Irish Rail information technology hits new low

dowlingm · 15-11-2015, 15:44

It seems the arrivals display in Heuston runs on Windows XP. To be fair, the jagged UI graphics and colour scheme on the arrivals display itself have the look of how RTE would show sports scores circa 1985.

The worst thing is the likelihood that IE bought the system last year and paid 100 grand a unit for it.

https://twitter.com/t0mm13b/status/665576320378789889
https://twitter.com/dermotcasey/stat...03654424215552

Jamie2k9 · 15-11-2015, 19:36

Can assure you its not a recent change, been like this for many years.

Thomas J Stamp · 16-11-2015, 10:32

[img=http://s19.postimg.org/sdsosobzz/It_looks_like_you_re_trying_to_run_a_railway_Wou.j pg]

Mark Gleeson · 16-11-2015, 12:13

The equipment in Heuston is 2002 ish era so its fine. Most ATM machines are still running Windows 2000...

The backend computer mainframe is based on 1984 technology, unchanged

James Howard · 16-11-2015, 16:05

I spotted the driver's console on a 22k rebooting a few weeks ago and it was running something pretty obsolete - either Windows 2000, or Windows XP - I can't remember which. While you can debate the wisdom of putting a desktop OS on this sort of equipment in the first place, it certainly isn't worth the cost of testing all of the various hardware drivers in order to upgrade to a new operating system. I can't imagine that getting something as basic as a serial port running on Windows 10 is terribly simple.

In terms of the aesthetics of the old design, while it may not be terribly pretty, the legibility of gnarly old white (or yellow) on blue text is far superior to more modern designs.

Colm Moore · 16-11-2015, 19:13

Of all operating systems, Windows 2000 is likely to remain in use on a wide variety of platforms for many years as there are military users willing to pay for the software to be kept up to date.

James Shields · 18-11-2015, 14:36

Most of these systems run special versions of the operating system for embedded systems. These are stripped of anything unnecessary for running the application and locked down. They are generally supported for many years after the desktop version has been discontinued (there is a hack for Windows XP to make it think it is the embedded version so it will continue to receive updates, however anyone using it should be warned that many components are missing from the embedded version, so won't be updated).

James

Jamie2k9 · 19-11-2015, 19:17

Is the system in Heuston operated by more than one computer as there is a few screens with error messages and others without. The screens (left) as yuo enter from the Luas are nearly always not working, for the last week or two they have not been working any day and they are one of the most useful screens if you don't have time to spare.

System in Cork is slightly different to Heuston, all blue/white.

15-11-2015, 15:44	#1
dowlingm Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,371	Irish Rail information technology hits new low It seems the arrivals display in Heuston runs on Windows XP. To be fair, the jagged UI graphics and colour scheme on the arrivals display itself have the look of how RTE would show sports scores circa 1985. The worst thing is the likelihood that IE bought the system last year and paid 100 grand a unit for it. https://twitter.com/t0mm13b/status/665576320378789889 https://twitter.com/dermotcasey/stat...03654424215552

16-11-2015, 10:32	#3
Thomas J Stamp Chairman/Publicity Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Home of Hurling Posts: 2,708	[img=http://s19.postimg.org/sdsosobzz/It_looks_like_you_re_trying_to_run_a_railway_Wou.j pg] __________________ We are the passengers

16-11-2015, 12:13	#4
Mark Gleeson Technical Officer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coach C, Seat 33 Posts: 12,669	The equipment in Heuston is 2002 ish era so its fine. Most ATM machines are still running Windows 2000... The backend computer mainframe is based on 1984 technology, unchanged __________________ Unhappy with new timetable - let us know

16-11-2015, 19:13	#6
Colm Moore Local Liaison Officer Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,442	Of all operating systems, Windows 2000 is likely to remain in use on a wide variety of platforms for many years as there are military users willing to pay for the software to be kept up to date. __________________

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15-11-2015, 19:36	#2
Jamie2k9 Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 2,146	Can assure you its not a recent change, been like this for many years.

16-11-2015, 16:05	#5
James Howard Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sligo Line Posts: 1,115	I spotted the driver's console on a 22k rebooting a few weeks ago and it was running something pretty obsolete - either Windows 2000, or Windows XP - I can't remember which. While you can debate the wisdom of putting a desktop OS on this sort of equipment in the first place, it certainly isn't worth the cost of testing all of the various hardware drivers in order to upgrade to a new operating system. I can't imagine that getting something as basic as a serial port running on Windows 10 is terribly simple. In terms of the aesthetics of the old design, while it may not be terribly pretty, the legibility of gnarly old white (or yellow) on blue text is far superior to more modern designs.

18-11-2015, 14:36	#7
James Shields Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Drogheda, Ireland Posts: 1,275	Most of these systems run special versions of the operating system for embedded systems. These are stripped of anything unnecessary for running the application and locked down. They are generally supported for many years after the desktop version has been discontinued (there is a hack for Windows XP to make it think it is the embedded version so it will continue to receive updates, however anyone using it should be warned that many components are missing from the embedded version, so won't be updated). James

19-11-2015, 19:17	#8
Jamie2k9 Really Really Regluar Poster Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 2,146	Is the system in Heuston operated by more than one computer as there is a few screens with error messages and others without. The screens (left) as yuo enter from the Luas are nearly always not working, for the last week or two they have not been working any day and they are one of the most useful screens if you don't have time to spare. System in Cork is slightly different to Heuston, all blue/white.