Has Google Maps got hold of some Quail maps?

[ObservationCar]

Maybe this has been brought up before. But was looking at google maps today and realised that all lines including some sidings are now showing on google maps. As before it only showed a grey and white single line, even if there was 4-6 tracks in this location. It even shows the passing loop at my local station in Dingwall.

Google Clapham Junction on Maps and you will see what I mean. It even shows freight only lines now, which is a vast improvement of a few years ago when it did not even show Train Stations. The lines fit the maps ok, as all maps are to scale, so even looking at Glasgow Central approach, all tracks fit in to the spaces between roads, which there are many bridges and arches that they cross.

I wonder if they have extracted the information from their own satalite images or would they have gained access to some Quail maps to produce this data? Its up to date from the few locations that I have checked.

 

[causton]

I reckon they must have, as there are names for some railway buildings/areas - however don't know how up to date they are e.g. 'Network South East Hornsey Depot'!

 

[Eagle]

Google Clapham Junction on Maps and you will see what I mean.

That makes my head hurt there's so much café-wall effect going on...

I also notice that they've finally removed the Fallowfields freight line (whose track was lifted in the mid-80s) which used to appear on GM and confused the hell out of me when I was trying to navigate round those parts.

 

[jha4ceb]

They appear to have removed the Rose Hill branch...

 

[Eagle]

Actually, look at Kenilworth (behind my house)... that's definitely not right.

 

[Lrd]

Actually, look at Kenilworth (behind my house)... that's definitely not right.

Hopefully the trains get a good run up.

I have noticed that at a few other places though.

At least they've now acknowledged there is a railway line between Eastleigh and Romsey, used to be able to see Chandler's Ford station but no lines either side!

 

[Gathursty]

A few weeks ago I did post the Fallowfield loop error to what I think is the correct Google maps complaints page. I'm pleased that the update has arrived. They must have got in touch with an atlas company of some sort which an earlier post alluded to. They've also gone to town on brooks, streams and channels as well. Wigan looks like it could be a mini Manaus or Venice! :P

 

[Schnellzug]

I expect it's probably extrapolated from Giggle Earth, so how up to date it would be would depend on how up to date the imagery there is, I suppose.
It does look odd though that they don't show public buildings such as rail or bus stations and shopping centres, so you get large areas of blank spaces with names of shops and bus stops dotted randomly over it.

 

[telstarbox]

They've also made my suggested update to the base map for some non-existent streets in Stockport, and Moss Road in Trafford Park which was previously shown running through a warehouse! On the other hand the Trafford Centre has disappeared.

 

[Red Dragon]

Maybe this has been brought up before. But was looking at google maps today and realised that all lines including some sidings are now showing on google maps. As before it only showed a grey and white single line, even if there was 4-6 tracks in this location. It even shows the passing loop at my local station in Dingwall.

Google Clapham Junction on Maps and you will see what I mean. It even shows freight only lines now, which is a vast improvement of a few years ago when it did not even show Train Stations. The lines fit the maps ok, as all maps are to scale, so even looking at Glasgow Central approach, all tracks fit in to the spaces between roads, which there are many bridges and arches that they cross.

I wonder if they have extracted the information from their own satalite images or would they have gained access to some Quail maps to produce this data? Its up to date from the few locations that I have checked.

Just had a look at Leeds Station, the track layout appears to be pre the re-modelling project "Leeds 1st" which took place between 1999 and 2002 as I recall.

 

[Eagle]

I notice that in addition to the increased railway and hydrological detail, alleys and connecting footpaths now appear, which is useful for walking directions.

Also the University has labelled all its buildings, even the parking structures...

 

[wintonian]

Although Clapham Junction appears to one very large tube station.

 

[Eagle]

I wonder if they have extracted the information from their own satalite images or would they have gained access to some Quail maps to produce this data? Its up to date from the few locations that I have checked.

Doesn't have to be Quail, might just be from the Sectional Appendices which are freely available (or at least they were when I stumbled into them on the Network Rail website).

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Doesn't have to be Quail, might just be from the Sectional Appendices which are freely available (or at least they were when I stumbled into them on the Network Rail website).

Very out of date, with some information removed ones are.

 

[button_boxer]

Although Clapham Junction appears to one very large tube station.

I think that's the Overground logo rather than the Underground one.

 

[MCR247]

Although Clapham Junction appears to one very large tube station.

Overground isn't it?

 

[Schnellzug]

In Weymouth, it shows the Quay tramway up as far as where it crosses King Street, where the street running section used to start, so I'd surmise that it is taken from Goggle Earth.
It also shows King's Roundabout, which hasn't been there since July.

 

[AlterEgo]

I see "White Stadt" has now been replaced by White City, the correct name.

 

[wintonian]

I think that's the Overground logo rather than the Underground one.

Looking at shepherds bush I suspect you are right.

It still thinks there is a station at Southampton Town Quay‎ when there is no track.

Southampton Town Quay rail station

 

[OuterDistant]

Weird! The yard at Foxfield is now there, and so are the loops at Caverswall and the CVR's yard at Cheddleton.

Strangely, the last 3-4 miles of the CVR's Cauldon Lowe line is missing (reopened last year), as is a central section of the mothballed line from Stoke to Endon, even though it's always been there.

 

[OxtedL]

The mass of Overground paraphernalia around New Cross Gate has appeared.

As for Clapham... woah!

The siding at Oxted has appeared, but not platform 3, so goodness knows where they've got the information from. There's other detail I don't remember from before as well, like the Gasometer in Oxted now marked on and labelled GW.

 

[RPM]

Just had a look at Aylesbury. Certainly more detail. Some is right, some is very wrong. The depot has been reduced from 6 to 4 roads and there is a strange double loop arrangement replacing platform 1 and the Branch Siding.

 

[telstarbox]

Strangely the Metrolink is shown as double track from the city centre to Cornbrook, then as single track from Pomona onwards - see here!

It doesn't show the section north/west of Broadway on the Eccles line either!

 

[PR1Berske]

At least they've identified Buckshaw Parkway but....erm.....

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=bucks...994&vpsrc=6&hq=buckshaw&radius=15000&t=h&z=17

 

[andyfrommk]

Bletchley seems to have a "British Rail yard"

I wonder how accurate the line is west of Bletchley, are those loops and gaps actually there?

 

[phil35]

Doesn't look like it's just the UK either. Just had a quick look at Berlin and it seems to be similarly detailed.

 

[Mojo]

I see "White Stadt" has now been replaced by White City, the correct name.

At last! And Fleet Street is no longer in Welsh!

 

[WatcherZero]

Theyve added Metrolink tracks and Street running tracks to the maps too, though loads of errors some due to outdated alignments, some just totally wrong. For example sidings where there arent sidings, lines stopping then restarting again a few hundred meters later. Altrincham/Navigation Rd theyve got the rail station marked as Metrolink and the Metrolink marked as National Rail.

I like theyve added a huge amount of detail on water courses and bodies of water (though you can no longer tell which are rivers and which are canal) but the green continues to be rather abstract representation of open spaces, like they just used software to convert trees in photos into green blobs.

 

[Eagle]

Southend Pier Railway is on there too.

 

[thelem]

I'm pretty sure this has been generated from the satellite images.

Have a look at Brighton and particularly the line to Hove. At Brighton itself the lines are cut off at the start of the train shed. Pay particular attention to platform 8 (far east) which has a shorter train shed and therefore more line is shown on the map. If these were from an official source then I'd expect all lines to go up to the buffer stops.

Also look at where is goes from three to two tracks towards Hove. The location seems to have been chosen because it goes under a bridge, rather than being accurate.