Transport directions from ChatGPT

[pokemonsuper9]

Or, even better, go direct?

yes that would've obviously been the perfect outcome, but I didn't expect it to really get that kind of situation if not previously asked

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 May 2023 ==

I wonder who would operate the St P-Edinburgh services? One for Speculative Discussion?

LNER (I told it LNER don't run it now so if someone else wants to test it that'd be interesting)

 

[Gaelan]

I wonder who would operate the St P-Edinburgh services? One for Speculative Discussion?

Crosscountry, surely, as a branch off their Sheffield-Edinburgh route?

 

[Purple Train]

yes that would've obviously been the perfect outcome, but I didn't expect it to really get that kind of situation if not previously asked

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 May 2023 ==


View attachment 134815
LNER (I told it LNER don't run it now so if someone else wants to test it that'd be interesting)

800s over the Settle and Carlisle is certainly an interesting image...

One thing I found really interesting was that it found the idea of Causeland station having dropped its former "Halt" suffix far more objectionable than the idea that Pink Floyd saved the S&C!

 

[W-on-Sea]

The system has clearly been updated slightly, and with more qualifications about accuracy added.

In response to "How do I travel from Wantage to Aldershot by public transport?", the response I got today, while not comprehensive, was also not wrong. Previously it claimed there was a railway station in Wantage, and also a direct bus from Wantage to Aldershot.....

To travel from Wantage to Aldershot by public transport, you can follow these general directions. Please note that the information provided is based on the knowledge cutoff of September 2021, and schedules or routes may have changed. It's always a good idea to check with the relevant transportation authorities or use online journey planners for the most up-to-date information.

1. Begin your journey by taking a local bus or taxi to Didcot Parkway railway station. The bus routes and schedules may vary, so it's advisable to check the local transport authority's website or inquire at the Wantage bus station for the most convenient option.
2. At Didcot Parkway, you can catch a train towards Aldershot. The train journey typically involves transferring at least once. Check the National Rail website (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/) or use a journey planner app to find the most suitable train connections and departure times.
3. Once you arrive at Aldershot, you can use local bus services or taxis to reach your final destination or desired location within Aldershot. Consult with the Aldershot bus station or check the local transport authority's website for bus routes and schedules.

It's important to remember that public transportation options, routes, and schedules can change. So, before embarking on your journey, it's recommended to check the websites of the relevant transportation authorities or use online journey planners for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 May 2023 ==

And on more frivolous points, such as in response to "Tell me about the role of the Scottish pop group TTF, or the Time Frequency, in keeping the Morecambe branch of British railways open", there is a new sense of responsibility that was previously lacking. Possibly Google's Bard retains wild fantasies, though.

I'm sorry, but I couldn't find any specific information about the Scottish pop group TTF (Time Frequency) playing a role in keeping the Morecambe branch of British railways open. It's possible that there might be some confusion or misinformation regarding their involvement in this matter.

TTF was a popular Scottish pop group in the 1990s known for their electronic dance music. They achieved several chart successes with singles such as "New Emotion," "Real Love," and "The Ultimate High." While TTF had a significant impact on the Scottish music scene and gained a dedicated fan base, there is no widely recognized connection between the group and efforts to keep the Morecambe branch of British railways operational.

It's important to note that railway lines and infrastructure are typically managed and maintained by relevant transport authorities, government bodies, and organizations responsible for railway operations. Public campaigns, local communities, and political efforts may play a role in advocating for the retention of specific railway services, but the direct involvement of a pop group in such matters would be highly unusual.

If you have any other questions or if there's any other topic I can assist you with, please let me know!

 

[Purple Train]

The system has clearly been updated slightly, and with more qualifications about accuracy added.

In response to "How do I travel from Wantage to Aldershot by public transport?", the response I got today, while not comprehensive, was also not wrong. Previously it claimed there was a railway station in Wantage, and also a direct bus from Wantage to Aldershot.....

Hmm, it's just thrown up some brilliantly wrong directions for me so maybe you got lucky!
I asked it to get me from Withernsea to St Osyth. Its world includes the following weird services:
1) A service from Doncaster to King's Cross, operated by LNER, calling at Liverpool Street.
2) A way of getting to St Osyth from Liverpool Street quicker than going to Clacton and then getting the 74:
Central Line to Stratford
Overground to Walthamstow Central
Bus services 76 to Southend Airport or 20 to Debden, which get to within a 15-minute walk of St Osyth.

 

[Gaelan]

The system has clearly been updated slightly, and with more qualifications about accuracy added.

