First-ever GPS tour app for U.S. railroads, RouteXpert turns your train rides into GPS-guided multimedia experiences. Enjoy automatically-triggered audio commentary, real-time map positioning, photographs and text on waypoints that are roughly one mile apart, as your train moves along the route. A manual mode offers a similar experience even when you are not on a train, or lets you skip ahead/back when you are on the train. NY-NJ is a sample route containing 7 waypoints. NY-DC full route featuring 148 commentary points with multimedia for the complete train route between NY Penn Station and Washington Union Station can be unlocked within the app.
IMPORTANT
For smooth GPS and map reception, please do NOT connect to the onboard Wi-Fi!!! The app requires a cellular data connection for map updates. Non-US iPhones and iPads might incur roaming charges in downloading the maps. A power adapter might be necessary on longer trips. With certain train, device, cellular carrier combinations, you may need to hold the device against the train window.
COMPATIBILITY
An iPhone or an iPad with a cellular data connection running iOS 8 or above is necessary for proper functioning in the Automatic mode with precise GPS reception. The Manual mode offers a similar experience on other iOS devices.
TOUR
Connect with the world outside your train window almost every minute as audio and visual highlights of your surroundings including geographic, sociopolitical and historic facts magically appear. Dont ever go over a river, through a park, a town or a station without knowing the name and the relevant facts. Flow through centuries of history in the comfort of your seat. Understand what you see in daytime trips and add some vision into your night trips.
MULTIMEDIA
A streamlined screen features photographs from each location as well as a scrolling map pinpointing your location every second, complete with a speed indicator.
VERSATILITY
Rewind button lets you go back in time in 5 second increments in case you miss something on the audio commentary. Swiping the photographs lets you jump to locations ahead or behind, while Go Automatic button returns you to your current location where the program is automatically triggered by GPS signals. If you move the map away from your current location, a slider in the Settings menu lets you choose how soon the map should re-center your location. Zoom in or out on the map using pinch-in and pinch-out gestures with your fingers. Shaking the device while you are in Manual mode takes you back to the starting point.
ENJOY
You can use this pilot tour of RouteXpert for the entire route or any part of the route from NY to DC in either direction, on national or commuter trains.