Article updated on January 10, 2025 by Byothe
For several years, the SNCF has made available to the public a website offering a real-time train map, called SNCF Maps. This site used the same principle as Raildar, which allowed trains to be followed in real time on a map of France. Unfortunately, both of these services eventually disappeared, much to the dismay of train enthusiasts.
Fortunately, the great strength of the web is to always offer new services and this is the case of Carto Graou, a site which allows you to locate trains in real time everywhere in France and which is very similar to its predecessors!
Carto Graou, the alternative to SNCF Maps for real-time train tracking
Created by an independent developer, Carto Graou advantageously takes over from SNCF Maps which has therefore disappeared from the web.
Just like its predecessor and the late Raildar, it exploits the data made available on the site SNCF Open DataThis vast open database from the SNCF allows Carto Graou to display all trains in circulation on a map of France, in real time.
For those in the know, this service can be considered the equivalent for trains of what FlightRadar represents for planes.
In terms of operation, it is very simple. The site is essentially composed of a large map of France where the different lines of TER, Intercités, TGV (with the Inoui and OuiGo variants) and even Transilien are represented.
On these different lines, small colored "drops" symbolize the position of the trains in real time (the positions are updated every minute). The TER and Intercités appear in blue, the TGV in purple, the Transilien in green and "occasionally" in yellow, the trains experiencing delays.
A complete and customizable interface
Exploring further, we discover that this interactive map offers much more thanks to an elegant and information-rich interface.
On the left of the screen, an insert shows the number of trains of each type in circulation in real time, as well as the number of delayed trains and cancelled trains. It is thus possible to assess at a glance whether SNCF agents and passengers are having a difficult day or not.
The small "drops" representing the trains are clickable and thus allow you to display a certain amount of information on the selected train: type of train, train number, route, speed, kilometer point.
On the right side of the screen, a series of controls offer other interesting features.
First of all, it is possible to customize what is displayed on the map to view more or less details, such as the name of the tracks, kilometer points, stations, level crossings, signaling, etc. These parameters also allow delays to be represented in the form of a heat map (the later the train, the wider the circle on its "drop" is and tends towards red).
It is also possible at this level to choose the types of train to display, which can be useful for hiding Transilien trains which disrupt visibility around Paris.
Another menu lets you display or hide the base map and change the map style. There are three options available for the map style, allowing you to radically change the appearance of the map: a light mode, a dark mode, and a "blueprint" style layout.
Finally, a search tool allows you to find almost anything that is on this carte : the different stations, the trains by their number or the stations they pass through, the lines or even the kilometer points.
Carto Graou therefore offers a complete and customizable user experience, while providing precise and up-to-date information on rail traffic in France.
In conclusion, Carto Graou is a real goldmine for all train enthusiasts and those who depend on these services for their daily travel. Despite the disappearance of SNCF Maps and Raildar, this platform has filled the void by offering an intuitive and information-rich interface. It demonstrates once again the web's ability to adapt to always offer new solutions to meet the changing needs of users. Carto Graou, with its elegant and comprehensive interface, its real-time information flow and its customization capabilities, is really one of those sites to know!
