particular service.

-Peter
 

MB162435

Established Member
Joined
27 Aug 2017
Messages
1,259
Location
Penryn
The fleet number is there, but concealed due to Covid, to avoid anybody travelling for the sake of seeing / travelling on a particular unit. I suspect the numbers will appear later once social distancing is no longer required.
Ah right, thanks for that was wondering why ScotRail had the fleet number but LNER didn't, does make sense to prevent people chasing new Azuma's or bowing out 225s sets for the time being
 

JonathanH

Veteran Member
Joined
29 May 2011
Messages
18,743
Ah right, thanks for that was wondering why ScotRail had the fleet number but LNER didn't, does make sense to prevent people chasing new Azuma's or bowing out 225s sets for the time being

.
 
Last edited:

XAM2175

Established Member
Joined
8 Jun 2016
Messages
3,469
Location
Glasgow
Really enjoying having the allocations available for a bit of armchair spotting so thanks Tom and co for further improving an already excellent tool!

A tiny observation though from looking at the GBRf and CS allocations in particular - I notice that when the locomotive allocation is shown (such as with this service) it replaces the information on pathing and trailing load. Would it be possible to instead show both data groups?
 

Tom

Member
Joined
19 Jan 2008
Messages
556
Location
35,000ft
I'm glad you're all enjoying LNER's introduction. This one has been in the works for about four months since even before GBRf went live.

The ScotRail feature seems more useful for an enthusiast as it shows the fleet number, but the LNER version is more useful for a traveller as it shows the facilities on the train: Quiet Coach, Disabled Access, First Class end and Bicycle Spaces

Either way, it's brilliant and hopefully by the time Covid is over even more companies will have this feature on RealTime Trains, as it is really useful when travelling and spotting
The fleet number is there, but concealed due to Covid, to avoid anybody travelling for the sake of seeing / travelling on a particular unit. I suspect the numbers will appear later once social distancing is no longer required.
Ah right, thanks for that was wondering why ScotRail had the fleet number but LNER didn't, does make sense to prevent people chasing new Azuma's or bowing out 225s sets for the time being
I deliberately said quite a few weeks ago that I wasn't going to put any allocations up and my comment on that still stands:
The long answer is: I have taken the view that I will publish no more TOC allocations until such a point that I (and a TOC) feel that the coronavirus restrictions have lifted to a degree that it becomes appropriate to do so again. I personally feel that publishing them right now would encourage unnecessary journeys or travel which I am of the current opinion that no-one should be doing. If they were published, one person making an unnecessary journey because of my own actions is a journey too many. I don't want to be putting people at risk by my actions.
Allocations will appear when I feel more comfortable in doing so. In my discussions on this matter with LNER over the last few months we all felt that while we would like to see the sticky digits being published, because there is no need for secrecy about them really, that because it is such a relatively new thing we would feel uncomfortable with publishing during lockdown. All three previous operators have remained online because they were launched before lockdown.

Each to their own - I have identified the 345s passing the Slough Railcam every day for the last ten weeks - I haven't considered going to travel on them and don't know when I would. It could be years before I go out chasing trains again - doesn't mean I'm not interested in what is operating.

Given LNER is compulsory reservation only at the moment, no one could go out and catch them anyway.
You are, of course, right that no-one can go and catch them... but people can go out and see them. The LNER route has long had a bit of a history of enthusiasts on station platforms and, while that's fine in normal times, we should really be leaving the stations at present for those who really need to use the train. There are other data sources available for the raw numbers which is a reasonable mitigation. Realtime Trains is a very public, and popular, website and the other sources are somewhat less so overall - our joint concern is that we don't want to put people at unnecessary risk (and that includes enthusiasts, railway users and staff) when the trains will still be here later.
A tiny observation though from looking at the GBRf and CS allocations in particular - I notice that when the locomotive allocation is shown (such as with this service) it replaces the information on pathing and trailing load. Would it be possible to instead show both data groups?
It is already in hand and there is a workflow underway to work out the best place to put it as a replacement. It doesn't work when you've got "Operated by 92xxx" followed by "Pathed as diesel locomotive" for example right underneath it, just doesn't look right... but there are other places it can go on the page and that discussion is underway internally.
 

MB162435

Established Member
Joined
27 Aug 2017
Messages
1,259
Location
Penryn
I'm glad you're all enjoying LNER's introduction. This one has been in the works for about four months since even before GBRf went live.




I deliberately said quite a few weeks ago that I wasn't going to put any allocations up and my comment on that still stands:

Allocations will appear when I feel more comfortable in doing so. In my discussions on this matter with LNER over the last few months we all felt that while we would like to see the sticky digits being published, because there is no need for secrecy about them really, that because it is such a relatively new thing we would feel uncomfortable with publishing during lockdown. All three previous operators have remained online because they were launched before lockdown.

