How ClearPath Works

Real-time train tracking, camera-based freight detection, and community reporting — all in one place.

Data flow

From Train to Alert in 5 Steps

  1. 01
    Data source
    Amtrak Data

    We poll amtraker.com every 30 seconds for the live GPS position, speed, and bearing of Amtrak trains on the Illinois corridor. This is publicly available data — no scraping.

  2. 02
    Math
    ETA Math

    Haversine distance from the train's current position to each monitored crossing, divided by the train's reported speed, gives estimated arrival in minutes. ETAs update every poll cycle.

  3. 03
    Alerting
    Alert Threshold

    When a train is within 10 miles AND less than 20 minutes out, the crossing flips to APPROACHING. That window is enough to stage apparatus on the correct side or reroute a response.

  4. 04
    Computer vision
    Freight Camera

    A YOLO model watches the public Steel Highway railcam and writes CLEAR or BLOCKED every 30 seconds. BNSF doesn't publish live positions — this is best-effort supplemental data.

  5. 05
    Community layer
    Community Reports

    Anyone can report a blocked crossing. Reports include crossing, time, railroad, and duration. They surface on the map immediately and notify dispatch.

The Freight Data Gap

BNSF does not publish live train positions. Their data is proprietary and there is no federal mandate to share it. Unlike Amtrak — which exposes real-time GPS through its public API — freight railroads operate as a black box.

ClearPath bridges that gap with computer vision: a YOLO model watches the public Steel Highway railcam and writes a CLEAR or BLOCKED status every 30 seconds.

⚠ Camera detection is best-effort — NOT authoritative dispatch data. Always use official protocols when lives are at stake.

Data Freshness

SourceUpdate intervalStatus
Amtrak positionsEvery 30–60 secondsLive
Freight camera (YOLO)Every 30 secondsLive
Community reportsReal-time on submitLive
Built with

The Stack

Next.js 14TypeScriptPythonYOLOMySQLamtraker.com APIVercel

Common Questions

Does ClearPath work for freight trains?
Limited. We use camera AI on a public railcam, not real-time BNSF data. BNSF does not publish live positions. Treat freight status as supplemental — never authoritative.
How accurate are the ETAs?
Within a few minutes for Amtrak trains. ETAs assume constant speed — actual arrival varies based on signal holds, grade, and crew rest. Use for staging decisions, not precision timing.
Is ClearPath official?
No. ClearPath is an independent, open-source, community project. Always follow official dispatch protocols. This tool is situational awareness — not a replacement for dispatch communication.