It's worth noting that ChatGPT has a random element, so you won't necessarily get the same answer if you ask the same question twice. Trying that question 3 times just now, I got one response which seemed to imply a direct train (but correctly specified the X32 bus), one which suggested a "31" bus which doesn't seem to exist, and one which suggested a change at Reading for a direct train to Aldershot.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Hmm, it's just thrown up some brilliantly wrong directions for me so maybe you got lucky!
I asked it to get me from Withernsea to St Osyth. Its world includes the following weird services:
1) A service from Doncaster to King's Cross, operated by LNER, calling at Liverpool Street.
2) A way of getting to St Osyth from Liverpool Street quicker than going to Clacton and then getting the 74:
Central Line to Stratford
Overground to Walthamstow Central
Bus services 76 to Southend Airport or 20 to Debden, which get to within a 15-minute walk of St Osyth.

Yes, I just asked it for Withernsea to St Osyth, and eventually, after several rounds of pointing out where it was wrong, it came up with something plausible, and ultimately, reasonable, but I really had to work to force it to persuade me to get the train to Clacton rather than Colchester.

But first, it was all about direct trains from Hull or Doncaster to various places in Essex, c2c operating services to St Osyth itself, and also the instruction "At Hull Paragon Interchange, take a train to Hull station.". Yes....

 

[Purple Train]

Yes, I just asked it for Withernsea to St Osyth, and eventually, after several rounds of pointing out where it was wrong, it came up with something plausible, and ultimately, reasonable, but I really had to work to force it to persuade me to get the train to Clacton rather than Colchester.

But first, it was all about direct trains from Hull or Doncaster to various places in Essex, c2c operating services to St Osyth itself, and also the instruction "At Hull Paragon Interchange, take a train to Hull station.". Yes....

Maybe it just doesn't like Essex! I asked it for Devizes to Brightlingsea and I think every instruction has some inaccuracy:

Take a train from Devizes to Swindon station.
From Swindon, take another train to Colchester station.
At Colchester station, take a bus towards Clacton-on-Sea.
Get off the bus at Brightlingsea Square stop.

In my experience ChatGPT is no use for anything except messing around with.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I think every instruction has some inaccuracy:

yes, that's also been my experience with complex journeys.

 

[cuccir]

Oh yes, I believe it's what the boffins call a 'hallucination'.

If you ask it something absolutely outlandish and disprovable like 'why did Sir Isambard Kingdom Brunel build a viaduct between Belfast and Liverpool?' then ChatGPT will rebuke you for trying to spread misinformation and that it never happened, but nudget it something semi-plausible or write a leading question, it makes it all up.


To be quite frank, I would have paid good money to watch a live Chuckle Brothers show on a train.

I've just found this thread and it's very fun playing around to see what it produces eg

"Morrissey, the former frontman of the Smiths, played a significant role in the campaign to save the Settle and Carlisle Railway from closure in the early 1980s.

In 1983, the British government announced plans to close the railway line due to financial difficulties and declining passenger numbers. Morrissey, who was a prominent musician at the time, used his platform to raise awareness about the issue and support the campaign to save the railway. He gave interviews to the press and made public statements in support of the campaign.

Morrissey also organized a benefit concert at the London Palladium on December 22, 1983, to raise funds for the campaign. The concert featured performances by several musicians, including Elvis Costello, Johnny Marr, and Kirsty MacColl, and raised thousands of pounds for the cause.

Ultimately, the campaign was successful, and the Settle and Carlisle Railway remained open. Morrissey's involvement and support helped to ensure that the railway line, which passes through some of the most scenic countryside in the UK, was preserved for future generations to enjoy."

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Starting to seem as if a goodly number of the UK music industry were all personally involved in "saving" the Settle and Carlisle in the 1980s/1990s, according to the authoritative ChatGPT.

 

[D821]

Starting to seem as if a goodly number of the UK music industry were all personally involved in "saving" the Settle and Carlisle in the 1980s/1990s, according to the authoritative ChatGPT.

Where has it got all that from, it must be sourcing it from somewhere on the Internet. Was there a benefit concert?

 

[Purple Train]

Where has it got all that from, it must be sourcing it from somewhere on the Internet. Was there a benefit concert?

I think it's probably making it all up, as it's not just limited to the great and the good of music:

Geoffrey Boycott, the former English cricketer, played a significant role in the campaign to save the Settle-Carlisle railway line from closure. He became a patron of the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line in the 1980s and helped raise awareness about the line's unique beauty and importance. In 1989, when the line was threatened with closure, Boycott was one of the leading voices in the campaign to keep it open, using his public profile to draw attention to the issue. His efforts, along with those of other campaigners, helped ensure the line remained open and is now considered one of the UK's most scenic railway journeys.

