Real-time map of Great Britain's rail network
A new real‑time map of Great Britain’s rail network is impressing people with its speed and coverage, while also drawing scrutiny over how accurate it really is and how it derives train locations. Commenters unpack how the system likely combines Network Rail signalling feeds with interpolation and optional smartphone‑based “what train am I on” features, clarifying that core train positions come from infrastructure data rather than continuous GPS tracking of passengers. The project is compared with similar rail and transit maps across Europe, Asia, and the US, raising broader points about data quality, privacy expectations, and the patchy state of rail infrastructure and punctuality in different countries.
Data sources & “real-time” tech
- Most commenters think the map is driven mainly by Network Rail signalling feeds (Train Describer, TRUST, Darwin), not GPS.
- Signalling reports which “block/berth” a headcode is in; blocks can be long, so the site likely interpolates position using line speed, train class, and typical timings.
- Some newer fleets have GPS, but this is not universal and not standardized; any GPS data would be lower-frequency than what the animation suggests.
- The “Find My Train” feature and API need device location to identify which train you are on, but that’s separate from generating the base map.
Accuracy and reliability
- Multiple people living next to lines report large discrepancies: invisible trains, missing trains, wrong track, trains shown moving when stopped, or apparently crossing fields and the sea.
- The icons aren’t snapped to track geometry, so they visually “drive” off the rails.
- Several note this is fine as a visual toy or rough indicator, but not for anything operationally critical.
- There is “smoke and mirrors”: high refresh rate with much coarser underlying data.
Coverage and omissions
- Focus is on Great Britain mainline overground trains; some local metros (e.g., Tyne and Wear) appear, but London Underground and many light-rail/heritage systems are absent.
- Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man are not covered.
- Station data looks outdated or incomplete: new stations (e.g., Cambridge South) and even major ones (e.g., Sheffield) are missing on the map or in search.
Privacy and surveillance concerns
- One comment calls it “surveillance”, but others respond that knowing train locations is inherent to running a safe railway.
- Clarified that core train positions come from infrastructure sensors, not continuous phone tracking; phones are only used when users/apps actively share location.
Comparisons to other systems
- Many links to similar or richer maps in France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany (via travic.app), Eastern Europe, India, Japan (notably a 3D Tokyo map), the US, etc.
- Several of those rely purely on timetables plus delay data, so they also “fake” continuous movement.
User experience & feature requests
- Generally seen as visually appealing and snappy.
- Appreciated features: selecting a train to see stops.
- Desired features: select a station to see arrival boards; better station search; clearer handling of time zones; improved accuracy/line snapping.
Wider commentary on UK rail
- Thread drifts into criticisms of UK rail: underinvestment, overcrowding, high fares, and HS2/privatisation politics.
- Others note that punctuality statistics are better than popular perception, and that structural/geographic constraints limit easy fixes.