Quick answer
The Seoul view uses an official public train-position feed, but it is not a GPS dot with zero latency. Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju currently use timetable-based estimates. Both are useful for orientation; neither should replace operator notices or station information when a delay, last train, or time-critical transfer is involved.
Compare the information types
| Information | What the screen represents | Good for | Use extra caution when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul live positions | The latest station/segment-oriented train state received from official public data | Checking direction, destination and current flow | The feed is delayed, unavailable or service is altered |
| Timetable estimates | A calculated position based on scheduled station times and segment durations | Understanding normal spacing and likely train order | There are delays, short turns, special trains or engineering work |
| Official operator information | Notices issued by the organisation running the service | Confirming disruption, suspension and last-train changes | A new incident is unfolding; also read station displays |
1. “Live” does not necessarily mean a GPS coordinate
Seoul Open Data Plaza publishes an official subway train-position dataset sourced through the city's transport information system. WhereMyTrain reorganises that response around lines and stations so a rider can see whether a train is at a station or moving through a nearby section.
Treat the marker as the latest reported operating state, not as an exact physical dot. Collection, API delivery, caching and the rider's network all add some latency. Read the update time together with the direction and destination instead of making a decision from the icon alone.
2. Other supported Korean cities currently use timetable estimates
For Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju, WhereMyTrain uses public timetable data and the planned running time between stations to estimate where a scheduled train should be now. This is helpful when a live public feed is unavailable and the service is operating normally.
An estimate does not automatically move when a real train is seven minutes late. It may also miss a short turn, replacement train, event service or temporary engineering timetable. A label that says “timetable-based” should therefore be read as a model of the published schedule, not a claim that a train is physically at that point.
3. Use a consistent reading order
Start with the direction, then confirm that the destination displayed for the train passes your stop. On routes with branches, short workings, local and express patterns, the nearest train may not be the one you need.
Next identify whether the page is live or timetable-based and check its last update. This simple order prevents common errors such as following the opposite platform or boarding a short-turn service. At an interchange, add walking time between platforms rather than treating the two train times as a guaranteed connection.
4. Delays, first/last trains and expensive missed connections need an official check
A live view can explain what the line looks like now, but it cannot promise when a disruption will clear or include every platform change. Operator notices, station displays and announcements can carry cancellation, replacement transport and crowd-control details that a position feed does not contain.
For a last train, one or two minutes plus transfer walking time can determine whether the trip is possible. Confirm the official timetable and station information even if a train appears on WhereMyTrain. For airport or intercity connections, plan at least one service of buffer whenever practical.
- Check whether the city page says live or timetable-based.
- Confirm direction and destination before judging how close the train is.
- Distinguish express/local, branches and short-turn services.
- Switch to official notices if the update is stale or the page has no data.
- Use station displays and announcements as the final word for last trains and critical transfers.
The WhereMyTrain operator compared the site's current implementation with public documents from transport operators and government agencies. Automated tools assisted the first draft; source URLs, feature availability, and potentially misleading claims were checked before publication. Service conditions can change quickly, so use station signs and an operator's official notice for time-critical travel.
WhereMyTrain is an independent personal project, not an official transport operator service.