UK Railway Dot Matrix Display Simulator

A web-based simulator that recreates authentic UK railway station dot-matrix platform displays, pulling real-time train data from National Rail's Darwin API. Built with Gatsby and TypeScript, this project faithfully reproduces the look and feel of various display systems found across the UK rail network, from modern GTR displays to legacy Daktronics systems.

The simulator serves both railway enthusiasts and developers interested in understanding how UK rail information systems work. It provides an accurate representation of platform displays you'd see at stations nationwide, complete with authentic fonts, timing behaviors, and data presentation patterns specific to different display manufacturers.

Users can select any UK railway station and view live departure information rendered on historically-accurate display boards, with automatic updates as services arrive, depart, or change status.

Key Features

• Live National Rail data — Real-time train departure information via Darwin API integration
• Multiple authentic display types — Class 700, Daktronics Data Display DMI, Infotec DMI, GTR, and West Midlands LCD variants
• Historically accurate fonts — Extensive collection of 50+ authentic railway display fonts covering Underground, National Rail, DLR, and bus systems
• Station-agnostic — Works with any UK railway station via CRS code lookup
• Automatic data updates — Periodic polling for service changes, cancellations, and delays
• Customizable settings — User-configurable display preferences with local storage persistence
• Responsive rendering — Scalable displays that maintain authentic proportions across screen sizes
• — Calling points, platform numbers, expected times, and delay reasons