When you step on a SunRail platform the first question
likely to cross your mind is: When is the train coming?
Honestly, SunRail has an excellent on-time record, but
sometimes stuff happens. If you’re like us you want to be sure the train is
coming on time.
Last month SunRail introduced a train tracker on its
website that shows where the train is. That tracker is great if you’re using a
desktop, laptop or a tablet. But that tracker is not so good if you’re standing
on the platform using your smartphone. The official SunRail tracker has not
been optimized for the smaller screen of a smartphone. (Duh!)
Ideally SunRail should have provided a mobile app (one of
those cool icons) you can download to the screen of your smartphone.
Not to worry, though, Ben Gohlke has created an app
called Sol Train 2.0 (Sol = Sun, get it) that you can
download from the Apple App Store.
The app is free and you can also download it to your smartphone by clicking
here.
Ben, an Orlando native and a Lake Mary resident, is an
app developer who works for a digital publishing company in south Orlando near
the Mall of Millenia. Even though Ben doesn’t take SunRail to work because it
doesn’t stop near his office, he is a big fan of the commuter train and has
ridden it for fun with some friends.
Like the rest of us, Ben is perplexed that SunRail isn’t
providing an app, so without any compensation he decided to create one. He
worked on this project nights and weekends with the help us his Mom and some
friends.
As you might imagine creating an app -- a self-contained
program that is designed to execute specific functions – and receiving approval
to distribute it through the Apple App Store is painstaking work. We absolutely
love the fruit of Ben’s labor.
The Sol Train app can quickly help riders answers the two
most important questions: Where is the train I need? How long before it gets to
this station?
In addition, if you’re not at a station, the app will
show you how far you are from the closest station, and how long it will take
you to drive to that station. What’s more, there’s also a Spanish language
version of the Sol Train app. And Ben is already considering upgrades for his
app. This app only works on Apple devices, but Ben is planning to develop an
Android version.
We think Ben (who can be reached through his www.telerisystems.com
website) deserves a standing ovation.
In the interest of full disclosure there is another
SunRail app called Orlando Transit.
Choose the one that works best for you and enjoy.
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