Category: Product Updates

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New UK Departure Boards App Makes Setup and Configuration Easier

We’ve released a new UK Departure Board configuration app for iOS and Android, designed to make setting up and managing your board quicker and easier.

The app replaces the need to configure boards through a mobile or desktop browser and removes a lot of the awkward steps that can make first-time setup difficult.

Why We Built the App

Until now, configuring a board meant opening a web page on your phone, tablet, or PC. For initial setup, you also had to manually connect to a Wi-Fi network created by the board, open a browser, and enter a local IP address to continue.

While this worked, we know it wasn’t ideal.

Some users found the process confusing, and on certain Android devices it could be unreliable, which often meant people needed extra help getting their board online.

We received plenty of feedback asking for a proper mobile app, something you could just open, follow the steps, and be done. We love hearing your feedback, which is why we made some necessary changes.

Native App for iOS and Android

The new UKDB Board Configuration app is a fully native app for both Apple and Android devices.

Instead of loading configuration pages in a browser, you can now open the app and manage your board directly. This makes everyday configuration quicker and removes the need to remember URLs or bookmarks.

Configure Your Board Directly in the App

All board settings are available within the app, without needing to switch between devices or browsers.

Easier First-Time Setup with the New Wizard

The biggest change is the new setup wizard, which handles the entire Wi-Fi setup process for you.

Previously, setup involved manually connecting to the board, switching back to a browser, and entering a local address before choosing a Wi-Fi network.

The new wizard simplifies this by:

  • Connecting to the board automatically
  • Scanning for available Wi-Fi networks
  • Guiding you step by step through setup
  • Working reliably on both iOS and Android

You just follow the on-screen steps, select your Wi-Fi network, enter the password, and the board connects.

System Status Information

The app also includes a system status page, where you can see the current status of UK Departure Boards feeds and servers.

This makes it easier to check whether an issue is local or part of a wider service problem and ties in with other recent updates and feature improvements, such as unit allocation numbers.


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set up a UK Departure Board for the first time?

The setup wizard in the UKDB Board Configuration app guides you through the entire process. It connects to the board, scans available Wi-Fi networks, and helps you get connected without needing to enter IP addresses or manually switch networks.

Do I still need to use a web browser to configure my board?

No. All configuration can now be done directly within the mobile app on iOS or Android. The old setup process is still available though if you do prefer to use a pc or laptop.

Does the app work on both Apple and Android devices?

Yes. The app is designed to work consistently on both platforms.

Can I check system status if my board isn’t updating?

Yes. The app includes a system status page showing the current state of UK Departure Boards services.

Is the app free to use?

The app is free to download and use with compatible UK Departure Boards products.

Download the UKDB Board Configuration App

he app is available now for iOS and Android.

You can find it by searching “UKDB Board Configuration” or “UKDB” in your app store, or click the below app links for your device.

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Unit allocation numbers now available

A new GEMINI system feed was recently made available over at RDM which supplies train unit allocation data including the actual allocation unit numbers and of course we had to include them our boards!

What are unit allocations? and why would I care about them?

Unlike virtual train headcodes which can be assigned to different trains, the unit allocation number is the physical number of the train. They are particularly popular with rail enthusiast who can tick off a certain train on there list or look forward to seeing certain unit coming through the station. They’re especially pleased if an unusual type turns up to work a train or route when it is normally something else. Having unit numbers on their boards or on apps allows them to say “oh I’ve seen that” or know in advance if something more exotic is coming along. They bring an extra layer of detail to the real time data and just make it more exciting. London Overground and Caledonian Sleeper are currently not supported.

Its also very useful to know what type of train is coming before it arrives, You might decide to wait for a longer or more comfy one!

We can also use this data to populate more “This train is formed of 5 coaches” service information which was quite lacking on certain feeds in the past. As more and more data is added to this feed we will be able to start showing train formation diagrams detailing coach letters, toilet, bike and first class locations and much more.

How do I enable the unit allocation numbers?

This feature is only supported by our Darwin18, RTT & Tiger data feed, so make sure one of those is selected first. You can enable them using the web config, go to the “Service options” section and toggle on the new “Show unit allocation numbers” option. They will appear after the calling at list on the board itself.

