OpenRailwayMap (ORM) is an online

collaborative mapping Collaborative mapping, also known as citizen mapping, is the aggregation of Web mapping and user-generated content, from a group of individuals or entities, and can take several distinct forms. With the growth of technology for storing and sharing ...

project developing a worldwide

railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...

map using technology based on the

OpenStreetMap OpenStreetMap (abbreviated OSM) is a free, Open Database License, open geographic database, map database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveying, surveys, trace from Ae ...

project. The project is part of the OpenStreetMap database, and acts as a renderer for the existing OpenStreetMap database to include additional information for railroad lines worldwide. The project was launched in 2013.

History

The project was started in 2011. The OpenRailwayMap website was launched in mid 2013. The map originally supported both raster tiles and

vector tiles Vector tiles, tiled vectors or vectiles are packets of geographic data, packaged into pre-defined roughly-square shaped "tiles" for transfer over the web. This is an emerging method for delivering styled web maps, combining certain benefits of pre ...

, but support for the latter was dropped in 2017 due to poor performance. A fork of OpenRailwayMap with a more modern vector tile implementation was announced in 2025.

OpenRailwayMap contains data for

railway line Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of land transport, next to road ...

positions, as well as the following information about them: track type (i.e. bridge, tunnel, regular line); track line type and current use (i.e. main, branch,

yard The yard (symbol: yd) is an English units, English unit of length in both the British imperial units, imperial and US United States customary units, customary systems of measurement equalling 3 foot (unit), feet or 36 inches. Sinc ...

; construction, disused, abandoned); max rail speeds; train protection; track electrification and track voltage if applicable; and

track gauge In rail transport, track gauge is the distance between the two rails of a railway track. All vehicles on a rail network must have Wheelset (rail transport), wheelsets that are compatible with the track gauge. Since many different track gauges ...

Applications

Some of the uses for OpenRailwayMap are as follows: scientific models/simulations, data for

model train Railway modelling (UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland) or model railroading (US and Canada) is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale. The scale models include locomotives, rolling stock, streetcars, ...

enthusiasts, track information for

trainspotters A railfan, train fan, rail buff or train buff (American English), railway enthusiast, railway buff, anorak (British English), gunzel (Australian English), trainspotter (British English) or ferroequinologist is a person who is recreationally in ...

, and routing/

public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...

. As well as the project website there is also a mobile app available for Android devices.

API

OpenRailwayMap has a public and free (albeit limited-use)

API An application programming interface (API) is a connection between computers or between computer programs. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how to build ...

. It is designed for small-scale applications. Users can query for information such as rail locations and data related to the rail.

Contributing

OpenRailwayMap allows anyone to contribute in many ways, such as: * Creating data using photography or

GPS The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based hyperbolic navigation system owned by the United States Space Force and operated by Mission Delta 31. It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provide geol ...

trackers and sending it to experienced project editors * Using the

JOSM JOSM () ''(Java OpenStreetMap editor)'' is a free software desktop editing tool for OpenStreetMap geodata created in Java (programming language), Java, originally developed by Immanuel Scholz and currently maintained by Dirk Stöcker. The editing ...

desktop editing tool to expand the database (Registration required with a verified email address, no registration required to view data) * Contributing to the project's

open source Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...

code

Internationalization

OpenRailwayMap is available to users in around 22 languages.

References

External links

*
OpenRailwayMap documentation
on the OpenStreetMap Wiki {{OpenStreetMap Collaborative mapping Creative Commons-licensed works Open content projects Internet properties established in 2013 Web Map Services Wiki communities 2013 software Free-content websites Crowdsourcing