Description
- Live Tracking: See actual train positions in realtime
- 135 LEDs: Bright RGB lights to indicate which line the train is on
- Live-Updates: Connects to Wi-Fi for real-time data
- Auto Brightness: Wellington 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 WiFi or Server needed to show the 2025 weekday timetable because it is saved on the map
- Support Local: A 211 x 96mm circuit board designed and tested in New Zealand (by me!)
- Easy Setup and Updates: Quick WiFi setup and upgrades via my simple Web Page
- Fully Open Source: Tech-savvy? All the code is online and free for anyone to use. You can see the Code and Design Files on GitHub
- 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
In the Box:
- 1 x Fully Assembled LED Train Map (21.1 x 9.6cm)
- 1 x USB A-C power cable (1M white soft silicone)
- 2 x 3D-printed stands (Black)
- 1 x Instruction Manual
- You need to have a USB charger (USB-A plug, 5V, 1A min recommended)
- Note: this device also supports USB C-C cables (but this cable is not included)
- If you are not sure whether your charger will work feel free to contact me
Specs:
- Microcontroller: ESP32-C3 chip view datasheet ↗
- 160 MHz RISC-V single core processor
- Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n compliant)
- 4MB storage (Stores the timetable and brightness settings along with the base firmware)
- USB 2.0 Full Speed (12Mbps)
- QFN32 (5×5 mm) package
- Lights: 135 tiny addressable RGB LEDs (1.6 x 1.5mm) view datasheet ↗
- Light Sensor: LTR303 ambient light sensor from Lite-On view datasheet ↗
- Antenna: High performance 2.4GHz antenna design based on the Texas Instruments SWRU120
- Size: 96mm wide x 211mm tall
Modes (Can be changed by pressing the mode button)
1. Realtime (Default)
- Fetches the latest train positions from the server every 10 seconds over Wi-Fi
2. Timetable
- Displays the August 2025 normal weekday timetable. This does not require the server as the timetable is saved on the device, WiFi is optional (Used to sync the clock to the right time of day).
3. Fast Forward
- At 1000x normal speed the map displays the August 2025 weekday timetable. No server or WiFi required in this mode.
Symbols and Lines
- Shown Lines: Displays live tracking for the Kāpiti, Johnsonville, Melling, Hutt Valley, and Wairarapa lines.
- The Melling line is shown in pink to differentiate it from Hutt Valley services.
- Unfortunately, I am only able display in-service metlink trains and as the Capital Connection is not managed by metlink, their GPS data is not publicly available.
- Substations & Stations: The circuit board layout mirrors the real-world network.
- The electrical decoupling capacitors for the LEDs are placed where actual electrical substations power the trains in Wellington.
- Station names for single-platform stations are placed on the side of the track they are on in real life.
- Stations with 3-4 tracks have two LEDs, while Wellington Station’s nine platforms are represented by five LEDs.
- I have included the outlines for the closed stations at Kaiwharawhara and Muri along with the passing loops on the Johnsonville Line, including the loop at Wadestown.
- On-Track Details: You’ll also find symbols for real-world landmarks.
- Bridge symbols are included for bridges longer than 200m along with a representation of the coastline and Hutt River
- Major tunnels and groups of tunnels are represented by tunnel symbols
No Subscriptions or ongoing fees:
- 10-Year Support: I’ll do my best to keep the data server running until at least 2036 as long as Metlink continue provide the GTFS realtime API with no cost to end users.
- 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
This project has been certified to be open source by The Open Source Hardware Association
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