Live Map Shows Train Network

[Saint66]

http://tracker.geops.ch/?z=10&s=5&lat=51.499766912405946&lon=-0.16204833984375

I don't know if this has ever been mentioned, or if I've even posted in this in the right area, but ITV London just tweeted a link to a website which appears to show trains in real time travelling around Britain on a map.

Anyone ever seen this? Is it at all accurate?

It does look pretty cool!

 

[westcoaster]

Just seen a virgin euston- Glasgow service go past an emt north of Market Harborough, so some bugs.

 

[yorkie]

It appears to be showing what's timetabled to happen.

I can't see actual times shown anywhere. The trains are shown where they're timetabled to be, not where they are.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just seen a virgin euston- Glasgow service go past an emt north of Market Harborough, so some bugs.

I saw WCML services on the ECML when I first loaded it, and travelling at approx 300mph too. However after leaving it for a few mins, it seems to sort out those bugs.

 

[CallySleeper]

^^^ also, I found a Virgin service from Manchester to Euston routed via Newark...

Having had a brief look at it, I'd say that no it's definitely not real time live. Comparing it to other data sources proves this.

Reminds me a bit of http://traintimes.org.uk/map

 

[Searle]

well I kinda doubt the reality that it's actually realtime because I've just set the speed to 60x and am watching trains past midnight tonight!

I'm also watching the sleeper's chase each other up the WCML because they're timed as seperate trains!

 

[Hyphen]

Well this is an intriguing way for 1S25 to go, tonight's down Highland sleeper.

I understand it's not using live times, but it's clearly not even using a timetable which shows intermediate routeings - it looks as though it's actually just guessing how the trains get between each of the listed calls.

RTT certainly doesn't show it routed Bletchley - Bedford - Kettering - South Wigston - Coalville - Burton on Trent reversal - Alrewas - Lichfield

 

[Jona26]

How exciting - I've just watched a North Wales to Chester service jump from the low level Shotton lines, up to the high level, do a bit of a jiggle about, start off towards Hawarden and then continue back on the low level towards Chester! Haven't managed to get that route ticked off yet ??????

 

[swt_passenger]

It thinks trains from Fareham to Southampton go via Eastleigh, with the map showing the odd reversal at Swanwick by Southern trains...

 

[ValleyLines142]

I must also add to the list of teething problems. I followed the progress of the 2115 Maesteg to Cardiff last night and watched it pass my house. However, nothing went past. The Pacer that operated it actually did go past about three or four minutes later (and in fact it actually traced back on itself towards Pontyclun!)

But with these issues rectified, I think itt is brilliant. Really interesting to see, even to someone who isn't into railways.

 

[Unixman]

No it isn't real time - nor is it claimed to be. The important bit is on the drop-down "About":

"This tracker provides movement visualization of transit data published by transit agencies and operators from all over the world. The movements are mostly based on static schedule data. "

Additionally, the fact that you can speed up time up to 60x rather indicates that it isn't live!

However: it really is a fascinating site. I watched it last night and fast-forwarded it through the night and into the small hours and saw how the network ( this was in the Birmingham/Mid-Wales area) completely shut down for about 4 hours and then slowly drifted into life with one of the earliest being the very early 04:35 Mach to Aberystwyth ( which I assume is not much more than a movement to get the train from the depot to Aber for the 05:14).

Update: some of this is live. Check out NL.

 

[Emyr]

I've seen black-background schematic displays facing out of the information booth at Manchester Piccadilly. I find it interesting to see the gaps between services and their blocks interacting across the points, especially with the busy junctions between Piccadilly and Stockport.

Is this system accessible online, or some similar 3rd party implementation?

 

[Hyphen]

Is this system accessible online, or some similar 3rd party implementation?

On the whole, no - it's not publically available. I get the impression those are feeds sent to the station directly from the relevant signalling centre.

However, there are some diagrams available on OpenTrainTimes where they are able to emulate much the same information, based on the Open Data reporting from train describers. Not all areas are available, and some don't report things like signal aspects, but this is dependent upon what the TD itself is capable of. These diagrams can be found here:
http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps

 

[Emyr]

Thanks

 

[G0ORC]

I think they would do well to go back to the drawing board.

I only looked at the East Midlands and there are so many incorrect routings its not true. As someone else says it just seems to be guessing which way trains run.

If it ever had the bugs sorted it may be a useful train planning tool but as it stands it totally useless.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

On the whole, no - it's not publically available. I get the impression those are feeds sent to the station directly from the relevant signalling centre.

However, there are some diagrams available on OpenTrainTimes where they are able to emulate much the same information, based on the Open Data reporting from train describers. Not all areas are available, and some don't report things like signal aspects, but this is dependent upon what the TD itself is capable of. These diagrams can be found here:
http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps

With all respect to OTT a much better implementation of the available data is available on the RailCam (http://railcam.org.uk/) website. A donation is required to access it but it covers :-

ECML complete (as far as Edinburgh) and branches
WCML complete (to Glasgow) and branches
MML complete and branches
North Manchester
Exeter area to Liskeard and branches
Glasgow and Edinburgh suburban network
West Yorkshire (Leeds, Knottingley areas) and branches
Barking area

It incorporates a look-up where the describer data can be clicked on and the train identified via a link to Real Time Trains (the OTT link doesn't work)

A sample of what it looks like is available underneath the video feed on the Dawlish web cam site :-http://www.dawlishbeach.com/live/

The OTT maps are good but seem to cover more the London area and south thereof than the rest of the country and they are not clickable at the moment. The advantage that the OTT maps have is that SOME show signal aspects

Correction: It seems that some OTT maps are clickable - apologies.

Both systems recently seem to be having difficulties with the data feed. I notice that the Railcam map of the Doncaster area (which I've just loaded), for instance is not updating but other areas seem OK. I'm aware that the data feed has not been too reliable of late so I guess its outside of their control

 

[Qwerty133]

Just seen the 22:50 Euston to Manchester pass Coalville and Uttoxeter neither of which are even electrified.

 

[dannypye9999]

According to this the WCML is a single track between Rugby and Milton Keynes.

 

[Hyphen]

With all respect to OTT a much better implementation of the available data is available on the RailCam (http://railcam.org.uk/) website. A donation is required to access it

Ooh, thanks for that G0ORC, I hadn't come across that one before