This month, we’ve been looking closely at speeding up the website and making it quicker. One of the things that held us back was having to include support for Internet Explorer 11. We’re now a few weeks past the end of Internet Explorer, so we’re able to take a bold approach with upgrading components in the site.
We’ve updated the code that powers the maps – making it quicker to display the initial state of a map, and simplifying the code that runs on your browser. At the server end, we’ve done similar and partially re-written one of our processes to run with less memory and fewer lines of code.
Such a major change isn’t without risks, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on the site over the coming days, especially as there were some unforeseen problems rolling out the new code, which resulted in maps not loading correctly. Sorry for the downtime.
We’ve also updated the map page itself. The categories we’ve listed maps under in the past have grown, and we’ve re-categorised them so they’re now more logically sorted by Network Rail Route and Region. For example, in the Southern Region, there are three routes – Kent, Sussex and Wessex, with the maps for that region listed. We will be making further changes to map categorisation in the coming weeks, and your feedback is appreciated if anything looks wrong.
Matching between trains on a map and schedule data has also been improved. It still has difficulties in some circumstances, and we’re working on making it even better.
We’ll be taking a little bit of a break for August, as most of you are, but we’ll be back in early September with new and updated maps.
I like the new Map Categories, but here is a thought… How about listing the maps in sequential order?
I mostly look at the East Coast Main Line, so I would put “Kings Cross and Moorgate to Hitchin” first, followed by “Hitchin to Stoke Tunnel” and so on.
[Actually, I’m from the North East so “Manors to Berwick-upon-Tweed” first and “Kings Cross…” last suits my Northern Centric outlook – but the left to right flow is better starting at KGX]
Hi great website ? what happened to the Early September updates to the site
Regards Robert
I like the upgrade have noticed how much quicker it is to load the maps great work ?
There have been minor changes around Cricklewood with an additional birth and signal
Thanks for the recent updates looks great .
When will the Middlesbrough map be available? Thanks for the great website.
Your maps for the staines area are 4 weeks out of date and need updating I have e mailed twice about this but nothing has changed
Hello, I use the Carlisle -Motherwell map and since the junction upgrade at Carstairs the map no longer functions at Carstairs.
When are you going to upgrade the map?
Regards Ian
I use the Carlisle-Motherwell map. Since the new line layout at Carstairs the map is now not fit for purpose.
When are you going to upgrade the map?
Regards Ian.
Love the maps. Do you have any plans to add the line from Saltney junction to Wrexham General. This line now has data available.