trainswhere

Trainswhere is a term used in railway planning and software design to describe a location-centric approach to modeling, querying, and operating train services. In this framework, questions about a network are answered by reference to geographic locations, routes, and coordinates rather than by fixed line-based abstractions alone.

Origin and scope: The term blends "train" and "where" and arose in discussions of open data, transit planning, and real-time information systems in the 2010s. It denotes both a conceptual approach and, in some cases, a software platform that exposes location-based operations for rail networks.

Core concepts: Trainswhere relies on geospatial data, timetable information, and, when available, real-time vehicle positions. It typically involves a data model that links trains, tracks, stations, and geographic areas, with APIs for queries such as "what trains serve area X" or "what is the nearest train to location Y?" The aim is to be interoperable with existing standards and data sources like timetable feeds and passenger information systems.

Applications: The concept supports planning and optimization, passenger information, disruption management, and multimodal trip planning. It can enable proximity-based alerts, dynamic routing, and scenario analysis for capacity or maintenance planning.

Limitations and reception: Adoption depends on data availability, licensing, and integration with legacy systems. Geospatial accuracy, real-time data latency, and privacy considerations can limit effectiveness. As a concept, trainswhere is discussed as one of several location-aware approaches to rail operations.

See also: General Transit Feed Specification, GTFS, OpenStreetMap, transit routing, real-time passenger information.