Helsinki Live LED Train Map

A real-time PCB map of the Helsinki Region train network, powered by an ESP32-C3 microcontroller. Train movements are displayed using addressable RGB LEDs, with live data fetched over Wi-Fi.

---

Table of Contents

• Helsinki Live LED Train Map
  • Table of Contents
  • Features
  • Hardware
  • Design
  • Software / Firmware
  • Getting Started
  • Web Installer
  • Web Simulator
  • Stand
  • Server
  • Links
  • Contributing
  • License

---

Features

• Real-time Train Tracking: Displays the approximate locations of trains on the HSL and VR commuter network.
• Addressable LEDs: ~290 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.

---

Hardware

• Microcontroller: Expressif ESP32-C3FH4 (RISC-V, 160 MHz, 4 MB Flash, QFN32)
• Level shifter: Texas Instruments SN74LVC4245APWR (3.3V to 5V)
• LEDs: ~290 x XingLight XL-1615RGBC-WS2812B (1.6mm x 1.5mm)
• PCB: 249mm x 71.5mm, JLCPCB-friendly
• Antenna: On-board PCB antenna (TI CC2430DB design)
• Ports: Two USB Type-C ports for redundancy

---

Design

Rail diagram design

Inspiration for the layout was taken from the VR rail map used on commuter trains (above the doors).

Each LED represents a double-track line

• 8-tracked sections (4 LEDs wide):

  1. Helsinki-Pasila

• Quad-tracked sections (2 express commuter & intercity, 2 slower commuter):

  1. Pasila-Leppävaara-(Kauklahti [Under construction])
  2. Pasila-Kerava

• Exceptions to single-track lines:

  1. Tavastila-Kotkan satama
  2. Siuntio-Hanko

Technical design

• Designed in KiCad V9.0 using JLCPCB KiCad Library
• View Online: Interactive PCB Layout (Kicanvas)
• Source Files: /PCB directory

Schematic

Led chains are located on other pages

---

Software / Firmware

NOTE! Software and firmware have been moved to another repo

The ESP32-C3 firmware is responsible for:

1. Connecting to Wi-Fi
2. Fetching live train data from the API
3. Processing data to determine train locations
4. Controlling WS2812B LED chains to display train positions
5. Handling button inputs and status LEDs
6. Hosting a web page for configuration

---

Getting Started

1. Flash the Firmware:
   • Use the Web Installer (recommended, no drivers needed)
   • Or flash manually using PlatformIO (Firmware/ directory)
2. Connect to Wi-Fi:
   • On first boot, use the web installer interface to configure Wi-Fi credentials. They are saved locally on the device.
3. Power the Board:
   • Use a 5V USB-C power supply capable of at least ~1A (~2A recommended for compatibility with higher brightness settings).
4. Configure in the :
   • Visit the IP address of your device (shown in Web Installer)
   • Configure options like tails, brightness and mode
5. Enjoy the Live Train Map!

Status LEDs

The top (🔌) power led is hardwired to the power rail

The middle and bottom status leds are controlled by the MCU

LED	Light	Meaning
top (🔌)	🟩 green	The board is powered
top (🔌)	⬛ none	The board is not powered
top (🔌)	🟥 red	This shouldn't happen although it's techically possible if there's severe issues in the pcb
middle (ᯤ)	🟩 green	Connected to the API
middle (ᯤ)	🟩 green (blinking)	Mode change pending
middle (ᯤ)	⬛ none	Connecting to the API
middle (ᯤ)	🟥 red	Failed to connect to API
bottom (🌐)	🟩 green (blinking)	Connecting to wifi
bottom (🌐)	🟩 green	Connected to wifi
bottom (🌐)	⬛ none	Failed to boot
bottom (🌐)	🟥 red	Failed to connect to wifi

Map Modes

There are 4(+1) map modes on the device. You can switch the mode by pressing the map (🗺️) button or by going to the control panel.

