Real-time map of Great Britain's rail network
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
A real-time map of Great Britain's rail network shows train positions using smartphone data.
Signalbox offers a live map of Great Britain's overground rail network, tracking train positions in real time. The technology matches smartphone data snapshots to train trajectory data, working even with degraded data without background location tracking. Acquired by Trainline in 2023, Signalbox works with organizations across the rail ecosystem. The map covers standard overground trains, including the Tyne and Wear Metro, but excludes most metro and light rail systems.
What commenters are saying
Commenters broadly praised the map's utility but raised several criticisms. Some noted it only covers overground trains, missing metro and light rail systems like the London Underground. Several questioned how the tracking works: one suggested it uses mobile network cell handoffs rather than phone GPS, while others noted Trainline's app may collect location data for this purpose. Others reported accuracy issues, with trains appearing to travel off tracks or across the English Channel. Commenters shared links to similar maps for France, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, Japan, and the US.