Description
Update: September 17th
New orders feature a slightly updated design compared to the current photos on this page. A wave texture has been added to Port Phillip Bay, and the instruction manual now has a met green cover.
- Live Tracking: See actual train positions in real-time
- 1042 Colourful LEDs: RGB lights indicate which track each train is on
- Live: Connects to Wi-Fi to get the latest train locations every 20 seconds
- Auto Brightness: Includes a light sensor to automatically adjust the brightness of the LEDs, and you can also manually adjust it using the buttons
- Timetable Mode: No Wi-Fi or server needed to show the weekday timetable because it is saved on the map
- Support Local: A 33 x 30cm circuit board designed and tested in New Zealand (by me!)
- No App Required: Quick Wi-Fi setup and firmware upgrades with a simple Web Page
- Take it on the go: You can power this map with a USB battery bank and connect it to a smartphone’s Wi-Fi hotspot
- Flexible Cable Routing: Features three separate USB-C ports (left, right, and bottom) so you can route the cable neatly to either side on a desk, or straight down when wall mounted.
In the Box:
- 1 x Melbourne Train Map circuit board (33 x 30cm)
- Wall mounting wire pre-installed on the back
- 1 x USB A-C power cable (1m white soft silicone)
- Note: it also supports USB C-C cables (but this cable is not included)
- 1 x USB Power Supply (White, AU Plug, 2A)
- 2 x 3D-printed stands (Matte Black)
- 1 x Instruction Manual
Specs:
- Microcontroller: ESP32-S3 view datasheet
- Two CPU cores running at 240 MHz
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n compliant)
- 8MB storage (Stores the timetable and brightness settings along with the base firmware)
- Lights: 1042 tiny full colour RGB LEDs (1.6 x 1.5mm) view datasheet
- Light Sensor: LTR303/308 sensor for automatic brightness
- Size: 330mm wide x 300mm tall
- The station names use a 1.7mm high font
Modes
- Live (Default): Fetches the latest train positions from the server every 15 seconds over Wi-Fi
- Timetable: Displays the saved weekday timetable. This does not require the server as the timetable is saved on the device (if connected to Wi-Fi, it syncs to the current time of day).
- Fast Forward: At 600x normal speed the map displays the saved weekday timetable. No Wi-Fi required in this mode.
Symbols and Lines
- There is one LED per track, so you can see which way each train is going at a glance. You can use this to see when the next train is arriving at your station.
- Shown Lines: Displays live tracking for all Metro Train lines including the Stony Point line.
- V/Line trains are also shown as purple LEDs where they run alongside or on Metro tracks (except for the V/Line terminating platforms at Southern Cross Station).
- I’ve also included the Flemington Racecourse line for special events : )
- Stations:
- I have even included the unused Platform 14 at Flinders Street and Platform 8 South at Southern Cross, just in case they ever see metro trains again!
No Subscriptions or ongoing fees:
- 10-Year Support: I will keep the data server running until at least 2036, provided Transport Victoria continues offering their free GTFS real-time API (The same interface google & apple maps use)
- For the self-hosting nerds: If for whatever reason you want to run your own backend server on your local network, the code is open source and can be run in a docker container: View the code on Github
Preview Demo
I’ve put together a little webpage that shows what this map would look like with all the LEDs lit up using the live GPS data from Transport Victoria. You can even zoom in to find your station!
This project has been certified to be open source by The Open Source Hardware Association
Petar (verified owner) –
An incredibly high quality piece! It looks stunning and I’ve found myself staring and mesmerised by it from time to time. Clearly a lot of attention to detail has gone into making this map. It included stands to prop up the map to be freestanding, as well as a wire to hang the map from on a wall. I love that there are several USB-C ports to choose where to power the map from. The included manual is charming and easy to follow, and setting up the map for the first time was a breeze.
mkaselisaus –
I saw this advertised a few months before its release, and eagerly bought one as soon as it became available. I now have it mounted in a shadow box (picture frame) above my desk, and it really is captivating. Even a month later, I still find myself looking up and just watching it. With a glance, I see that trackwork has closed the Ringwood lines, or that there are four trains at Caulfield with another waiting to approach, or that the network is winding down for the night so it must be after 1am! Mesmerizing.
Technically, it is a beautiful piece of work. There are similar products by other businesses out there for various locations, but they tend to be much simpler and mostly display everything as single lines. Seeing the full traffic flow on Melbourne’s double and triple tracks makes a huge difference. The sheer number of trains is impressive. Even having a black PCB instead of green helps a lot, giving better contrast. Setup was very easy, and it worked straight out of the box. Two of the power supply capacitors had come unsoldered and were loose in the bag (presumably the early quality control issues the designer mentioned), but that does not affect operation. Having the backup non-WiFi mode with the built-in timetable is a great idea, avoiding the risk that many internet-connected devices have of potentially becoming useless bricks a few years from now.
Very impressed, and well worth it!
michael.rowe91 –
I honestly couldn’t be happier with this Melbourne Live Train Map.
From the moment it arrived, it was clear that an incredible amount of thought, care and passion had gone into every aspect of the product. It was extremely well packed, the presentation felt premium, and the included documentation was a fantastic touch. The use of classic MetRail styling brought back a lot of nostalgia and really added to the experience.
Setup was unbelievably simple. I plugged it into my computer, opened the supplied link, entered my Wi-Fi details, and within minutes it was up and running. It genuinely couldn’t have been easier.
The map itself is stunning. The build quality is exceptional, the finish is beautiful, and every detail feels carefully considered. I love that it can be displayed on the included stands or mounted on a wall, and the multiple USB connection options make installation flexible and convenient.
The software is equally impressive. Watching live train movements across the Melbourne network is fascinating, and the accelerated timetable mode is incredibly cool. Seeing an entire day’s operations unfold at high speed gives you a real appreciation for the complexity of the network.
As a V/Line driver, I spend my working life around railways, and even I find myself standing there watching it for far longer than I intended.
I also want to give special recognition to Chris, who was incredibly helpful throughout the purchase process. It’s obvious that this has been built by someone who genuinely loves railways and cares about producing a quality product.
This is one of those rare purchases that exceeds expectations. It’s technically brilliant, beautifully made, and I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic conversation piece in my home.
My only issue is that now, I desperately want a Victorian regional network version. If Chris ever decides to build one covering the V/Line network and regional Victoria, I’ll be first in line.
samlorback –
Everything I’d hoped for and more. This is easily the coolest thing I own, and it’s super easy to get lost in. While every part of the very precise design is amazing, I particularly love the adjustable brightness and the inclusion of the actual junctions and switchbacks! The software design ensures that it can be updated and remain accurate as the rail network changes, only excluding physical developments (So knowing Victoria, we’re probably safe). You can feel the amount of care put into every detail. Kea’s clearly put a lot of thought into how it will be used, as it includes a stand, a power adapter, and a wire to hang on the wall! The setup is of course incredibly smooth. I would absolutely recommend to anyone interested.