The question for me is: could OSM fill in this 'gap' of functionality that Google Transit has?<br><br>There's an old conversation at <a href="http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Talk:Train_routing">http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Talk:Train_routing</a> about whether train routing could work without a timetable.<br>
<br>Whilst having a full timetable would clearly be better, I think we could do a fair bit without it.<br><br>For instance, if we mapped the all train services (using relations) where the frequency is generally one-per-hour or more, then we could at least show people searching for a route which trains they can get, and where they'd have to change. Then they could look up the times for themselves on <a href="http://trainline.com">trainline.com</a> or similar if they need to. The advantage of us doing this is that we can show public transport routes alongside car or walking routes.<br>
<br>There are quite a few circumstances I can think of where you don't need to know the exact times in advance, just that a route is possible. For example, if you're planning a holiday, it's helpful just to know which places you can get to by train.<br>
<br>It would even be possible to do things like selecting a station, and then displaying all the stations you could travel to from there without needing to interchange.<br><br>These are the things that get me excited anyway. Sadly, I don't have the expertise to build any of them...<br>
<br>Frankie<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2009/9/4 Roger Slevin <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:roger@slevin.plus.com">roger@slevin.plus.com</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Frankie</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Google Transit gets schedule data from the SE, EM and EA regions
(but not London, so you can only get coaches from/to/through London) – and that
data includes coaches which have at least one stop within the SE, EM, EA or
London regions. As Peter has said, discussions with other traveline regions
continue. I have no knowledge of ATOC’s current position – certainly it would
be helpful if they provided rail data, just as it would be helpful if TfL were
to provide London data.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Roger</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-US"> <a href="mailto:talk-transit-bounces@openstreetmap.org" target="_blank">talk-transit-bounces@openstreetmap.org</a>
[mailto:<a href="mailto:talk-transit-bounces@openstreetmap.org" target="_blank">talk-transit-bounces@openstreetmap.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Frankie
Roberto<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 04 September 2009 11:24<br>
<b>To:</b> Talk Transit mailing list<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Talk-transit] Public Transport routing</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">Hi all,<br>
<br>
I just added a new introduction to the Public Transport page (<a href="http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Public_transport" target="_blank">http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Public_transport</a>),
trying to give an overview of what public transport is and why it should be
added to OSM.<br>
<br>
Whilst doing this, I had a quick play with Google's Public Transit map service,
to see how that's getting on. For the UK, it seems pretty useless! Just about
any journey I put in (London-Edinburgh, Manchester-Sheffield), the only option
I got back was a National Express coach - seems they're the only data service
they've imported so far.<br>
<br>
This got me thinking - whilst OSM is a long way from being able to add
timetable information, basic routing (giving you the names of train services,
and working out where you need to change), is something OSM could feasibly
provide.<br>
<br>
Is anyone currently looking at this? I know of <a href="http://www.%C3%B6pnvkarte.de/" target="_blank">http://www.öpnvkarte.de/</a>, which
displays public transport routes, but I don't know of any experimental routing
services yet. Have I missed something? (Peter, ITO World?)<br>
<br>
Incidentally, I just came across this page: <a href="http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Train_routing" target="_blank">http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Train_routing</a>
which seems to mostly date from 2007, but has some useful information (and
diagrams) in it, that could be worth merging into the Railways page (<a href="http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Railways" target="_blank">http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Railways</a>).<br>
<br>
Frankie<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
Frankie Roberto<br>
Experience Designer, Rattle<br>
0114 2706977<br>
<a href="http://www.rattlecentral.com" target="_blank">http://www.rattlecentral.com</a></p>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Frankie Roberto<br>Experience Designer, Rattle<br>0114 2706977<br><a href="http://www.rattlecentral.com">http://www.rattlecentral.com</a><br><br>