RetroRail

Retro terminal-style train times for Irish Rail

A minimalist iOS app displaying real-time Irish Rail train information with a classic 1980s computer terminal aesthetic. Green phosphor glow optional.

RetroRail connects to the Irish Rail API to provide live train departure and arrival information for all stations across the Irish Rail network. Think of it as teletext for trains, rendered with the charm of a VT100 terminal.

Features

No subscriptions, no ads, just a one time purchase forever for the price of 25% of a modern day coffee.

Station Browser Complete station list - All Irish Rail stations (Mainline, Suburban, DART) Type filtering - Filter by station type: All, Mainline, Suburban, DART Text search - Block cursor filter field with live search Station codes - Proper 3-letter station codes (HSTON, CNLLY, etc.) Network status - Real-time online/offline indicator

Train Times Display Live departures - Real-time train times with expected delays Platform grouping - Trains organised by direction (Northbound/Southbound/etc.) Delay information - Shows expected times and delay minutes Last location - Where the train currently is Origin/destination - Full route information Auto-refresh - Updates every 60 seconds with countdown timer Teletype animation - Classic progressive reveal effect

Train Movement Details Full journey view - Tap any train to see all stops on its route Real-time updates - Shows passed stations, current location, and upcoming stops Station highlights - Current station clearly marked Time display - Scheduled and actual times for each stop Delay tracking - Per-station delay information Smart filtering - Hides timing points, shows passenger stops only

Favourites System Quick access - Star your frequently used stations Persistent storage - Favourites saved between sessions Toggle anywhere - Add/remove favourites from train detail view Dedicated tab - Star button filters to favourites only Visual indicators - Star = favourited, empty = not favourited

Retro Terminal Aesthetic Monospace rendering - Proper terminal font throughout Block cursor - Classic blinking block cursor on text input Border styling - Box-drawing characters and terminal borders Two colour themes: Green - Classic phosphor CRT (like a VT220) Amber - Warm amber terminal (DEC VT100 style) Status indicators - Retro bracket notation Black background - Pure terminal black, no grey compromises

iOS Native Features Swipe navigation - Natural iOS gestures throughout Keyboard handling - Smart keyboard with enter/dismiss Safe area support - Works on all iPhone models Offline handling - Graceful degradation when network unavailable Low bandwidth - Efficient XML parsing, minimal data usage

Usage

1. Launch app - Opens to station list
2. Select station type - Tap All/Mainline/Suburban/DART
3. Filter stations - Type in search field to narrow list
4. View trains - Tap any station to see live departures
5. Inspect journey - Tap any train to see full route with all stops
6. Add favourites - Tap the star button on train screen to star station
7. Switch themes - Tap A (amber) or G (green) at bottom of station list

Live data courtesy of Irish Rail's public XML API.

Built with an appreciation for the elegant simplicity of 1980s terminal interfaces.