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MBTA begins to release real-time where's-the-commuter-rail data
By adamg on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 8:52am
The MBTA announced yesterday it's gone live with a beta feed of data on the whereabouts of commuter-rail trains that software developers can use to build applications similar to the ones already in use for T subway and bus lines.
Developers will be able to use the raw data to let riders know the status of their trains into and out of North Station and South Station.
The T made the announcement at a meeting with application developers last night (with enough time to let them get to a TV to watch the Bruins game). Because the data feed is still in development, the T asked developers to include advisories in their initial apps that there could be some issues. One example: The data is based on GPS units mounted on trains; but sometimes the units freeze up and train operators don't reboot them.
Josh Robin, who heads up the MBTA's open data initiatives, said the commuter-rail apps will likely take a different approach to the data than existing apps, because while bus and subway riders just want to know when the next bus or train is coming, commuter-rail riders want information on specific trains. The initial data feed includes train numbers, but not track numbers; T developers are still working out a system to include that information in the feed.
Also yesterday, T developers said their working on increasing the accuracy of subway data - for example, to include information on express trains in the data feed - and that they have no schedule for adding the Green Line to the feed.
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Comments
App already available
My company has developed an App taking advantage of the data if anyone is interested: http://www.t-on-time.com/
What I want
I want an app that does all of the realtime info in it. The map is easy to access and accurate for real-time positioning. The schedules are easy to read and search through. Possibly routing info to tell me what routes to use for a trip I'm unfamiliar with. And the ability to "favorite" the routes I use all the time. Finally, if MBTA delays come up on my favorites, then pop-up alerts if I choose to turn them on to let me know I might need to re-route.
A million internet dollars to the first company to give me that app.
"while bus and subway riders
"while bus and subway riders just want to know when the next bus or train is coming, commuter-rail riders want information on specific trains"
That's one of the drawbacks of the existing bus data feed. When I'm catching an infrequent bus, I don't just want to know "the next bus will arrive in 42 minutes" -- I want to know "the 10:35 bus is arriving 12 minutes late at 10:47". That would save a lot of mental arithmetic and schedule analysis.
No more late T refunds
At the same time, the T announced that they're discontinuing the on-time guarantee refunds on July 1st.
(Maybe this deserves its own thread.)