Which real time train running website or app is best?

[pokemonsuper9]

I use Traksy a lot, especially at terminal stations and stations I'm not familiar with. I have noticed some errors on Traksy specifically with platforms numbered incorrectly and signal block issues.

Report those on the Traksy thread and they'll usually be fixed.

The main use case I have for OTT over Traksy is that OTT usually has more signal aspects and routing shown, but in almost all other ways Traksy is superior.

 

[takno]

Report those on the Traksy thread and they'll usually be fixed.

The main use case I have for OTT over Traksy is that OTT usually has more signal aspects and routing shown, but in almost all other ways Traksy is superior.

I am pretty actively working on Traksy at the moment, and things like incorrect platform numbers I will likely work through next week if people get reports in.

I also have a new version in the works which should allow more headcodes to be mapped correctly, and which is better (but still far from perfect) for routes. I'm going to release that for subscribers first, probably in the next month.

Right now I'm working my way down Norway and thinking about how much I'd like to have Traksy here. So strange that countries where the trains are so constrained by single line with passing loops seem to always use pure geographical maps which are basically useless for telling you when you might actually arrive.

 

[trainboard_tim]

Probably the best known real time train running website for the national rail network is Real Time Trains (realtimetrains.co.uk), but there are others such as Open Train Times (opentraintimes.com) and Live Train Times (https://live.rail-record.co.uk).

Which site or app would you say is best? I suppose some sites might be better for the ordinary lay passenger who simply wants to check how their train is running and others might be better for the enthusiast who wants to observe trains, particularly charter or freight trains.

I thought I'd throw a reply in here: I built Trainboard.uk, definitely designed for the ordinary lay passenger over the enthusiast!

It has live departure boards and journey tracking. The aim is to be super fast and simple to use. Feedback welcome!

 

[stufrog]

Probably the best known real time train running website for the national rail network is Real Time Trains (realtimetrains.co.uk), but there are others such as Open Train Times (opentraintimes.com) and Live Train Times (https://live.rail-record.co.uk).

Which site or app would you say is best? I suppose some sites might be better for the ordinary lay passenger who simply wants to check how their train is running and others might be better for the enthusiast who wants to observe trains, particularly charter or freight trains.

All these apps and websites use the same train data from Darwin so if one is wrong they're all wrong until their own fix. However, I'm now using National Rail's Live Trains as this is the one that comes top in most in search, and it has a good clear interface, the DfT upgraded it in 2023: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/live-trains/.
However, I'm not a fan of the new national rail app, the old one had a train tracker that was really easy to use but the new one is not good. I'm now using an alternate one called 'Trains'. It's actually very good and the interface is easy to use and has favourites. The choice out there can be confusing so you need to test and trial and find the right one for you.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

All these apps and websites use the same train data from Darwin so if one is wrong they're all wrong until their own fix. However, I'm now using National Rail's Live Trains as this is the one that comes top in most in search, and it has a good clear interface, the DfT upgraded it in 2023: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/live-trains/.

Realtime trains, opentraintimes, traksy and many more don't use Darwin.

 

[Intercity_225]

Personally I like to use SignalMaps (https://signalmaps.co.uk/#kingsx:1296) because if you click on a headcode it shows the RTT link. But on other areas, I do like to use RTT or traksy.

 

[takno]

Personally I like to use SignalMaps (https://signalmaps.co.uk/#kingsx:1296) because if you click on a headcode it shows the RTT link. But on other areas, I do like to use RTT or traksy.

RTT links are also available on the Traksy Beta https://traksy.uk/new

 

[takno]

RTT links are also available on the new version of Traksy which is currently in beta testing: https://traksy.uk/new

 

[DavidGrain]

I realised that I had not used Raildar for some time so I thought I would look at the map showing the train movements North West of Birmingham. I saw a southbound train approaching Dudley Port so I clicked on it and it told me that it was an Avanti train from Crewe to Holyhead which according to the timings was currently at Chester. Funny, I thought.
Then I looked at the map again and immediately behind that was another southbound which had suddenly appeared. I clicked on that and found that it was an Avanti train from London to Manchester (i.e. a northbound train) and according to the timings was at Crewe.
Don't think I will bother with Raildar again.