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European Rail Network Graph

This repository contains data, queries and visualizations for visualizing the European Rail Network inside Neo4j.

This demo was prepared for NODES 2022 - slides are available here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17Dp64vB-FIGzHt3IWnge4eMRi2CtloNVS5dT7S4DUJQ/edit?usp=sharing.

railplanner

Contents

This repository consists of:

Item Description
A Data Model Sketch (model/model.json) This can be loaded into arrows.app.
Load Queries (cypher/load-queries.cypher) These can be copy pasted into Neo4j Browser. Make sure multi-statement Cypher is enabled in the editor so you can copy-paste the entire file.
Analytical Queries (cypher/analytical-queries.cypher) Queries for doing pathfinding between stations in the graph.
NeoDash Dashboard (dashboard/dashboard.json) (cypher/analytical-queries.cypher) A dashboard file you can load into NeoDash.

The queries here have been built for and tested with Neo4j 5.1. A no-installation-required demo of the dashboard is also available at https://neodash-gallery.graphapp.io.

Source Data

As source data, this graph uses two public datasets provided by opendatasoft.com.

Dataset URL
EU Railway Stations https://public.opendatasoft.com/explore/dataset/europe-railway-station/information/
EU Rail Road Segments https://public.opendatasoft.com/explore/dataset/europe-rail-road/information/

To load all data, create a Neo4j database, install apoc, and move the contents of the data directory in this repository into your import folder in Neo4j. Then, copy paste the contents of (cypher/load-queries.cypher) into your Neo4j browser. This should take a couple of minutes.

EU Rail Road Segments

A track is a (curved) part of train track that consists of multiple (smaller, straight) track segments. Keep in mind, track are not the same as routes between stations, we establish these later.

Our base infrastructure graph will have the following shape:

(p1:Point)-[:TRACK]->(p2:Point)
(p1:Point)-[:TRACK_SEGMENT]->(:Point)-[:TRACK_SEGMENT]->(p2:Point)

As a cool routing option, we create an extra track (missing in the source data) to represent the eurotunnel between Dover and Calais.

Meanings of properties in the source data are documented here: https://eurogeographics.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/EGM_Specification_v10.pdf

EU Railway Stations

Load the stations dataset, and overlay it onto the junctions.

Note - we are matching on 8127 out of 8128 stations here, with the exception of Nagyatad station in Hungary. For now, we can ignore this one.

Junctions

Junctions are an artificial construct that are needed for efficient pathfinding and routing. We define junctions as:

  • Points where more than two tracks meet.
  • Points where only one track is present (e.g. the end of the track).
  • A point where a station is located.

Junctions are created as part of (cypher/load-queries.cypher).

Routes

Routes are established between Junction points as part part of (cypher/load-queries.cypher). A ROUTE relationship represents the shortest paths between two adjacent junctions. A real route (between stations) might cross several ROUTE relationships.

(j1:Junction)-[:ROUTE]->(j2:Junction)**
(s1:Station)-[:ROUTE]->(j1:Junction)-[:ROUTE]->(j2:Junction)-[:ROUTE]->(s2:Station)

Routes are created

Questions

For questions, comments, feedback, reach out to me or create an issue on GitHub.