 

[12C]

Where has it got all that from, it must be sourcing it from somewhere on the Internet. Was there a benefit concert?

It’s quite alarming how fast ChatGPT can write complete nonsense about a historical event, seemingly from it’s own ‘hallucinations’. It often does sound very believable too.

 

[D821]

That's quite a fault. I've used Microsoft's version a bit the last few weeks and if I ask a software development question or ask it to write me code it's able to quote several sources.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

That's quite a fault. I've used Microsoft's version a bit the last few weeks and if I ask a software development question or ask it to write me code it's able to quote several sources.

chatGPT is pretty decent at making code or programming things, some people in our college class have found some entertainment in that.

Real world things seem to be a bit below its current grade.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Google Bard told me that not only was there a popularly supported campaign for the song "I've Never Been To Me" to be recognized as the national anthem of Scotland, but also that Nicola Sturgeon herself had introduced a motion to the SNP conference a few years ago to that end. When I replied by asking "Do you actually know that, or did you just make that up?", it apologized.

It's also come up with some hilarious football chants allegedly (but in reality, absolutely not) sung by fans of certain clubs, and when pressed for evidence, has provided links to "page not found" sections of the BBC Sport website. Really it may be a conversation bit of AI but above all it reminds me of the time I was introduced to a very drunk man who claimed to be St Michael the Archangel on a boozer in the Perth Road in Dundee...

ChatGPT seems a little more restrained and "less creative" in comparison.

 

[Purple Train]

Google Bard told me that not only was there a popularly supported campaign for the song "I've Never Been To Me" to be recognized as the national anthem of Scotland, but also that Nicola Sturgeon herself had introduced a motion to the SNP conference a few years ago to that end. When I replied by asking "Do you actually know that, or did you just make that up?", it apologized.

It's also come up with some hilarious football chants allegedly (but in reality, absolutely not) sung by fans of certain clubs, and when pressed for evidence, has provided links to "page not found" sections of the BBC Sport website. Really it may be a conversation bit of AI but above all it reminds me of the time I was introduced to a very drunk man who claimed to be St Michael the Archangel on a boozer in the Perth Road in Dundee...

ChatGPT seems a little more restrained and "less creative" in comparison.

I would tend to agree with you, but really it's like comparing two rotten apples and saying that one's edible and one isn't. One may be less rotten, but that doesn't make it edible!
I love ChatGPT because it's able to come up with lots of amusing nonsense. The downside is that it admonishes you if you try and exploit its only good purpose - that!

Anyway, its railway world now includes SWR services via the North Downs Line between London Waterloo and Gatwick Airport, presumably reversing at Wokingham and Redhill. SWR seems to be taking over a lot!
(As an aside, does this remind anyone else of looking at Football Manager's weird versions of football in 2039 or whenever...?)

 

[D821]

chatGPT is pretty decent at making code or programming things, some people in our college class have found some entertainment in that.

Real world things seem to be a bit below its current grade.

I've been impressed with it so far. I've not done anything major with it, but rather than google for an example piece of code I can be more specific. Plus I can then ask it to change aspects of it.
I don't see it revolutionizing software development just yet, but it's certainly a handy tool to have.

 

[Alex Mihai]

ChatGPT has its knowledge cutoff date in September 2021. So I'd think that all recommendations are based on information that was correct at that time. When I asked about Elizabeth line for example, I got a reply along the lines "As my knowledge cutoff date is September 2021 and Elizabeth line was not open at that time I cannot provide information about this."

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I don't see it revolutionizing software development just yet, but it's certainly a handy tool to have.

Absolutely, we now have a calculator and a drawing program both almost entirely made by it, they're much less useful than almost any substitute, but they work and it's cool.
We also now have a html file that just has the word "BALLS" that flashes black and white (background changes too), because what else do you expect from 14 teenagers.

Thought I'd see what it'd throw out if I gave it Wigan Wallgate -> Glossop

1. Begin your journey at Wigan Wallgate train station. If you are not already at the station, you can reach it by walking, taking a bus, or using any other local transportation option available in Wigan.
2. Check the train schedule boards or use a journey planner tool to find the next available train heading towards Manchester Victoria. Most trains from Wigan Wallgate to Manchester Victoria require a transfer at Manchester Piccadilly, so make sure to take note of the train times and platforms.
3. Board the train heading towards Manchester Victoria and ensure you have a valid ticket for the journey. The train journey from Wigan Wallgate to Manchester Victoria typically takes around 25-30 minutes.
4. Once you arrive at Manchester Victoria station, follow the signs or ask station staff for directions to the platform for trains to Glossop. The platforms may vary, so it's important to confirm the correct platform for your train.
5. Board the train heading towards Glossop. Double-check the train's destination to ensure it is indeed going to Glossop. The journey from Manchester Victoria to Glossop usually takes approximately 35-40 minutes.
6. Enjoy the train ride to Glossop! Upon arrival at Glossop train station, disembark the train, and you'll have reached your destination.

