RailYatri.in brings GPS based train tracking on Google Maps

RailYatri’s ‘RailRadar GPS’ enables users to track running trains on a Google map along with its on-time/delay status.

This is the first ever deployment of a true crowd-sourced location tracking, claims the company. The previous attempts by the government to install GPS on trains as part of the SIMRAN project failed due to the high project costs. Real time train tracking continued to be a challenge despite crores spent on the pilot project which was scrapped after being launched on about 40 premium trains.

RailRadar GPS uses location generated by a passenger’s smartphone, the solution requires zero capital expenditure in terms of GPS hardware costs. RailRadar GPS determines the train location by analysing the pattern of locations transmitted by the smartphone travellers sitting on the train, similar to how Google Maps determines the traffic on the road when you are using any road transport like a car or a bus,

With hundreds of smartphones on each train nowadays, RailYatri’s RailRadar GPS has been designed to scale up to track every train in the country on a 24×7 basis, though for now the company has published around 100+ trains in the pilot phase.

“Train location is one of the most sought after information by train travellers and the smartphone technology now allows us to answer that with an accuracy and cost not possible a few years back. The crowd sourced model uses mathematical modelling to confirm the train and its location. The technology reduces human errors, while available 24×7 under all weather conditions, irrespective of fog or visibility issues. All it requires is 1 smartphone RailYatri traveler on each train,” said Manish Rathi, CEO and co-founder, RailYatri.in.