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UK's National Rail Shuts Down Free Timetable App

Posted by timothy on from the hey-buddy-we-said-often-not-always dept.

JHaselden points to this "sad tale of one developer's trying time with the National Rail, the owners of the UK's train timetable data, which flies in the face of the recent assertion of Chris Scoggins (Chief Executive, National Rail Enquiries) in Wired recently stating that they had 'opened up' their data, 'often free of charge.'" This is a good case for keeping your old emails handy; the app's author uses cut-and-paste to excellent effect in his correspondence with the rail system.

4 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. WTF by bcmm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What are they worried about? The risk that this might lead to customers sucessfully using their service?

    --
    # cat /dev/mem | strings | grep -i llama
    Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
    1. Re:WTF by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They're probably afraid there will be a central database which shows just how regularly their services are late, and people will start claiming for ticket refunds based on that data.

      They really don't want that to be particularly easy, much less automated. All you'd need is to pick up the scheduled time and actula arrival time using this app, and you'd be well on your way to free train rides for life.

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    2. Re:WTF by Captain+Hook · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What are they worried about? The risk that this might lead to customers sucessfully using their service?

      That a free to use service would compete against mobile apps which they may themselves may produce in the future and/or paid for apps which others may produce which they can charge commercial licenses for (made by real companies not which they can have proper business relations with, not a lone guy in a bedroom producing a paid for app).

      I really expect an app from National Rail to be arriving any time now based on the squirming exhibted in the corrspondense.

      --
      These comments are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other voices in my head.
  2. Re:Me too... by stiggle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The key bit in their Code of Practice for access to the data ( http://www.atoc.org/about-atoc/national-rail-enquiries/code-of-practice ) is:

    "Whether the proposed use is of additional benefit to passengers. Applications which in NRE’s reasonable opinion are of demonstrable
    benefit to passengers will be granted unless outweighed by a material adverse impact on TOCs (whether financially, strategically, operationally or in regards to their reputation or the reputation of the industry as a whole)."

    So their own code says they will kick you if you financially impact the TOCs (Train Operating Companies). ie. You produce a free product which competes with their own mobile apps.