krus_aragon
Established Member
I'm just been (~08:55am) listening to an article on the Today programme on Radio 4, discussing how the NYMR have developed a mobile phone app that reads a barcode printed on the side of trains in order to note that you've spotted it. The app also uploads this information (with location data) to help people know about unit locations and delays.
Some interviewees said they felt that such a project was of no relevance whatever to some of the older generations amongst the members of the NYMR, others thought this was a good way of bringing trainspotting into the modern age. Pete Waterman was rolled out for a comment, but he mostly said that he's long past collecting numbers with his friends, and just plays trains with them instead.
Rather oddly, Northern Rail were mentioned as being the first TOC to take this up, and will be rolling out the barcodes on their fleet. The interviewee said that Northern would benefit from the up to date information, as being more granular than what they currently get, as 'some signal boxes are long distances apart' and this information could be more up to date, and cheaper than fitting GPS locators to all their fleet.
While the growth of the internet and open train information (as well as changes in rolling stock) has changed the nature of trainspotting a lot over the years, this idea stuck me as quite an oddball, and I'm astonished that TOCs could consider it to be operationally helpful. Any opinions?
Some interviewees said they felt that such a project was of no relevance whatever to some of the older generations amongst the members of the NYMR, others thought this was a good way of bringing trainspotting into the modern age. Pete Waterman was rolled out for a comment, but he mostly said that he's long past collecting numbers with his friends, and just plays trains with them instead.
Rather oddly, Northern Rail were mentioned as being the first TOC to take this up, and will be rolling out the barcodes on their fleet. The interviewee said that Northern would benefit from the up to date information, as being more granular than what they currently get, as 'some signal boxes are long distances apart' and this information could be more up to date, and cheaper than fitting GPS locators to all their fleet.
While the growth of the internet and open train information (as well as changes in rolling stock) has changed the nature of trainspotting a lot over the years, this idea stuck me as quite an oddball, and I'm astonished that TOCs could consider it to be operationally helpful. Any opinions?
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