#Nmbs

Only because stats are pretty awesome. The effects of my media attention a few days ago. I’ll give some more info than what can be seen here.

And pretty happy I set up my nginx caching up a few weeks ago.

MRTG traffic stats on vm1, my nginx caching server, of the first 2 days (only major traffic source is this blog):

Top referrers (though not 100% accurate):

As I have no choice.

Geachte,

NMBS heeft onlangs vernomen dat u de uitbater bent van de website www.irail.be.

Uw website is, zoals u het zelf vermeldt, een route planner waarbij alle gegevens en informatie van NMBS website komt (“all data and info is retrieved from the B-Rail website”).

uw website maakt hergebruik van de data van NMBS. Hierdoor schendt u haar intellectuele rechten, zoals haar auteursrecht en databankrecht. Tevens maakt u zich daardoor schuldig aan het strafrechtelijk misdrijf van namaak.

Let me remind you, iRail is NOT affiliated with the NMBS/SNCB in any way.

This website was created during my spare time (and mainly for myself). It is also maintained during my spare time. NMBS/SNCB never helped to create or maintain this website (nor did it show any interest to do so).

I never got paid (or earned any kind of money) for this website. The website is free to access from any device (but it’s built to be used on an iPhone or iPad).

Only one and a half year after I launched iRail, the NMBS/SNCB launched their own mobile website (with a few additional functions, but not all of them optimized for mobile view).

Well done I’d say. Just a tiny bit late. :) And too bad there doesn’t seem to be an iPhone optimized version (later?).

Oh well, finally. I’ll be testing it next time I’ll be taking the train. :)

Apparently the NMBS/SNCB website now makes a difference between “Brussels-Midi” and “Brussels-Midi Eurostar”; same station, different track.

Due to this change, iRail was no longer able to provide any scheduling information which included Brussels-Midi.

I’ve made a quick and dirty work around (by including “+ Eurostar” in the drop down menu), solving this bug.

However, please, NMBS/SNCB, please please please provide an API or report such changes to web developers.

As it is now, if you manually fill in Brussels-Midi and do not add the Eurostar text, the iRail website will not be able to to look up the requested information.

Screenshot taken at 09h08.

On the official time displays in the stations the train of 09h06 to Antwerp Central was already removed at 09h05. They always do that. Even if the train is yet to arrive... Why?

Basicly, if you're 1 minute late, check the display, don't see your train; you're not even allowed to asume your train has already passed. No. It has been removed, but there's a good chance it has 10 minutes delay. Explain me the logics in this? Maybe this gives the impressions trains are rarely late? No red with +10 min?

Finally, NMBS/Infrabel does something customer minded.

Today (after canceling every train passing through Antwerp-Berchem, due to light problems), they launched Railtime.be. I must say I’m surprised in a positive way.

Ok, it has a simple (ugly?) layout, it uses asp and .htm extentions… But hey, we got a site, that isn’t too slow, and seems to provide correct information for now… :P

Too bad there’s no mobile version available.

Guess it’s one of those things to add to iRail… ;)

Don’t forget, as of today the belgian (and most other) trains will be using a new time sheet. Use iRail to get to your destination… ;)

For the lazy people, like me!

If, for some reason, the buttons have two different sizes or you see some weird stuff, try to refresh the page. You should get the new & updated .css file.

I’ve added some “quick reset” javascript to the from and to fields. Should be easier to use, if you want to change stations. Hope the link isn’t too small for the iPhone-finger. :) – This is a request for comments !

There also were a little over 1000 visitors yesterday (Thursday) on the website. Not bad! :)