TrackView

TrackView  – A Proud Addition to Crosville.net

I am delighted to introduce TrackView, an independent railway information project created by my son, of whom I am immensely proud.

TrackView has been developed to bring together useful and accessible railway information in one place, with a particular focus on the railways of Wales. It is designed to appeal to a wide range of users, from railway enthusiasts and regular commuters to those working within the rail industry, providing an informative way to follow railway activity and explore the network.

For enthusiasts, it offers another way of following the trains and network they are passionate about. For commuters, it provides a useful source of railway information as they go about their everyday journeys. For professionals and others with an interest in the industry, it provides an additional digital perspective on railway activity and information.

What makes TrackView particularly special to me is that it is not simply a website that I am recommending, it is something my son has created himself from the ground up. His interest in technology, railways and developing online solutions has resulted in a project that continues to evolve through his own ideas, skills and determination, forming a part of his A-level Computer Science course.

He is also a valued part of the Crosville.net team, contributing his technical knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm to the development of the website.

As a father, it gives me enormous satisfaction and pride to see him take an interest that he clearly enjoys and turn it into something tangible that other people can use and appreciate. I am extremely proud of what he has achieved so far, and I look forward to seeing where TrackView goes next.

Richard Lloyd Jones FCILT FCMI CMgr FIOM
(10 October 2026)



Behind TrackView 'Kingfisher' logo

TrackView’s logo is a simplified, more modern interpretation of the kingfisher, retaining its recognisable character while removing unnecessary detail. This creates a cleaner, more distinctive design that remains clear and recognisable at smaller sizes, making it particularly suitable for use as a favicon across browsers and digital devices.

TrackView has adopted the kingfisher as its primary logo for a multitude of reasons, primarily to reflect the birdlife and natural beauty of the Cambrian Railway Line, where kingfishers can be found along the rivers and waterways that the railway passes through.  In particular along the Dyfi Estuary and Dovey Junction; Barmouth and the Mawddach Estuary and around Porthmadog and the Glaslyn Estuay.

It is also the ultimate symbol of train design in the world of railways.  The kingfisher is famous because its streamlined, wedge-shaped beak famously inspired the aerodynamic redesign of Japan's Shinkansen bullet train. An engineering team modelled the nose of the train after the bird to eliminate the loud sonic booms caused when speeding through tight tunnels, dramatically improving performance and efficiency. Using a kingfisher subtly tips its hat to this legendary piece of rail history and engineering.

Beyond design inspiration, the hunting behaviour of the kingfisher perfectly mirrors what a digital rail tracker does. A kingfisher sits quietly, watching intensely, and then darts with pinpoint precision to catch its target. Similarly, TrackView acts as a "watchful eye" over the entire network, keeping a sharp lookup on data to catch exact train units, delay times, and formations instantly.

The traditional rail identity match is also very important.  Using a bird as a rail logo fits beautifully into British railway heritage. The LNER "Mallard", one of the most famous steam locomotive in the world, which broke the world speed record, was named after a water bird, the Mallard.The Red Kite of Wales is also used on other local rail lines in Wales, such as the Heart of Wales Line, which has historically embraced local birds of prey for their branding. Choosing a kingfisher firmly honours this deep seated UK tradition of pairing iconic wildlife with the romance of the rails.Many modern corporate rail apps rely on cold, abstract shapes, lines, or geolocation pins for their branding. By using a stylised kingfisher, my son gives the website an organic, approachable feel. It signals to users that the platform isn't a massive corporate entity, but rather a passion driven, community focused project built by an enthusiast and future professional of the industry, for enthusiasts, commuters and those with a professional interest in the workings of our rail network.


What makes TrackView distinct?

While massive nationwide apps aggregate general UK wide data, TrackView is specifically tailored to the nuances of the Welsh railway network, including longer distance services to/from Wales to destinations such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and London via Avanti West Coast Main Line services.

It's regional specialisation focuses entirely on tracking live rails services, providing comprehensive history of train movements across Wales.

The platform details specific rolling stock "unit allocations" and train formations beyond just timetables.  This means rail enthusiasts and commuters can see exactly what type of train or carriage combination is operating a specific route in real time.

In addition to live delay tracking and calling points, it builds a dedicated history of service data, key performance indicators (KPIs), and historic metrics for Welsh rail routes.


Experience TrackView for yourself

I would encourage railway enthusiasts, rail commuters and those working within the rail industry to take a look and discover TrackView.uk for themselves and the benefits it brings when planning or monitoring your rail journey.

Click on the link at the top of this page or below to access TrackView.

• www.trackview.uk 

Train photographs across Wales

We have included a number of rail photographs my son and I have taken across Wales during 2026 on this website, many of which were achieved through the utilisation of TrackView in its testing phase in providing location information of train units.  These photographs can be seen by clicking Train photographs - Across Wales.


A TfW Class158 Pwllheli bound, crossing from Llandecwyn towards Penrhyndeudraeth during 2026 tracked via TrackView.