In train: Real-time apps take the uncertainty out of commuting. Sydney train commuters are now able to track in real-time how far away their train is with smartphone apps. State Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian unveiled six updated apps on Thursday that will have the real-time capability, which makes use of markers on stations that will receive information from trains, and then pass it on to the apps. The release of up-to-the-minute information about where trains are on the network follows the release late last year of real-time bus information. A screenshot of Trip View and it showing real-time train information. Photo: Screenshot by Ben Grubb Before Thursday, Sydney public transport apps had been limited to providing published train timetables. But - as commuters know only too well - trains often arrive well outside their scheduled time. "This government has been committed to providing customers with more information and the launch of these real-time train apps follows the successful roll-out of the real-time bus apps in December which have so far been downloaded more than 1 million times," Ms Berejiklian said. "The train apps mean customers will know when to leave work or home to meet their train at the station and also provides the information customers need to make decisions about their journeys," she said. Each of the six apps - TripGo, Triptastic, TripView, Arrivo Sydney, Hidden City and TransitTimes - offers different features for customers and there are free versions as well as versions costing up to $2.99. The apps are available from the iTunes Store, Google Play and the Windows App Store. The apps will initially provide real-time train location information for trains on the Western, Bankstown, Inner West, Northern, Cumberland, Airport and East Hills, South and North Shore Lines as well as the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line to Heathcote. The six apps have been developed in conjunction with app developers who won a competition organised by the NSW Government. Transport for NSW said it would continue to work with the developers to further improve and expand the information provided for future releases. with Jacob Saulwick