Bizarre AI results for Rail Related Enquiries

[Dai Corner]

It’s frightening, here I am using an iPad with location services turned of and I just asked “what time is the next train to London”
it tells me to walk to the village hall, get on the 1346 bus to town, walk to the station, catch a train to four stops down the line, change to GWR service to Paddington and gives me a map starting from my front door.

It knows where you are because your iPad or other devices have previously reported their locations while connected to your WiFi network.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Search term:
Transport for Wales class 220

Google AI Result:

AI Overview

The Transport for Wales Class 220 trains, also known as "Voyagers," were initially operated by First Great Western and are no longer used by Transport for Wales. These four-coach diesel trains, built by Siemens, had a maximum speed of 125 mph and a range of about 1,350 miles between refueling. They were replaced by the Class 730 "Aventra" units.

How much garbage can one result produce?

 

[AndrewE]

That's the route by pedalo

Can you take a bike on a river bus?

Google's AI overview reminds me of Wikipedia in the 00s, which back then had reliability problems, but nowadays is much more reliable thanks to its extensive network of editors and checks. I can see AI search functions going down the same road, however my main concern is I don't think the results justify the intensive energy demands that come with AI programs.

Me too. There is a Guardian article today about exactly this: https://www.theguardian.com/environ...times-emissions-of-big-airport?CMP=GTUK_email has

New UK AI datacentre could cause five times emissions of Birmingham airport​

Emissions from power-hungry warehouses at Lincolnshire facility expected to be 850,000 tonnes a year

Documents estimate the datacentre would consume 3.7bn kWh of energy [a year], with annual CO2 emissions of 857,254 tonnes when running at full tilt. This is based on the current mix of energy sources powering the National Grid.

The datacentre will also create so much excess heat that glasshouses are being proposed with capacity to produce more than 10 tonnes of tomatoes a day.

 

[Broucek]

I used Chat GPT the other day a simple question for work about the largest IPOs (stock market listings) in Europe over the last 10 years. It was missing Volvo Cars and when I queried that, the response was to apologise for the "oversight"... It's bad that IA invents stuff or finds bogus info but missing stuff is surprising...

 

[BlueLeanie]

Can you take a bike on a river bus?

Me too. There is a Guardian article today about exactly this: https://www.theguardian.com/environ...times-emissions-of-big-airport?CMP=GTUK_email has

If the data centre is that big, it should have a solar roof and battery back up.

It's sounds like a great place to have a big Council swimming pool. Indeed, maybe build a massive data centre near the planned Universal resort and have heated pavements throughout the resort, that would really boost the attractiveness in the cooler times of year.

 

[AndrewE]

If the data centre is that big, it should have a solar roof and battery back up.

If you read the article you will see that it says

The developer has ruled out on-site renewables as impractical. If the system ran on biomass energy it would require the daily delivery of 100 large lorry loads of wood chips. Wind energy would require 10,000 20-metre wind turbines, while an area five times the size of the Glastonbury festival site would be needed if it were to be powered by photovoltaic panels.

 

[BingMan]

If you read the article you will see that it says

How many football pitches make up a Glastonbury Festival Site (GFS).?
And how many GFSs in a Wales?

 

[BlueLeanie]

If you read the article you will see that it says

Indeed, it seems utter nonsense to claim that a roof cannot be designed to accommodate an array of solar panels.

Blenheim are building a 1,000 acre solar farm on Oxford's Green Belt. Glastonbury is about the same size. So it clearly can be done.

 

[Sealink]

Asked Gemini for the last train from Inverness to Wick. It was almost correct.

Last train:
Around 18:31 (or 19:30 on weekends)

 

[eastwestdivide]

How many football pitches make up a Glastonbury Festival Site (GFS).?
And how many GFSs in a Wales?

Have you asked an AI for the answers? Could be entertaining. See also The Register’s online standards converter at

The Reg online standards converter

www.theregister.com

for football pitch to Wales and other conversions.

 

[Sealink]

Asked Gemini for the last train from Inverness to Wick. It was almost correct.

Last train:
Around 18:31 (or 19:30 on weekends)

Told Gemini they were wrong and then received an update about buses replacing trains from tomorrow! It's from Monday.

 

[AndrewE]

Indeed, it seems utter nonsense to claim that a roof cannot be designed to accommodate an array of solar panels.

I don't think anyone did...

Blenheim are building a 1,000 acre solar farm on Oxford's Green Belt. Glastonbury is about the same size. So it clearly can be done.

So what? I imagine they [the data centre planners] can do arithmetic and have realised that they could only generate a small fraction of their consumption (which is ongoing 24/7) so decided to outsource their energy supply completely and not get involved in any complications or unnecessary expenditure.

That doesn't excuse not bothering to put as much pv as possible on all suitable roofs, but that is a planning law or building regs issue.

 

[Sealink]

Chat GPT meanwhile.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2025 ==

For those that can't see the image, it's posted an accurate timetable for the Inverness Wick service.

 

[nwales58]

I've managed to get the Google AI Overview to tell me how to experience the electric train journey up Snowdon.

 

[Giugiaro]

Indeed, it seems utter nonsense to claim that a roof cannot be designed to accommodate an array of solar panels.

The issue is that generative systems (like large language models) use a pornographic amount of energy to train and work.

Electricity grids creak as AI demands soar

Data centre electricity demand is forecast to double in four years, putting energy grids under pressure.

www.bbc.com

...Generative AI is an energy hog.

“Every time you query the model, the whole thing gets activated, so it’s wildly inefficient from a computational perspective,” she says.

