You can now support my work by buying this through my store: https://keastudios.co.nz/store/akl-ltm/
A physical, real-time LED map of the Auckland train network, powered by an ESP32-C3 microcontroller. Train movements are displayed using addressable RGB LEDs, with live data fetched over Wi-Fi.
- Real-time Train Tracking: Displays the approximate locations of trains on the Auckland network.
- Addressable LEDs: ~150 WS2812B-compatible RGB LEDs (1.6x1.5mm) for a vibrant display.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: ESP32-C3's built-in Wi-Fi fetches live train data.
- Custom PCB: Designed for JLCPCB manufacturing limits.
- Open Source: Hardware and firmware are open source.
- Microcontroller: ESP32-C3 (RISC-V, 160 MHz, 4 MB Flash, QFN32)
- LEDs: ~150 x XL-1615RGBC-WS2812B (1.6mm x 1.5mm)
- PCB: 249mm x 66mm, JLCPCB-friendly
- Antenna: On-board PCB antenna (TI CC2430DB design)
- Designed in KiCad V9.0 using JLCPCB KiCad Library
- View Online: Interactive PCB Layout (Kicanvas)
- Source Files:
/PCBdirectory
The ESP32-C3 firmware is responsible for:
- Connecting to Wi-Fi
- Fetching live train data from the GTFS Realtime Cache API
- Processing data to determine train locations
- Controlling WS2812B LEDs to display train positions
- Flash the Firmware:
- Use the Web Installer (recommended, no drivers needed)
- Or flash manually using PlatformIO (
Firmware/directory)
- Connect to Wi-Fi:
- On first boot, use the web interface to configure Wi-Fi credentials.
- Power the Board:
- Use a 5V USB-C power supply capable of at least 1A.
- Enjoy the Live Map!
Easily flash the latest firmware to your ESP32-C3 using your browser:
Open the Auckland LED Train Map Web Installer
- Works with Chrome, Edge, or any Web Serial-compatible browser
- Follow on-screen instructions to connect and flash your device
Contributions are welcome! Open an issue or submit a pull request for improvements, bug fixes, or feature suggestions.
This project is released under the GPL-3.0-or-later license.
© 2025 Chris Dirks