Train departure Display
A miniature replica UK railway station departure sign using a Raspberry Pi and OLED display to show near real-time train departures.
What is Train departure Display?
Train Departure Display is a DIY hardware project that builds a miniature replica of a UK railway station departure sign. It uses a Raspberry Pi Zero and a 256x64 SPI OLED display to show near real-time train departure information fetched from the National Rail Enquiries API. The project solves the need for a compact, real-time train information display for home or hobbyist use, replicating the classic station board experience.
Electronics hobbyists, Raspberry Pi enthusiasts, model railway builders, and UK rail fans who want to build a functional, real-time train departure display for their home or workspace.
Developers choose this project for its detailed build documentation, 3D-printable case designs, and dual display support, offering an authentic and customizable alternative to commercial displays. It leverages open data and open-source hardware, making it accessible and modifiable.
Overview
A replica, near real-time, miniature UK railway station train departure sign based upon a Raspberry Pi Zero and 256x64 SPI OLED display
Use Cases
Best For
- Building a real-time train departure display for a home office or workshop
- Creating a functional prop for model railway layouts
- Learning Raspberry Pi and SPI display integration with real-world APIs
- DIY IoT projects that display public transport information
- Customizing a compact information display for UK rail enthusiasts
- Educational projects combining hardware, software, and open data
Not Ideal For
- Projects outside the UK requiring train data from other countries
- Applications needing large or high-resolution displays beyond 256x64 OLED
- Teams seeking a ready-made commercial product without DIY assembly and 3D printing
Pros & Cons
Pros
Uses painstakingly recreated dot-matrix fonts and layout to mimic classic UK station boards, providing a nostalgic and accurate visual experience.
Includes comprehensive guides for hardware setup, software configuration, and 3D printing, making it accessible even for hobbyists new to electronics.
Allows running two separate displays from a single Raspberry Pi, enabling multi-station or platform viewing without additional hardware costs.
Code and designs are fully open-source, permitting customization and integration with other projects, as seen in the fork history and community contributions.
Cons
Requires specific components like Raspberry Pi Zero and SPI OLED displays, plus soldering and 3D printing, adding complexity, cost, and time investment.
Relies exclusively on the National Rail Enquiries API, making it unsuitable for non-UK locations without significant code modifications and alternative data integration.
Uses the OpenLDBWS API which requires registration, may have usage quotas, and is subject to downtime, potentially affecting reliability and real-time updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
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