Lines (default)

• Shows commuter trains by line
• Only commuter trains
• Some colors are reused on lines that do not intersect

Color	Line
$${\color{#f00}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Z
$${\color{#f80}\Huge\text{■}}$$	A
$${\color{#ff0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	E,O
$${\color{#0f0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	P,G
$${\color{#0ff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	M,I
$${\color{#00f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	K
$${\color{#80f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Y,L,H
$${\color{#f0f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	U
$${\color{#f08}\Huge\text{■}}$$	D,T,R
$${\color{#fff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	V, Other	Look up on juliadata.fi

* V is used in transfer services

Delay

• Shows the delay state of trains
• Only commuter trains

Color	Delay (min)	Description
$${\color{#0ff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	< 0	Ahead of schedule
$${\color{#0f0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	0 - 2	On time
$${\color{#ff0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	2 - 10	Mild delay
$${\color{#f00}\Huge\text{■}}$$	> 20	Severe delay
$${\color{#f0f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	-	Unknown delay amount

Composition

• Shows the locomotives/EMUs of trains
• ALL trains shown (incl. InterCity, freight)

Color	Loco	Description
EMUs
$${\color{#f00}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Sm2	Commuter, old
$${\color{#0f0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Sm3	Pendolino (IC)
$${\color{#ff0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Sm4	Commuter, longer distances
$${\color{#80f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Sm5	Commuter, shorter distances
$${\color{#f0f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Sm6	Allegro (IC)
$${\color{#f80}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Sm7	Commuter, not in regular service yet
Locos
$${\color{#0ff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Sr2	IC locomotive
$${\color{#00f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Sr3	Newer IC locomotive
Other
$${\color{#f08}\Huge\text{■}}$$	N/A	No composition found (most likely freight)
$${\color{#fff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Other	Other locomotive with no color defined (Look up on juliadata.fi)

Train types

• Shows the types of trains
• ALL trains shown (incl. InterCity, freight)

Color	Code	Description
$${\color{#f00}\Huge\text{■}}$$	IC	Double-decker intercity trains
$${\color{#f80}\Huge\text{■}}$$	VET	Locomotive train
$${\color{#f80}\Huge\text{■}}$$	MUS, MUV	Heritage train
$${\color{#0f0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	S	Pendolino train
$${\color{#00f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	T	Freight train
$${\color{#80f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	HL	Commuter train
$${\color{#f0f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	HV	Commuter train transfer
$${\color{#f08}\Huge\text{■}}$$	PAR, PAI, VEV, W, SAA	Shunting
$${\color{#fff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Other	Other train type with no color defined (Look up on juliadata.fi)

Test

• Shows the types of LEDs

Color	Type	Description	Technical logic
$${\color{#ff0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Station	All services stop	Train has arrived, but not departed
$${\color{#f00}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Stop	Express services skip	Same as station
$${\color{#0f0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Between	Single LED between stops/stations	Train left previous, not arrived at next
$${\color{#0ff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	MultiBetween	Multiple LEDs between stops/stations	Same as between, but exact position is appoximated using timetable

Disruptions

• Shows disruptions for stations and trains

Color	Disruption
$${\color{#f00}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Cancellation
$${\color{#f80}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Infrastructure disruption
$${\color{#ff0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Other disruption
$${\color{#0f0}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Track work
$${\color{#0ff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Private train
$${\color{#00f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Replacement service
$${\color{#80f}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Missing/replaced wagon(s)
$${\color{#fff}\Huge\text{■}}$$	Unclassified

---

Web Installer

Easily flash the latest firmware to your ESP32-C3 using your browser:

Open the Helsinki 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

---

Web Simulator

View the map without having the physical pcb:

Open the Helsinki LED Train Map Web Simulator

• Use the map mode button to switch display modes, just like on the real thing
• Works with most modern browsers
• Fetches data from the API

---

Stand and other 3D Models

A 3d-printable stand to hold up the board. Files are located in /3D Models

---

Server

Processes train running data from digitraffic. Documentation for the train API is available at https://www.digitraffic.fi/rautatieliikenne. Most of it is only available in finnish.

Main packages:

• express: API handling
• mqtt: Listening to MQTT train messages
• node-sqlite & sqlite3: Database for cached train compositions and stats
• node-cron: Cron jobs for recaching data and cleaning the database

The api is tunneled to ltm.hekinav.dev.

Running locally

Install npm packages

npm install

Start the api in dev mode (watches files) (uses port 3001 by default)

npm run dev

Production

Compile TS to JS

npm run build

Start the server

npm run start or in PM2 pm2 start ./ecosystem.config.cjs

---

Links

• Web Installer
• Web Simulator
• Interactive PCB Viewer
• JLCPCB KiCad Library

---

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Open an issue or submit a pull request for improvements, bug fixes, or feature suggestions.

---

Attributions

Thanks to Chris (CDFER) for the base and support of this project. Check out his store with multiple LED Rail Maps at keastudios.co.nz

License

This project is released under the MIT license.

© 2025 Chris Dirks & Unto Ahti