please empty your brain below
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But that app *is* very good.
I always wonder how they make their money...
Dan | 18.01.18 - 7:12 a.m. | #
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I usually just use Citymapper. I think it is plugged into the Tfl information and has a better front end.
Brendan | 18.01.18 - 7:42 a.m. | #
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Dangleway currently indicates "No Service" (due to high winds when you expand the +) but the map to the right indicates "There are currently no major line disruptions reported on the network".
Not quite right or consistent.
dg writes: Post updated, thanks.
None | 18.01.18 - 8:16 a.m. | #
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The Dangleway comment demonstrates very well the problem of using the phrase "A good service..." which is a constant verbal irritation on the tube. What is probably meant is "A service as timetabled..."
Tim W | 18.01.18 - 8:17 a.m. | #
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Indeed, you may ask why TfL even bother trying when someone else is doing a much better job, for free. TfL could just tell the public to use the app, or license it, or buy it in.
Presumably the Citymapper people gather data about journeys and sell it on, much like Facebook and Google do for everything else.
Andrew | 18.01.18 - 8:19 a.m. | #
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And we have the problem with Up Down London that we try and list all the problems with lifts to make it easy for those travellers who rely on them, but for example this morning a lift is broken at King's Cross and was reported on their twitter feed, but all their website says is "Please hold the handrail"
Kirk | 18.01.18 - 8:52 a.m. | #
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But "Oh you can just use Citymapper" isn't really a solution, because that's mostly a Journey Planner. Also, not everybody has a phone capable of using it.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 18.01.18 - 8:53 a.m. | #
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It would be handy if TfL put the names of the piers on the same side of the river as the piers actually are. So London Eye Pier and Embankment Pier are flipped.
Chelsea Harbour pier is also on the wrong side, perhaps more...
Southern Heights (Light Railway) | 18.01.18 - 9:28 a.m. | #
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Bizarrely one of the replacements for London Midland, West Midlands Trains was showing closure details for the Upminster-Romford branch on its website the other day, so it seems TfL is not unique in taking unnecessary National Rail info.
Shieldsman | 18.01.18 - 10:38 a.m. | #
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if you zoom in to this weekend's tube status map - you will see that there is no service on the Bakerloo line - just between Queen's Park and Kensal Green ... allegedly !
ADS | Homepage | 18.01.18 - 10:41 a.m. | #
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@Dan 07:12
Citymapper don't as yet make any money. Most companies of their ilk don't until they figure out how to monetise; they effectively live on round after round of venture capital investment. The investors take the risk - particularly on well used apps like Citymapper, who are sitting on a uniquely rich database of travel habits - in the hope that one day the likes of Google will come in and make everyone very rich. I suspect that in Citymapper's case this will actually happen, though their founder has expressed an antipathy to a Google buyout (he said he found the idea boring!).
Interestingly, the little tablets gateline staff keep in their company jackets are all loaded with Citymapper in case they need to answer a directional query without an obvious answer. It's probably a bit late now, but given the way the winds were blowing, TfL should have made an investment in Citymapper themselves.
Patrick | 18.01.18 - 10:52 a.m. | #
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TfL also get rid of their own stuff which is better, the separate Countdown site for buses was scrapped in favour of the bloated all singing all dancing TfL one. TfL just gave up on New Years Eve and told everyone via Twitter to use Londonbusroutes.net to find out what bus routes were running to get revelers home, as there was nothing on the TfL site except to say that there were extra buses running.
Still Anon | 18.01.18 - 11:58 a.m. | #
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What a fascinating insight into one example of that modern phenomenon 'features overload'.
I have recently been forced to upgrade to Office 2016 from the 2003 version, it comes with countless features that I, and I suspect the majority of users, will never use. My latest car likewise has come with countless controls that I will never get the hang of.
I suspect these products are specified by 'project managers' who have little understanding of the products and even less of how they are produced.
Just one of the downsides of 'progress' (That's the last thing we need, things are bad enough already).
RogerB | 18.01.18 - 12:06 p.m. | #
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Pure project managers may not specify anything - they just ensure whatever has been agreed upon is delivered.
Messiah | 18.01.18 - 12:54 p.m. | #
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The main problem I have with bus route status updates is that it just doesn't seem to get the correct information. The number of times I've been caught out by bus stop closures not listed on the site is too many to count.
As an occasional driver I do find the traffic page useful, especially the feature to show footage from the "jam cams".
Moogal | 18.01.18 - 1:18 p.m. | #
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I feel that chitymapper had been overtaken by Google maps in its ease of use and functionality, especially outside of London. Went to Boston and Tokyo last year and it's pretty much useless. If I recall it only has the metro lines in Tokyo and not the JR lines
Lumma | 18.01.18 - 2:24 p.m. | #
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@dg Citymapper also has a website. If you can access the TfL website... you can access Citymapper, no need for whataboutery
dg writes: But does it do Status updates?
R.O. Beethoven | 18.01.18 - 8:33 p.m. | #
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I like to use the traintimes.org site for bus information, as it shows on the map where all the buses on the route are so you can see if there are any gaps and irregularities.
In a similar way, there are times when I have been at an airport during times of disruption and have more accurate news of where the plane is from flightradar24 than official announcements.
NickW | 18.01.18 - 10:47 p.m. | #
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My experience with CityMapper in both Amsterdam and Singapore have been quite good.
Brendan | 19.01.18 - 12:21 a.m. | #
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I only rarely check tube updates but that reflects low usage of the tube.
The buses real time status info was a mixed bag in the past. Now it is bordering on completely useless. I've seen completely wrong info entered. I've seen info entirely omitted even though other parts of TfL know about the disruption and have accurate info. I have long been critical of this part of the TfL site and I fear staff cuts in different parts of TfL have rendered it almost useless with zero prospect of improvement so long as TfL refuse to recruit proper numbers of staff and then properly review their internal processes and comms.
I do check the roads status info as that is often very up to date and in some places you can check via jam cams (accessible via a menu). This can be a useful indicator of possible bus delays which is why I use it. Even some seemingly remote incidents from where I am heading can have severe and wide ranging impacts. Anything affecting the A13, parts of the A406 and especially any of the Thames road tunnels can have huge and long lasting (many hours) consequences.
I would never use TfL's site for National Rail info. I use the National Rail website and twitter feed. That seems to be reasonably well run despite the inevitable issues with knowing how specific trains are affected.
The other site which can be very useful re road (so bus) issues is the TfL Streetworks register website. This shows and lists all notified road works in Greater London. Obviously not 100% perfect if there is an emergency asset failure requiring immediate repair but generally very good for checking if there may be delays or bus stops might be closed.
PC | 19.01.18 - 12:36 a.m. | #
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Citymapper (website and app) does do service status, which is arguably marginally more useful than TfL's: https://citymapper.com/london/status
martin | 19.01.18 - 8:03 a.m. | #
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