# Open-source UK train display for Pimoroni Presto hits GitHub

> **Key takeaway:** Robin Cole published a self-contained UK train departure board that runs directly on the Pimoroni Presto without any Raspberry Pi, server, or cloud proxy.

**Published:** 2026-10-19T20:21:19+00:00 
**Source:** Adafruit Electronics 
**Category:** open-hardware 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/open-source-uk-train-display-for-pimoroni-presto-hits-github.html 

## Summary
Robin Cole has released an open-source UK train departure board for the Pimoroni Presto display board. The project connects directly to National Rail's Rail Data Marketplace REST/JSON API, bypassing the legacy SOAP service and eliminating any need for intermediate hardware or cloud infrastructure. Setup requires only two local files: a secrets file for credentials and a config.py for station and display settings. Users can either replace main.py for automatic startup or keep the stock launcher and run train_display.py from the carousel.

## How the Presto train display works
- **Direct API connection**: Uses National Rail Darwin data via the Rail Data Marketplace REST/JSON endpoint, not the legacy SOAP service
- **No intermediary infrastructure**: Runs entirely on the Presto with no Raspberry Pi, server, cloud function, or translation proxy
- **Two-file configuration**: `secrets` file holds API credentials; `config.py` sets station list, Waterloo destination filter, RDM URL, refresh interval, brightness, and inactivity timeout
- **Flexible deployment**: Replace `main.py` for auto-start station picker, or upload `train_display.py` to appear in the stock launcher carousel with built-in travel icon
- **Developer tooling included**: Dependency-free host test suite and renderer preview for testing against connected hardware without file installation
- **Development method**: Built iteratively with OpenAI Codex, tested on physical hardware throughout

## Why it matters
The project demonstrates a clean pattern for embedded open hardware: direct API consumption without cloud dependencies, reducing cost, complexity, and failure points. The included test suite and renderer preview also lower the barrier for contributors to modify or extend the display.