This time, they got me good
April 1, 2010 – Today, changes in the DB website again broke ZugInfo. After a first investigation it seems that this time they got me good. There is not a change in the html output delivered from the site, which could be adopted to quickly. There seems to be a change in the CGI scripts, which prevents to use the API via standard methods from the IPhone. URLs that work perfectly fine from the browser window are no longer accepted when send from the ZugInfo code. I will investigate this further of the weekend, but at the moment I am not positive that there will be a fix any time soon 
I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience, since I really planned to end ZugInfo graceously (see previous post).
April 4th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
This is very sad news. Don’t let us down, who we travel with BC 100, some days per week. Zuginfo could save train connections, an essential feature if you travel to foreign countries in the neighborhood, where roaming is expensive. Well, i would donate much more than only Euro if you won’t loose your patience and go on. Hope that other users would agree to it and send you many messages like this. Would be a sad world where people don’t want to pay for a nice App, as i soon want to publish one too, one you can use meanwhile you travel in trains, to tell what time you might arrive.
April 4th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
… donate more than only ONE Euro, i meant …. Das kommt vom Schreiben in Englisch. Woher kommt das Programm?
April 6th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Hey, i’m working for the Government. If you can provide code that shows Deutsche Bahn does these changes to keep others API’s outside, tell us that. Company’s like Volkswagen have to open their systems do to European regulation. We will do the same here, if needed.
April 6th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I agree this is bad news – I’m travelling Deutsche Bahn daily (BC100 hostage as well) and have to say that DB Navigator is far from being an appropriate replacement for your app which used to be way more effective and comfortable in terms of functionality (like memorizing and mailing connections). I hope you’ll be able to get the app runnig again – and maybe Phillip’s above comment could be a tool to help solve that problem. Thanks for your work so far, hope to see ZugInfo up again soon!
April 6th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
That is a really sad development. I have been using Zuginfo for quite some time now und it was just the best app around.
DB Navigator ATM is no alternative, because with EDGE or GRPS connectivity (iPhone Classic/2G) the software is just crap to use.
Best features were the little button to reverse the travel direction, saving connections and the intuitive use of the programm.
I am no pro, but couldn’t you fake the HTTP user-agent to something else than iPhone? That should make it work again.
Tomorrow I plan on writing a letter of complaint to DB. Although I don’t believe that will change anything, I do believe that they should know that their customers aren’t satisfied with how they operate their business.
And the new mobile page http://m.bahn.de isn’t really a joy to use – therefore no alternative.
Thank you for your work and the merits you put into that great app of yours.
April 6th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
hi all,
thank you very much for the comments, i really appreciate it. I believe the main problem is not the technical side. It is possible to fake the http header etc.
For me the main problem is that a the moment ZugInfo completely relies on an unstable API, that breaks in ever more frequent intervals. If ZugInfo will only work half of the time (assuming a change once per month), i think it is not really something I would want to put in the App Store.
If anyone has contact at DB I would gladly discuss this with them (assuming they are interested).
best wishes, m.
April 6th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
this is really sad news. i liked your App very much, especially the possibility to save routes and favourites. such a pity. good luck for the future and please tell me if you consider to relauch zuginfo!
April 6th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
@Herbert
I don’t really have a contact at DB. But my father knowes some people who are into trains and the DB, and I believe one of them works there. Although I have no idea in what position etc.
But I’ll give it a try.
April 8th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Well bad news on the contact side. my dad has no one who would be in the appropriate position
April 8th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
hello herbert,
this is pretty sad news, cause your app was a very good companion – very reliable, had a very good usability and, and most of all, was much faster than the DB app.
hope you’ll be back soon!
pls don’t give up!
cheers
hobbes
April 9th, 2010 at 12:27 am
I will really miss Zuginfo.
Shouldn’t we start some complaint or a request for a statement from Deutsche Bahn together?
I am in
April 9th, 2010 at 2:20 am
this was the BEST app on an unjailbroaken iphone..
the fact that this app doesn’t work any longer is another cause to sell my iphone…
lost my jailbreak and now even a nokia is better :/
f*cking crapple :/
April 9th, 2010 at 8:22 am
Hi Herbert,
I understand your frustration and I can only hope you find an agreement with DB how to support their customers with your superb application.
I love it and I miss it!
Cheers, aufgomera
April 10th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I noticed this by accident and was rather shocked.
Please don’t give up because this is exactly what they wanted you to do. I hope your App will return to the Appstore soon – until then I’ll leave your App on the phone just in case an update will bring back it’s functionality
It had been a great programm – much better than the Navigator!
April 11th, 2010 at 2:21 am
Hello!
Even for blind people the app was/is a very good solution.
The fevorits function for me was/is the killer argument.
I hope that ZugInfo comes back.
April 15th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Hi,
I wrote an EMail to the DB.
Think it won’t change anything but im courious what they’ll answer.
Your App was great! I miss it every day…
F*** confusing navigator!
April 18th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
You need to contact HaCon (www.hacon.de).
April 18th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Hey,
very sad news…Zuginfo is a very good app. I really miss it !!!!
April 21st, 2010 at 4:54 pm
hi everybody.
just wrote a e-mail to hacon.de hope everybody does the same! would be terrible to lose this app!
May 7th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
MIST! I just realized that my favorite App for travelling no longer works. I can’t believe this happened. DB-Navigator is no alternative at all.
May 13th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
My Most facorite app is gone? Cannot Be possible!!
I always loved this app because of its easy use and its performance. DB Navigator is crep!
I’ve no problem to pay for it, if you need more resources for R&D in order to break this nasty DB behaviour!! From my Point of view this app would 2,59€ worth.
Regards, a very sad ZugInfo user
May 16th, 2010 at 10:25 am
I miss it!
June 2nd, 2010 at 12:42 pm
[...] hatte diese Applikation seit Einführung des DB-Navigators mit Problemen zu kämpfen, da es seitens der Bahn Umstellungen gab. Ob es sich dabei um einen Zufall handelt, sei dahingestellt. Jedenfalls ist der Betrieb von [...]
June 5th, 2010 at 10:44 am
A sad day for open standards… I really hope that you can one day “rise again” Excellent little app that saved me so much time and aggravation.
Back to using this rubbish:
http://efa.vrr.de/vrr/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=de
Thanks again
G
February 3rd, 2011 at 11:23 am
Dammit!
My car broke and I needed to switch to the train – only to find out the only really useable timetable app doesn’t work anymore and has Bern withdrawn from the app store.
It is hard to NOT believe that the web site changes have NOT been intentional…