Stefan LindbohmMar 8

My minigolfing of regional rail branding across Europe continues, and now we show train names/brands across the Netherlands on Railfinder! And as a bonus we now also show line numbers where we have that data.

Big thanks to @partim for explaining the systems-within-systems for how NL regional rail is organised & marketed. Saved quite some research!

If you see any train branding/names/lines that’s off (in NL or elsewhere), I always want to hear that feedback for my next minigolfing session.

Show threadOliver BlanthornMar 8

@stefanlindbohm https://www.railfinder.eu/search?from=14988&to=16049&date=2026-03-09&p=A

you don't seem to know that trains are trains in the UK 🤔

is it blocked by making a narrower icon to reflect the restricted loading gauge?

(and yes i was checking for hovercraft)

Portsmouth and Southsea to Sandown, 2026-03-09

Railfinder
Show threadOliver BlanthornMar 8

@stefanlindbohm oh, also, the ferry definitely isn't operated by South West Trains and they get a bit shirty if you imply they are

and the wording on "operated by [XYZ] service" is a bit awkward :)

Show threadStefan LindbohmMar 8
@bovine3dom It’s not us implying this is the case – it’s the data sent by RDG to UIC! Same with the names of UK TOC’s (”Service” is part of the name). I have fixed some of them to have the actual current company names, but I don’t have a complete list so I kinda fix case by case when I run into something that seems wrong. Next up South West Trains, I guess :)
Show threadMartin HoffmannMar 8
@stefanlindbohm @bovine3dom In which case, “First Great Western Service” should also become “Great Western Railway.” Also with the green GWR logo added?
Show threadStefan LindbohmMar 8

@partim @bovine3dom Fixed Great Western, South Western and Wightlink (the ferry in Portsmouth).

The hovercraft seems to not be integrated in rail ticketing and use ports slightly off from the stations, or..?

Show threadMartin HoffmannMar 8
@stefanlindbohm @bovine3dom It actually is and it’s even cheaper to buy a rail ticket with at least one stop on the Island Line. They even throw in the bus from Portsmouth and Southsea station to Southsea Hoverport.
Show threadStefan LindbohmMar 8

@partim @bovine3dom Hmmmmmmmmm, where did the timetable for the hovercraft go then? What are the station/port names I should look at?

The connection we’re looking at in the results is the Wightlink catamaran as far as I can tell(?).

Show threadOliver BlanthornMar 8

@stefanlindbohm Southsea Hoverport SHV, Ryde Hoverport XRD

you seem to also be missing West Cowes WTW, East Cowes ECW, Yarmouth YMH (not to be confused with Great Yarmouth)

which given those ones are only on the Isle of Wight there are probably a few others missing too 🤔

@partim

Show threadOliver BlanthornMar 8

@stefanlindbohm https://www.railfinder.eu/search?from=16289&to=25173&date=2026-03-09&p=A i wasn't really expecting to see the ferry here but i am a bit surprised that you're going for chronological departures, i thought you were only defaulting to that for short routes?

@partim

Harwich Town to Amsterdam, 2026-03-09

Railfinder
Show threadStefan LindbohmMar 8

@bovine3dom ”Short” is currently defined as ”any journey is less than 9 hours”. Should that limit be shorter than that maybe?

If you’re thinking of the cross-channel ferries, connecting those ports is also on the todo list. Taking those a few routes at a time as well. (Tips on good foot passenger ferries welcome!)

@partim

Show thread波鉄 (Hatetsu)
@stefanlindbohm @bovine3dom @partim Nine does seem a bit long for that, maybe 4-6 hours?
Mar 8 at 8:58pmWeb
Show threadOliver BlanthornMar 8

@HaTetsu yeah i would probably say that at 4+ hours i am no longer really picking a most convenient time for me to leave, i am picking the best journey possible and working out the rest of the day around that

@stefanlindbohm @partim

Show threadStefan LindbohmMar 9

@bovine3dom @HaTetsu @partim Thanks for this feedback! I’ll do some experimentation in this range, sounds reasonable.

I think the reason for the longer times was that I skewed my testing a bit too much to Sweden where travel times are longer vs amount of options. The ”Best” sorting would probably work fine there too, however.