You are, of course, right that no-one can go and catch them... but people can go out and see them. The LNER route has long had a bit of a history of enthusiasts on station platforms and, while that's fine in normal times, we should really be leaving the stations at present for those who really need to use the train. There are other data sources available for the raw numbers which is a reasonable mitigation. Realtime Trains is a very public, and popular, website and the other sources are somewhat less so overall - our joint concern is that we don't want to put people at unnecessary risk (and that includes enthusiasts, railway users and staff) when the trains will still be here later.
It is already in hand and there is a workflow underway to work out the best place to put it as a replacement. It doesn't work when you've got "Operated by 92xxx" followed by "Pathed as diesel locomotive" for example right underneath it, just doesn't look right... but there are other places it can go on the page and that discussion is underway internally.
Thank you for your all your hard work Tom, it's no easy task pleasing everyone and getting every decision right, but you're doing a great job!

I can see spotting being allowed in a couple of months or so but we don't know yet, but you're doing the best thing by playing it safe and not unintentionally encouraging it yet
 

Halish Railway

Established Member
Joined
26 Apr 2017
Messages
1,706
Location
West Yorkshire / Birmingham
Fantastic addition! I love how you can see how many carriages a train has by looking down the list of scheduled trains. It’s a shame that theirs no TOPS number, however, it’s still all that I need to know whether I should go on or avoid a certain train based on train length.

6A653861-9329-4031-94F0-AADD82E6CB29.jpeg
0C2B47D0-92ED-4717-9C37-3B313E848D46.jpeg
 

DarloRich

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
29,250
Location
Fenny Stratford
Good to see the LNER data included. I think the decision on unit number is sensible at this stage. Looking forward to seeing similar graphics on a freight service ;)
 

XAM2175

Established Member
Joined
8 Jun 2016
Messages
3,469
Location
Glasgow
It is already in hand and there is a workflow underway to work out the best place to put it as a replacement. It doesn't work when you've got "Operated by 92xxx" followed by "Pathed as diesel locomotive" for example right underneath it, just doesn't look right... but there are other places it can go on the page and that discussion is underway internally.

Yeah that makes sense. With the Azumas it's reasonably obvious that the references to HST and electric loco timings show what the Azumas replaced, but the opportunity for confusion does exist. Thanks again!
 

_toommm_

Established Member
Joined
8 Jul 2017
Messages
5,854
Location
Yorkshire
I notice some on-the-day VSTPs being marked as VVR... What does this stand for please?
 

PG

Established Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
2,842
Location
at the end of the high and low roads

spark001uk

Established Member
Joined
20 Aug 2010
Messages
2,325
Noticed a few times lately - when a service doesn't run, some hours after it was due to depart, one or two random reports will show up on it. What causes this, is it just a glitch in the nr feed?
 

Freightmaster

Established Member
Joined
7 Jul 2009
Messages
3,489
Noticed a few times lately - when a service doesn't run, some hours after it was due to depart, one or two random reports will show up on it. What causes this, is it just a glitch in the nr feed?
Can you provide any specific examples?



MARK
 

spark001uk

Established Member
Joined
20 Aug 2010
Messages
2,325
Can you provide any specific examples?



MARK
Not right now, as the times get erased once they're cancelled. But from memory today's 6X24 0618 Derby litchurch Lane to Eastleigh works showed nothing until around 11am, then all of a sudden it showed 'no report' all the way from the top, down to Sharnbrook jn (North Bedford) where it showed a right-time report (0924). I've just looked again and it's now cancelled throughout so the time is erased. However it does say partially cancelled despite stating from/to points as being the full journey, presumably as this 'phantom' report was present. I'll screenshot it next time it happens.
 
Last edited:

Tom

Member
Joined
19 Jan 2008
Messages
556
Location
35,000ft
A lot of signallers think that the most appropriate way of clearing trains off their TRUST screens is to put in a location report...

You can normally spot them by rolling over them (or tapping them) and it'll probably say TRUST (SDR)
 

louis97

Established Member
Joined
14 May 2008
Messages
1,890
Location
Derby
Appears to be a hiccup, unless a spare set is kept at Aberdeen Clayhills.

800105 1W02 Leeds-Aberdeen
800102 1E25 Aberdeen-KX
800104 1W11 Kings Cross-Aberdeen
800104 1E30 Aberdeen-Leeds
1W02 and 1E25 are booked to be different sets currently.
 

Prudhoe

Member
Joined
31 Jul 2015
Messages
462
Location
Tyne Valley
1W02 and 1E25 are booked to be different sets currently.
On checking back to yesterday (Mon), 1W02 was worked by 800102, which worked onto Clayhills around13:15.
It remained there for the afternoon/overnight/this morning, then worked 1E25 to KX, departing Aberdeen 14:52.
Spending around 25 hours in Aberdeen seems very wasteful.
I
 

Top