Train Tracker

[Tw99]

I often use the OTT maps in conjunction with the search option on RTT. If the RTT result gives multiple trains it won't be too difficult to work out the appropriate one.

True - but it'd also be pretty trivial for the OTT website to check if the train in question is actually routed via Reading (or wherever it's displayed on the map) before putting the wrong data up in a link.

 

[tds42]

I was watching Southern Metro this morning on http://sussextrains.co.uk - strangely addictive

 

[nottinghamcity]

Hmm, doesn't seem very good, though. Shows only 2 trains at Birmingham New Street, which seems very unlikely.

I would normally expect to see 8 - 12 trains at any one time at BHM

 

[Poggs]

True - but it'd also be pretty trivial for the OTT website to check if the train in question is actually routed via Reading (or wherever it's displayed on the map) before putting the wrong data up in a link.

It's trivial to say it's trivial, but it's not quite that easy in practice. There are a number of difficult problems to work around - for example, descriptions being cancelled and re-interposed rather than stepping, trains starting or running through non-TD areas, and a multitude of different types of fringes to deal with.

 

[oversteer]

I don't think it would be that tricky (but very time consuming!) to work out the positions of each berth on a Google Maps layer, draw the main routes on it, then find the train positions from the berth information used by opentraintimes etc, then interpolate the train position along the berth based on the running information and animate it in near real time.

If someone could implement it for free and send me a link to it that would be great

 

[Howardh]

Putting aside apps/phones to one side, our local station has a screen which tells you how many minutes late your train is. 4 minutes late. OK. Look up again...6 minutes late. The again....7 until it starts counting down!
TBH I'd rather know where the train is! Wonder if ever that info could appear on stations?

 

[Carntyne]

Putting aside apps/phones to one side, our local station has a screen which tells you how many minutes late your train is. 4 minutes late. OK. Look up again...6 minutes late. The again....7 until it starts counting down!
TBH I'd rather know where the train is! Wonder if ever that info could appear on stations?

It'll come in time but it's not possible with CIS which just uses Train Describers etc for the info, it updates when it passes a timing point. If it doesn't pass one because it's stuck, the clock will just go up.

 

[Sloppyjag]

Erm, maybe not. It shows London to Manchester trains going up the MML and along the freight only Coalville line!

Yep, some very odd routings on there. It thinks the Glasgow-Aberdeen services run as normal to Perth then double back to Stirling then via Alloa, Dunfermline, Thornton Jn and the Tay Bridge to Dundee and onwards as normal.