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.