TfL Journey Planner
 

Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt the
need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me with the
TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address in
the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own address.

I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for the
JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is frustrating
that the JP does not retain my address for future use.

Thanks in anticipation

MikeR

TfL Journey Planner
 

On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:57:37 +0000, Mike Roberts
wrote:

Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt the
need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me with the
TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address in
the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own address.

I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for the
JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is frustrating
that the JP does not retain my address for future use.

I'd just use the standard TfL contact page via this link

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/contact/default.asp?type=tfl

Journey Planner is a TfL system so pitching your query to TfL, rather
than one of the modes, seems the most sensible option.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

TfL Journey Planner
 

Why not use the postcode instead? It's less typing and your browser
will probably remember it for you after you've used it once. I know
Firefox does, not sure about IE as I don't use it if I can help it.

"Mike Roberts" wrote in message

Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt
the need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me
with the TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address in
the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own
address.
I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for
the JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is
frustrating that the JP does not retain my address for future use.

Thanks in anticipation

MikeR

TfL Journey Planner
 

Recliner wrote:
Why not use the postcode instead? It's less typing and your browser
will probably remember it for you after you've used it once. I know
Firefox does, not sure about IE as I don't use it if I can help it.

"Mike Roberts" wrote in message

Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt
the need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me
with the TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address in
the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own
address.
I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for
the JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is
frustrating that the JP does not retain my address for future use.

Thanks in anticipation

MikeR


Thanks for that. It does work and I suppose I am now nit-picking because
it uses the centre location for the Postcode instead of my house. That
just adds a minute of walking time to most routes but it also affects my
nearest bus stop on some routes.

TfL Journey Planner
 

Paul Corfield wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:57:37 +0000, Mike Roberts
wrote:

Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt the
need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me with the
TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address in
the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own address.

I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for the
JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is frustrating
that the JP does not retain my address for future use.

I'd just use the standard TfL contact page via this link

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/contact/default.asp?type=tfl

Journey Planner is a TfL system so pitching your query to TfL, rather
than one of the modes, seems the most sensible option.
Thanks Paul. It was getting that last bit of the address that was
annoying me
MikeR

TfL Journey Planner
 

"Mike Roberts" wrote in message

Recliner wrote:
Why not use the postcode instead? It's less typing and your browser
will probably remember it for you after you've used it once. I know
Firefox does, not sure about IE as I don't use it if I can help it.

"Mike Roberts" wrote in message

Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt
the need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me
with the TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address
in the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own
address.
I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for
the JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is
frustrating that the JP does not retain my address for future use.

Thanks in anticipation

MikeR


Thanks for that. It does work and I suppose I am now nit-picking
because it uses the centre location for the Postcode instead of my
house. That just adds a minute of walking time to most routes but it
also affects my nearest bus stop on some routes.

I've found the JP tends to assume a rather slow walking pace unless you
tell it otherwise. I don't think my walking speed is especially fast,
but I always achieve better times than it predicts.

It also seems to be keen to put me on a bus for a stop or two, even if I
could walk it quicker than the typical bus waiting time. Again, you can
override this setting, but I don't think it will remember it for you.

TfL Journey Planner
 

I'd also like to see some fare related options in the Journey Planner.
Especially a "Travelcard only" option to exclude the HEX etc. Also a
"PAYG only" option would be nice.

I'd just use the standard TfL contact page via this link
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/contact/default.asp?type=tfl

Yes, I've done this, but they did not react (yet).

Martin

TfL Journey Planner
 

Paul Corfield wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:57:37 +0000, Mike Roberts
wrote:

Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt
the need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me
with the TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address in
the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own
address.

I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for
the JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is
frustrating that the JP does not retain my address for future use.

I'd just use the standard TfL contact page via this link

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/contact/default.asp?type=tfl

Journey Planner is a TfL system so pitching your query to TfL, rather
than one of the modes, seems the most sensible option.

The location entry mechanism is so obviously flawed that the only possible
explanation is that they know and don't care, in which case complaining
seems pointless.

TfL Journey Planner
 

John Rowland wrote:
Paul Corfield wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:57:37 +0000, Mike Roberts
wrote:

Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt
the need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me
with the TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address in
the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own
address.

I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for
the JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is
frustrating that the JP does not retain my address for future use.
I'd just use the standard TfL contact page via this link

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/contact/default.asp?type=tfl

Journey Planner is a TfL system so pitching your query to TfL, rather
than one of the modes, seems the most sensible option.

The location entry mechanism is so obviously flawed that the only possible
explanation is that they know and don't care, in which case complaining
seems pointless.