“When you use Generative AI… it’s generating content from scratch, it’s essentially making up answers,” Dr Luccioni explains. That means the computer has to work pretty hard...

 

[bleeder4]

Factual information AI gives you always needs to be checked, as you don't know if the source it's using is reliable. However, it can be quite good for summarising stuff. I use it at work sometimes if someone sends me a 100 page PDF that I just don't have time to read. I can upload that to AI and ask it to provide me a short bullet point summary of the key points contained within that PDF. The AI Assistant that's built into Zoom is also quite good as well. Add the AI bot to any Zoom meeting you have and when the meeting ends every attendee gets emailed the minutes of the meeting with a summary of points discussed etc.

In rail terms, it's also good for timetables as long as you include the website you want it to check. For example - "Can you use website x to summarise for me the frequency of trains between station x and station y, including what the difference is on Sundays". Basically, give it the source you want it to use, rather than let it go rogue and find its own sources.

 

[nlogax]

Gemini is particularly bad at this stuff. Taking cues from multiple sources is fine, but how it manages to create some properly comedic works of fiction from all that is a mystery to me.

 

[Krokodil]

if someone sends me a 100 page PDF that I just don't have time to read. I can upload that to AI and ask it to provide me a short bullet point summary of the key points contained within that PDF.

I was taught at uni to include an Abstract at the beginning of a report. Has this practice been forgotten?

 

[Morayshire]

I was taught at uni to include an Abstract at the beginning of a report. Has this practice been forgotten?

Not really. Now normally tarted up and called an "executive summary" or as it is more commonly referred to in my line of work as "the only bit the client will actually read!"

 

[sabanda]

South Western Railway (SWR) operates a Class 43 train (a "Sprinter") on the West of England Line from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids, but not on the route from London Paddington. The Class 43 is a type of electric multiple unit (EMU) used for both intercity and suburban services.

Anybody able to top this garbage result from Google's inbuilt AI?

 

[nwales58]

First attempt:

To travel by luxury high-speed train from Llangofni to London, you would likely need to travel via the Eurostar, the main high-speed train service in the UK. While there is no direct high-speed route from Llangofni, you can book a journey via a Eurostar service to London and then take a connection to your final destination.

Note I asked about Llangefni (on Anglesey) not Llangofni.

The wordy drivel carried on, confusing me. I’m supposed to get to London then use Google’s suggested Eurostar from London to London? Or VSOE?

Here's how you might plan your journey:

1. 1. Identify a suitable train to connect from Llangofni to a Eurostar station:
   You'll need to find a train connection from Llangofni to a station that Eurostar services, such as London.
   
   
2. 2. Book your journey on the Eurostar website:
   Once you have identified the train to London, book your train ticket on the Eurostar website.
   
   
3. 3. Enjoy the journey:
   After your train from Llangofni, arrive at the Eurostar station, board the train and enjoy your luxury experience to London.
   

Luxury options:

• First Class on Eurostar:
  Eurostar offers a First Class service with more comfortable seating, complimentary snacks and drinks, and a more relaxed atmosphere.
  
  
• Other luxury trains:
  While not directly connected to Llangofni, you might explore luxury train journeys to and from London, like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express or the Belmond Britannia Explorer.
  

Important notes:

• Direct train to London:
  There isn't a direct high-speed train from Llangofni to London. You will need to take a connecting train to a station that Eurostar services.
  
  
• Eurostar is a high-speed service:
  Eurostar is a high-speed train that travels at speeds of up to 300 km/h, so you'll reach your destination quickly.
  
  
• Book in advance:
  It's recommended to book your train tickets in advance, especially for luxury options, to secure your preferred seating and potentially save money.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Artificial Incompetence...

 

[3141]

Putting things to sell on eBay I'm offered the opportunity for AI to write the item description. Sometimes it produces something which is generic and might be true, but so unspecific as to be of no help to a potential buyer. Other times it clearly has no idea what the item is and does a bit of totally creative writing which is simply misleading. It shouldn't be too difficult to program it to say "I don't know", whatever the context. In the case of train times, it surely could be made aware of the length of time that a journey of nearly 400 miles London - Edinburgh will take. It's supposed to have "intelligence".

 

[dosxuk]

It's supposed to have "intelligence".

Only according to the hype merchants.

AI is just like those people who like others to think they know everything about everything, when actually they have a tiny bit of superficial knowledge they've overheard, and a way with words that lets them dress up their assumptions and misunderstanding as compete fact.

 

[Trackman]

One I did early today with ChatGPT around 2pm:
The bold is how chatGPT printed it, it's not me.

Fascinating.
Would love to know the route.

There is only one daily train from Hither Green to Farnworth, and tonight the last departure (and only one) leaves around 17:44 from Hither Green, arriving at Farnworth late — approximately 22:44 BST

 

[WAB]

I understand at least one TOC has now issued briefs around customers using AI to provide information on ticket validity.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I understand at least one TOC has now issued briefs around customers using AI to provide information on ticket validity.

Stating what, exactly?

 

[WAB]

Stating what, exactly?

That only official sources should be used.

 

[Krokodil]

That only official sources should be used.

So where does Trainline's AI stand?

 

[nw1]

I typed in ‘Pacers London Waterloo’. Here’s what a got…



Not sure that is quite right(!)

Screenshot of above quote below.

View attachment 181490

Sadly ChatGPT isn't so easily fooled. I tried asking it about Pacers from Waterloo and it would have nothing of it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 11:42 ==

So where does Trainline's AI stand?

Buy a ticket from Waterloo to Guildford and it'll book you on a 12-car Pacer formation.