Open Railway Map

OpenRailwayMap (openrailwaymap.org) is an interactive map of the world's railway network based on OpenStreetMap data, providing detailed visualization of rail lines, stations, gauges, electrification, and operating speeds for rail infrastructure globally.

For OSINT investigators, OpenRailwayMap provides a comprehensive reference for global rail infrastructure that supports investigations involving rail transport, logistics, and geographic analysis.

Rail network topology analysis reveals which rail connections exist between specific locations — useful when investigating whether rail-based logistics were possible for a specific route, or when understanding the transportation options available in a specific region.

For logistics and supply chain investigations, understanding rail connectivity helps investigators assess how goods may have been transported through specific regions — particularly relevant for investigations involving military logistics, bulk commodity transport, or industrial supply chains.

Station and infrastructure mapping shows the location and technical characteristics of rail facilities — sidings, yards, and maintenance facilities that may be relevant to investigations involving rail-transported cargo.

For geolocation verification of imagery showing rail infrastructure, OpenRailwayMap helps identify specific rail lines, stations, and technical features visible in photographs or video when attempting to establish where imagery was captured.

Gauge data is particularly relevant for investigative contexts involving military logistics analysis — different regional networks use different track gauges, and break-of-gauge points where goods must be transferred between trains are significant chokepoints in supply chains.

OpenRailwayMap's data is contributed by OpenStreetMap volunteers and quality varies by region. Major developed-country networks are well-mapped while some regional networks in developing countries may be incomplete.

Document specific rail features investigated with coordinates, observation dates, and relevance to the investigation.