Friday Eye Candy: Animation Shows Every Amtrak Train in Motion

All aboard.

1 minute read

January 4, 2019, 5:00 AM PST

Dan Malouf shares an animation created by Will Geary using data from Transitland (an open-source data service project sponsored by Mapzen). The animation was actually created a year ago, but worth looking at again (and again).

"This animation shows how every Amtrak train in America is scheduled to move, over the course of one typical week," explains Malouf.

"Watching the animation run, it appears as though three separate systems run at the same time, almost independent of each other: The Northeast Corridor from Boston to Washington, the midwest's “Chicago hub,” and the west coast. Meanwhile, the south and interior west see trains few and far between."

Will Geary also wrote a blog post on the Mapzen website that explains more about how he created the animation. Animations for specific cities are also available.

FULL STORY: See a week of Amtrak trips on one animated map

Thursday, January 3, 2019 in Greater Greater Washington

Infrastructure Transportation United States Amtrak Rail Service Inter-City Rail Public Transit Video View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.