Pretty decent, actually. I'm in my apartment (Norway) looking out the window at the bus stop, the difference between actual buss arrival and the one on map was only 30 seconds. During rush traffic.
That's pretty cool too - no 3D wow factor, but as amazing as that looks (and it does) it is superflous; a 2D map is easier to read and of course much more performant.
Surprised at first that there would be so many buses visible in Italy on the map, but then I also noticed "Vehicle position based on interpolated schedule data" so it means it's guessing the position based on the schedule.
That could be waaaay off what's showing on the map, to the point where it's almost useless.
I was at first totally amazed that it knew where trains around me here in Sweden were. Turns out the datasource is "interpolation from schedule". Not as impressive :(
- Which API would you recommend to get accurate transit information data for the Tokyo or any other city ? Google API Directions does not gives out the transit information for Tokyo for licensing reasons
- Is there any article talking about and path optimisation including time constraint? I've done something homemade (a mix of bird flight distance and time to destination) it looks "okay" but I'm sure can be better.
I've just built a tool to calculate directions to POIs during a long flights layover [1] but those data are not great so far...
Trains not running well today, on the green line there's one running 5 minutes late. That's unacceptable by Japanese standards (and on-time by UK standards)...
It is all the foreigners in town for the Rugby World Cup ;) I was in Tokyo this morning (in Oita now for a match). The larger number of foreigners creates chaos out of the order. Really. I intend to make sure I am no where near Tokyo for the Olympics. Shiver.
If you have lived here or spent enough time you get a feel for the rhythm of walking and moving through what to outsiders looks like madness and complexity. However the reality is it is perfectly ordered. One or a few tourist can be absorbed but 1000s just makes it all break!
The consistent line colour-coding and set platform allocations makes it super-easy to find your platform (and train) as a foreigner.
The only issue I ever had was determining the best exit at an unfamiliar station. Pick the wrong one at a larger station and you can find yourself a long way from where you were heading.
Did you try to figure out Shibuya when it was under construction? ;)
Also trust me, it is great you had no issues (engineer likely since you are on HN) and were able to see the patterns, however most foreigners are like deer in headlights.
Also exits are simple. Figure out where you want to be and on their website it will say what station and what exit. Their is alway a map when you get off a platform with the exits labeled.
I was there in May and did end up going in a circle the first time at Shibuya and finding myself back at the viewing area overlooking the crossing after just following the ramps. The stairs down were quite easy to miss.
Once you know to keep walking the platform to the exit you need it's very easy for most stations.
Where I struggled was finding a specific shop or eatery I had previously visited at Ueno. Too many separate concourses and shopping areas.
Green line is Yamanote line and neither Yamanote nor Chuo line are that late unless some serious accidents occur. If you mean by, 1-3m then, I guess you're within a reasonable claim.
I don't think the 2d version is in realtime. I checked on google maps the journey from Shinjuku to Yotsuya on the red line is 11 min long, but on the 2d map the train does it in less than 10s. Plus, each time you reset the page, the positions of the trains are reset.
Still it's cool way to see the activiy on the subway network.
Good work OP, if this is yours. I enjoyed using it. Would be great to have more contextual information on trains/lines permanently visible when you click, if I could offer a constructive suggestion.
It'd be super neat to have something like this for trains in other places besides Tokyo. Would a GTFS feed[1] provide enough information, or does this require more specialized data?
You can see subway too. Both Toei and Metro operated lines. Their colours are faded to indicate underground.
I was impressed to find the JR train I am currently sitting on. As my train started moving out of the station, its simulation moved immediately. I cannot tell whether this is realtime data or just because the train is perfectly on schedule.