1. Yes that's reasonable
2. Most trains do NOT require a transfer at Manchester Piccadilly, in fact, before the recent timetable change that made it 0, only 1 train per hour (3 the other) went that way.
3. Relatively correct, except the journey is typically 40-50 minutes
4. I'm now a bit tempted to ask the staff at Victoria where the trains for Glossop go from, since they go from Piccadilly.
5. No clue where it got the 35-40 minutes from, but given it takes 30 minutes from Piccadilly, that'd probably be about the right amount of time.
6. Also reasonable

 

[Gaelan]

ChatGPT has its knowledge cutoff date in September 2021. So I'd think that all recommendations are based on information that was correct at that time. When I asked about Elizabeth line for example, I got a reply along the lines "As my knowledge cutoff date is September 2021 and Elizabeth line was not open at that time I cannot provide information about this."

Plenty of the examples it gives never made sense! The 99 bus in Fife never went to Edinburgh as far as I'm aware, and in America it tried to put me on a light rail service not planned to open for another decade.

 

[Purple Train]

Thought I'd see what it'd throw out if I gave it Wigan Wallgate -> Glossop

1. Yes that's reasonable
2. Most trains do NOT require a transfer at Manchester Piccadilly, in fact, before the recent timetable change that made it 0, only 1 train per hour (3 the other) went that way.
3. Relatively correct, except the journey is typically 40-50 minutes
4. I'm now a bit tempted to ask the staff at Victoria where the trains for Glossop go from, since they go from Piccadilly.
5. No clue where it got the 35-40 minutes from, but given it takes 30 minutes from Piccadilly, that'd probably be about the right amount of time.
6. Also reasonable

Is it totally necessary to enjoy the ride to Glossop, or is it possible to make the journey unhappily?
I'm also very glad to see it mentions disembarking the train at one's destination - that's something I always forget to do!

We also now have a html file that just has the word "BALLS" that flashes black and white (background changes too), because what else do you expect from 14 teenagers.

Did Ed Balls visit your college?

 

[alxndr]

I had some fun seeing what nonsense it comes up with if you quiz it on signalling equipment as there's little information out there on the Internet about the more obscure stuff. It's very good at sounding plausible, but it quickly reveals itself to be utter rubbish if you have any technical knowledge.

I can see how people can easy fall into the trap of trying to use it to answer university assignments though as its confidence can be very deceiving.

 

[AdamWW]

I can see how people can easy fall into the trap of trying to use it to answer university assignments though as its confidence can be very deceiving.

And of course that's a problem if you don't know you're reading the output from a language model.

At the moment web pages with computer generated text stuffed with advertising are fairly easy to spot because the grammer is all off.

Expect to see lots of beautifully written and convincing web pages full of absolute rubbish.

At the moment you can usually do reasonably well by searching for most things on the internet and assuming that what you read is correct.

Soon I think it will be necessary to pay a lot more attention to where you're looking.

Which probably makes Wikipedia even more useful if they can manage to avoid contamination.

 

[Purple Train]

I've continued asking it to get me to/from random non-rail-connected towns in the east. It was able to give me mostly correct directions from Louth to Ayr (its inaccuracy was its inclusion of the GPT Express service from Nottingham to Glasgow Central). However, when I asked it for directions from Wantage to Halstead, it gave me two options. Which would you take?

Option 1:

1. Take the Stagecoach bus service 31 or 32 from Wantage Market Place to Didcot Broadway.
2. From Didcot Broadway, take the train to London Paddington.
3. At London Paddington, transfer to the London Underground Bakerloo Line towards Harrow & Wealdstone.
4. Get off at Marylebone station.
5. From Marylebone, take a train to Harwich International.
6. At Harwich International, take the train to Manningtree.
7. From Manningtree, take the train to Colchester.
8. Finally, take the train from Colchester to Halstead.

Option 2:

1. Take the Stagecoach bus service 31 or 32 from Wantage Market Place to Didcot Broadway.
2. From Didcot Broadway, take the train to Oxford.
3. At Oxford, transfer to another train to London Paddington.
4. From London Paddington, take the train to Chelmsford.
5. At Chelmsford, take the train to Marks Tey.
6. From Marks Tey, take the train to Colchester.
7. Finally, take the train from Colchester to Halstead.