I doubt they "don't care." Like all software projects they have limited
programmer time and therefore must have priorities. If enough people
complain they might shift their priorities.
--
Michael Hoffman

TfL Journey Planner
 

On 25 Nov, 12:55, Mike Roberts
wrote:
Recliner wrote:
Why not use the postcode instead? It's less typing and your browser
will probably remember it for you after you've used it once. I know
Firefox does, not sure about IE as I don't use it if I can help it.


Thanks for that. It does work and I suppose I am now nit-picking because
it uses the centre location for the Postcode instead of my house. That
just adds a minute of walking time to most routes but it also affects my
nearest bus stop on some routes.


I pretty much always enter postcodes when using such online journey or
route planners and mapping applications as it cuts out one level of
ambiguity - though as you say it can lead to ever so slightly less
precise results.

It might help to identify the name of your nearest bus stop (they are
all named) and just enter that in directly as your starting point -
though obviously this won't help if there are a number of nearby bus
stops on different roads served by different routes.

I think the TfL JP can be quite helpful, and is constantly gradually
being improved, but it's best to take the results with a pinch of salt.

TfL Journey Planner
 

On 25 Nov, 11:19, Paul Corfield wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:57:37 +0000, Mike Roberts

wrote:
Hi all, I have lurked her often but only once, a long time ago felt the
need to post anything. However perhaps someone here can help me with the
TfL Journey Planner.

To get it to start route at my house I have to type in a carefully
edited version of my address. It then give me a choice, the first of
which is my address (in its own format). When I type in my address in
the JP Format it offers me a list of places not including my own address.

I have searched the TfL web site but can't find contact details for the
JP maintenance team. Can anyone out there help me, it is frustrating
that the JP does not retain my address for future use.

I'd just use the standard TfL contact page via this link

https://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/contact/default.asp?type=tfl

Journey Planner is a TfL system so pitching your query to TfL, rather
than one of the modes, seems the most sensible option.
--
Paul C

The normal JP URL is...
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use...T2?language=en

Take away the language specification...
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use..._TRIP_REQUEST2
....and it's all in Deutsch.

Discovering that the JP system appears to be of a German design is no
great surprise, given that their enlightened transport policies would
encourage such developments, but can anyone say which company makes
this software, and are they contracted by TfL to run the whole JP
service as well (i.e. input the data, make changes etc) or is some of
that done in-house by TfL IT people?

TfL Journey Planner
 

On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:32:20 -0800 (PST), Mizter T
wrote:

Take away the language specification...
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use..._TRIP_REQUEST2
...and it's all in Deutsch.

I get 404 with that URL...

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

TfL Journey Planner
 

but can anyone say which company makes this software

http://www.mentzdv.de/

TfL Journey Planner
 

On 25 Nov, 15:40, (Neil Williams)
wrote:
On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 07:32:20 -0800 (PST), Mizter T

wrote:
Take away the language specification...
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use..._TRIP_REQUEST2
...and it's all in Deutsch.

I get 404 with that URL...


As do I. Apologies, I omitted the crucial final "?" as follows:

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use...TRIP_REQUEST2?

TfL Journey Planner
 

On 25 Nov, 15:50, Martin Krieger wrote:
but can anyone say which company makes this software

http://www.mentzdv.de/

Thanks, I'll take a proper look at that site later. I did just note
this piece from the news section...
http://www.mentzdv.de/index.php?id=229#c7363

....which mentions the IJP cockpit (the control panel) being adjusted
by the TfL Technical Manager so as to give three results rather than
four at a time when the system was being heavily used during the
Metronet strike.

I liked the idea that "Mild chaos broke out in the tube as a result of
the absent personnel", though I don't think they've quite got the
resolution of the strike right! -
"The transport strike lasted into the next day (Sept. 4, 2007) until
employers agreed to union demands for pension compensation."

Currently at the top of that page there is mention of an international
IJP workshop called "Real Time", organised by TfL - so it seems that
TfL are well stuck in there when it comes to helping to develop the
IJP product with the help of their operational knowledge.

TfL Journey Planner
 

Mizter T wrote

I think the TfL JP can be quite helpful, and is constantly gradually
being improved, but it's best to take the results with a pinch of
salt.

I certainly find the South East journey planner less likely to give
weird results - though most of my journeys are on the outskirts of
Greater London.

http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk..._TRIP_REQUEST2

On the "it's quicker to walk" front I recently pointed out to the SE JP
maintainers that suggeating getting off a (non-Tfl) bus at Kingston
rail station in order to walk to Cromwell Road bus station when that
was the bus's next stop was ... odd - they blamed it on the Tfl
supplied information. I suppose it could be a correct decision at some
times of day.

--
Mike D

TfL Journey Planner
 

Mizter T wrote

I think the TfL JP can be quite helpful, and is constantly gradually
being improved, but it's best to take the results with a pinch of

salt.

