u/Over_Substance5853

Hey guys,

Some of you might remember a prototype I posted here a while back. I took your feedback, scrapped the old version, and spent the last 9 months rebuilding the entire architecture from scratch (using PostgreSQL, Redis, Hono.js and Next.js).

It’s basically FlightRadar24 but for Indian Railways. It plots 13,000+ active trains on a live interactive map. I even had to build a custom GIS system so the trains follow the exact physical curves of the tracks instead of snapping straight lines.

I also know how hard it is to get good transit data in India, so I’ve opened up the API completely free for developers and hobbyists to use in their own projects.

• Live Map: https://railradar.in/railradar
• Free API: https://railradar.in/docs
• Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.railradar.trainrunning

I’m a college student currently looking for freelance work to help cover the server costs for this. Let me know what you think of the app or if you have any questions about how the architecture works!

https://preview.redd.it/z3x2b5v5e0ah1.png?width=1912&format=png&auto=webp&s=138df034b60104b519de40ab8c45a75dabc47298

Hey everyone,

About 10 months ago, I posted a prototype of RailRadar here. Since then, I spent the last 9 months completely rebuilding it from scratch. Today, I'm finally releasing the Android app and a massive update to the web platform and API gateway.

For those who didn't see the original post, RailRadar is basically FlightRadar24 but for Indian Trains. It plots thousands of active trains on a live interactive map in real-time, tracking speed, delays, and exact coordinates.

You can check it out here:

• Live Map: https://railradar.in/railradar
• Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.railradar.trainrunning&hl=en_IN
• Free API Docs: https://railradar.in/docs

Deep Dive: How it was built: Building this was a massive technical challenge, moving from a basic prototype to a production-grade system.

• Database & State: The core backend is powered by PostgreSQL for persistent relational data (schedules, stations) and Redis for high-speed, real-time state management and rate-limiting the API.
• Frontend & App: The web dashboard is built on Next.js, optimized for heavily dynamic client-side rendering of the map.
• GIS & Mapping: I had to build a full GIS system to handle accurate polyline map projections. Instead of drawing straight lines between stations, the map projects the exact physical curves of the Indian railway tracks using complex geographic algorithms.
• API Gateway: I built a custom API gateway from the ground up to securely serve the live tracking data at scale without crashing.

What's next on the roadmap? (100% Free): I want to build a massive free ecosystem around this. Here is what I am working on next:

• Data & APIs: Releasing a fully open GTFS real-time data feed, creating a complete Resource Gallery for Indian Railways, and publishing a free MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server for everyone to use.
• Tech: Switching to "Protomaps" for a fully self-hosted mapping solution to drop reliance on third-party map tiles.
• Community: Adding live chat channels for passengers on the same train, a train rating/review system, and

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the architecture, the UI, or the API design. Let me know if you have any questions!