I asked it to give me information about this mysterious Didcot Broadway station and it churned out this:

Didcot Broadway Station is a railway station located in Didcot, Oxfordshire, England. The station serves as a vital transportation hub in the area, providing access to both local and national rail services. It is managed by Great Western Railway.

• History: Didcot Broadway Station was opened in 1985 to replace the old Didcot station, which was located further to the east. The new station was built to accommodate the increasing passenger demand and provide improved facilities.
• Location: Didcot Broadway Station is situated in the heart of Didcot, a town known for its strong connections to the railway industry. It is conveniently located close to the town center, offering easy access to shops, restaurants, and other amenities.
• Facilities: The station features two platforms, which are accessed via a footbridge with lifts for step-free access. It has a ticket office, self-service ticket machines, and customer information screens to provide up-to-date travel information. The station also offers waiting shelters, seating areas, and bicycle storage facilities.
• Train Services: Didcot Broadway Station is well-connected with regular train services. It is part of the Great Western Main Line, with trains running between London Paddington and various destinations in the southwest, including Reading, Oxford, Bristol, and Cardiff. The station also provides connections to other parts of the country, making it a convenient interchange for both local and long-distance travel.
• Nearby Attractions: Didcot itself is home to several attractions, including the Didcot Railway Centre, which showcases vintage steam locomotives and offers heritage train rides. The station is also close to the renowned Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Culham Science Centre, and the historic town of Abingdon.

Didcot Broadway Station serves as a vital transportation hub, offering convenient rail connections for both local commuters and long-distance travelers passing through the area.

It's entertaining, if nothing else - but if this thing is deemed capable of writing factual information better than an adult human, how far have we fallen!

 

[AdamWW]

It's entertaining, if nothing else - but if this thing is deemed capable of writing factual information better than an adult human, how far have we fallen!

I think it rather depends on whether hallucinations like this are a fundamental property of such models, or whether with a bit of tweaking they can be persuaded to stick to the "facts". (Clearly they are susceptible to false input, but that's a different matter).

I suspect the former but we will no doubt see.

I do find a conversation with ChatGPT rather like dealing with railway customer services.
The main difference is that ChatGPT will generally admit when you point out that it was wrong.

Although when it told me I could do a wheely on a unicycle it took me quite a few goes before it would admit there was a fundamental problem with this suggestion.

 

[eldomtom2]

Asking it to answer question as though you had travelled back in time tends to produce more humourous results, as it tends to have less info to draw on - asking "How could I get from Paddington to King's Cross by train in 1865?" not only produced the expected answer of the Met, but a completely fictious suggestion that I could take the GWR to Slough and then catch a direct GNR service to King's Cross!

 

[Purple Train]

Asking it to answer question as though you had travelled back in time tends to produce more humourous results, as it tends to have less info to draw on - asking "How could I get from Paddington to King's Cross by train in 1865?" not only produced the expected answer of the Met, but a completely fictious suggestion that I could take the GWR to Slough and then catch a direct GNR service to King's Cross!

Examples like that particularly confuse me as it's not as if the computer is combining two different existing services, but almost as if it's looking for a shortcut - rather than the kind of "inference" that @Bletchleyite mentioned in post #10, it's just going mad.
For example, I've just asked it for directions to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and it came up with a direct TfW service from Piccadilly, which I can kind of understand, given it's inferring that there will be direct Piccadilly-Blaenau services given there are such services on the other local lines. Nonsense like the Walthamstow-St Osyth-Debden bus, though...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 May 2023 ==

I thought it would be interesting to see if ChatGPT gets the concept of a preserved railway, so I asked it for Lyme Regis to Wirksworth.
My research is inconclusive - Wirksworth has direct services from Derby, apparently...

 

[Purple Train]

It still hasn't changed its tune.

To travel from Jaywick to Bulwell using public transport, you can follow these directions:

1. Start by walking to the nearest bus stop in Jaywick.
2. Take the bus service 8 or 9 towards Clacton-on-Sea.
3. Get off at Clacton-on-Sea Bus Station.
4. From Clacton-on-Sea Bus Station, take the train towards Colchester. The train journey takes approximately 25 minutes.
5. At Colchester, transfer to another train towards Nottingham. The train journey takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
6. Get off at Nottingham Station.
7. From Nottingham Station, take the tram service towards Hucknall.
8. Get off at Bulwell Station.

Please note that bus and train schedules may vary depending on the day and time of travel, so it is recommended to check the latest schedules in advance. Additionally, the travel time can vary based on connections and transportation frequencies.

Why does it keep skipping steps in the middle?