What frustrates me most at the moment is its insistence on checking
exactly what you meant. If I typed New Cross, and selected the
'Station or stop' button, chances are I want New Cross station, and
not New Cross Gate Sainsbury's or New Malden/Holy Cross School or
numerous junctions on New Cross Road.

TfL Journey Planner
 

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use...TRIP_REQUEST2?

Wow! Nice bit of sloppy programming - they did not even bothered to
set correct default if the query is missing :-|
Not to mention that 404 error if there is not query string is even
worse...

TfL Journey Planner
 

On 25 Nov, 23:14, SamB wrote:
Mizter T wrote

I think the TfL JP can be quite helpful, and is constantly gradually
being improved, but it's best to take the results with a pinch of

salt.

What frustrates me most at the moment is its insistence on checking
exactly what you meant. If I typed New Cross, and selected the
'Station or stop' button, chances are I want New Cross station, and
not New Cross Gate Sainsbury's or New Malden/Holy Cross School or
numerous junctions on New Cross Road.


Type in "New Cross station" and you'll avoid this problem.

TfL Journey Planner
 

On Sun, 25 Nov 2007, alex_t wrote:

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/use...TRIP_REQUEST2?

Wow! Nice bit of sloppy programming - they did not even bothered to set
correct default if the query is missing :-| Not to mention that 404
error if there is not query string is even worse...

That's particularly weird. The splitting of the URL into path and query
string is usually done by the webserver (or application server or
whatever), which would almost certainly get this simple case right. That
it's got wrong suggests that the journey planner is written around a
custom webserver, which is a significantly dubious design decision.

Examination of the headers reveals:

Server: EFAServer/9.14.5.14

I've not been able to find out exactly what EFAServer is, but google hits
strongly suggest that it's German!

Oh no, hang on; i don't read foreign, but according to the gist of this:

http://www.mentzdv.de/uploads/media/...ll_II_2007.pdf

EFA seems to be the name of the software platform used to run the Journey
Planner. So yes, the webserver is a custom part. Eek!

tom

--
20 Minutes into the Future

TfL Journey Planner
 

On 26 Nov, 00:05, Mizter T wrote:


What frustrates me most at the moment is its insistence on checking
exactly what you meant. If I typed New Cross, and selected the
'Station or stop' button, chances are I want New Cross station, and
not New Cross Gate Sainsbury's or New Malden/Holy Cross School or
numerous junctions on New Cross Road.

Type in "New Cross station" and you'll avoid this problem.

I know that, and that's what I do now... The point is that I shouldn't
have to (and never did in the past).

TfL Journey Planner
 

On 27 Nov, 00:09, SamB wrote:

On 26 Nov, 00:05, Mizter T wrote:

What frustrates me most at the moment is its insistence on checking
exactly what you meant. If I typed New Cross, and selected the
'Station or stop' button, chances are I want New Cross station, and
not New Cross Gate Sainsbury's or New Malden/Holy Cross School or
numerous junctions on New Cross Road.

Type in "New Cross station" and you'll avoid this problem.

I know that, and that's what I do now... The point is that I shouldn't
have to (and never did in the past).


Try giving it the address "Custom House Reach, Odessa Street,
Rotherhithe" and it responds by asking which bit of Rotherhithe
Street you want!

Try again, dropping the word Rotherhithe and just asking for "Custom
House Reach, Odessa Street". Now it wants to know which bit of
Abchurch Lane! Where did that come from? I didn't use the words
"Abchurch" or "Lane" in the address, so why does it think I want to go
there!?!

TfL Journey Planner
 

solar penguin wrote:

Try giving it the address "Custom House Reach, Odessa Street,
Rotherhithe" and it responds by asking which bit of Rotherhithe
Street you want!

Try again, dropping the word Rotherhithe and just asking for "Custom
House Reach, Odessa Street". Now it wants to know which bit of
Abchurch Lane! Where did that come from? I didn't use the words
"Abchurch" or "Lane" in the address, so why does it think I want to go
there!?!

I get Abchurch Lane very frequently as well. It's probably the first road in
its database.

What annoys me is when you pick, say, "Kennington Lane (middle)" to
somewhere, and you don't like the results and you have to step back and do
the same route with slightly different parameters. It then automatically
turns "Kennington Lane (middle)" into "Middle Lane".

Another one is where you start from "Park Lane (x) Oxford Street", and again
you don't like the results and step back to redo it, and it automatically
turns "Park Lane (x) Oxford Street" into "Park Street".
(Both of these examples are done with sample roads, I can't recall which
actual roads cause the problem, but I have got both errors numerous times
with different roads.)