Data.atoc.org portal closing?

[All platforms]

I have been copied in to an email that suggests the Data on Demand (data.atoc.org) Portal will be closing by the end of 2024. This is something i use weekly in assisting a rail website.

It suggests that the data feeds are also available on other National Rail Portals but the one i was directed to (opendata.nationalrail.co.uk) will not accept my registration as they are already at max capacity (500).

Does anyone know of a workaround for this or an alternate source for (in my case) the weekly update to the timetable feed.

No data updates = no website updates, so this is of critical importance to its continuation.

All suggestions or indeed any info on the subject will be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tom]

Depending on what exactly you're using from the timetable feed, you could use the Network Rail version (which is unfiltered and is only really missing RSIDs) from https://publicdatafeeds.networkrail.co.uk/ntrod/welcome. That has a weekly full extract in CIF format.

Otherwise I would suggest you contact RDG and ask them for your solution. I don't think that feed is in the Rail Data Marketplace (yet?).

 

[Poggs]

Does anyone know of a workaround for this or an alternate source for (in my case) the weekly update to the timetable feed.

You could apply for an RDG Data Licence and get the data sent to you from their industry platform, the DTD Portal. Or, if you don't like the sound of the word 'licence' and still want the RDG-supplied timetable data, I'm sure you could find somebody who could give you copies of their files *coughcough*

 

[Edvid]

Sure enough, its closure is noted on the home page:

Please note this portal will be closing by the end of 2024, for any enquiries please contact [email protected]

For persons outside the industry, will alternative access to the Routeing Guide (maps, calculator, NFM64 fares etc) be provided?

 

[Robski]

For persons outside the industry, will alternative access to the Routeing Guide (maps, calculator, NFM64 fares etc) be provided?

Yes, the information is being moved onto the NRE website: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/routeing-guide/

 

[Edvid]

Thanks. That's good to know.

 

[Vexed]

Yes, the information is being moved onto the NRE website: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/routeing-guide/

At least the new site works now, it was a 404 page when I clicked it just after they sent the email on Monday!

 

[All platforms]

You could apply for an RDG Data Licence and get the data sent to you from their industry platform, the DTD Portal. Or, if you don't like the sound of the word 'licence' and still want the RDG-supplied timetable data, I'm sure you could find somebody who could give you copies of their files *coughcough*

I have decided to apply for a license and have applied for the weekly timetable package with my application still at the pend stage. It is the ttis xxx zip i am looking for which is in the order of 68/70KB most weeks. I hope this is what they provide assuming i am successful with my application. Lets see.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Dec 2024 ==

Depending on what exactly you're using from the timetable feed, you could use the Network Rail version (which is unfiltered and is only really missing RSIDs) from https://publicdatafeeds.networkrail.co.uk/ntrod/welcome. That has a weekly full extract in CIF format.

Otherwise I would suggest you contact RDG and ask them for your solution. I don't think that feed is in the Rail Data Marketplace (yet?).

Specifically i crunch the MCA data contained within the ttis xxx zip which is in the order of 500000+KB once unpacked. It does output a CIF file once a bespoke VB programme is completed but also a details file which is also essential. At this early stage i don't know if your suggestion is the one for me but i will follow through if my application for a license (see above) is not successful.

I may contact RDG in the meantime anyway as this may offer a quicker solution. Thanks.

 

[Tom]

Specifically i crunch the MCA data contained within the ttis xxx zip which is in the order of 500000+KB once unpacked.

The MCA file is a standard CIF albeit with a non-standard file extension, just amended by RSP to exclude some train services with occasionally a couple of errors and add a little bit of data (like RSID). Effectively it gives you retail's version of the universe. So getting a standard CIF from NROD would be fine from assuming you don't need the RSID, as that would be the operational view of the universe which retail sits on to get its view.