We hope you enjoy this new feature, we have many more new exciting features to come!

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Freight trains now available at UK Departure Boards

UK Departure Boards are now capable of displaying Freight & Empty Coaching Stock services! We have been working on this feature for quite a while now and have put a great deal of time and effort into it.

You can either mix the freight / ECS into your usual station services (via the ‘National’ tab) Or if you want to really narrow down to a specific junction / siding or depot you can use the new ‘Junctions & Depots’ tab.

The services can be enabled via the new ‘Show Freight’ & ‘Show ECS’ toggle options. There are some extra options for showing delayed / cancelled freight / ECS as well.

One note about freight and ECS is they don’t quite behave like normal passenger services and usually don’t fully abide by their schedules which creates a few departure estimate problems. We have done our best to make the expected departure times as accurate as possible but sometimes they might be out if the service does something unexpected we cant detect. A lot of the services will activate but never actually leave, or leave very late. We do show these, but will hide them after 30min of non movement from there origin and show them again if they do eventually depart. We also display any service over 3 hours late as ‘Delayed’ (these can be hidden by a toggle option)

  • The freight / ESC data is only available to Premium Subscribers, you can sign up here.
  • We feel the system is 95% there and we are still tweaking it to be even more perfect, but if you do see something not quite right or any missing services please reach out to us with some details on the offending service.
  • We will be adding some extra features soon like ‘Arrived’ & ‘Approaching’ statuses and continue to fix any bugs we find as well as improve departure estimates.
  • We are also looking into a better system for formatting some of the crazy long locations names.

Everyone at UKDB has worked really hard on this new feature, we hope you enjoy it and hope it adds some extra value to your UK Departure Board. Any questions or feedback please email us at [email protected] (all feedback is welcome!)

Special thanks to Christian, Phil & Mark for coding & testing the system! And Andy for the fantastic freight photos!

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Gift Vouchers now available for UK Departure Boards

Gift voucher Uk Departure Boards

UKDepartureBoards.co.uk, the premier provider of bespoke railway departure board replicas, is excited to announce the launch of our new Gift Vouchers. These vouchers are perfect for train enthusiasts and travel lovers, offering a unique gift from UK railway stations in their homes.

Why Choose Our Gift Vouchers?

Our Gift Vouchers can be redeemed for any of our custom departure board products, including full-size replicas and stylish desktop displays. Each departure board is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, making them a perfect addition to any home or office decor. You can even use it for your subscriptions or voice packs! 

Key Features of a UKDepartureboard:

  • Choose your size: Whether it’s our Pro Board or Desktop Departure Board there is a size for everyone
  • Customisable: Add a voice pack and customise the display via your premium subscription or just run it as is, straight out of the box
  • Unique and Thoughtful Gift: Ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.

Our Gift Vouchers offer a wonderful opportunity to bring a piece of your daily travel into your home or the home of friends and loved ones.
Whether it’s for a train enthusiast or someone who cherishes the charm of railway travel, our vouchers make for a truly unique and memorable gift!

How to Buy

  1. Visit our website at ukdepartureboards.co.uk
  2. Choose the amount you would like your Gift Voucher to be
  3. Add to your cart and enter the email of the account you would like to gift it to.
  4. Click purchase and your voucher will be on its way

How to Redeem:

  1. Visit our website at ukdepartureboards.co.uk
  2. Browse our collection of departure board designs.
  3. Add your chosen items to the cart.
  4. Enter the unique voucher code at checkout to redeem your gift.

Terms and Conditions:

  • Vouchers are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
  • Non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
  • For full terms and conditions, please visit our website.

Buy your next voucher at https://ukdepartureboards.co.uk/store/product/gift-voucher/

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New Integration: UK Departure Boards Now Features Tyne and Wear Metro!

Great news for commuters in the North East of England! UK Departure Boards, has just rolled out a fantastic new feature that integrates the Tyne and Wear Metro system. Now, navigating the metro network in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside, and South Tyneside is easier than ever!

The latest update to UK Departure Boards brings a much-anticipated addition: the Tyne and Wear Metro Line stations. You can now view real-time departures and service updates with just a few taps.

Accessing metro information is simple. Just log in to your UK Departure Boards account and navigate to the ‘Tram’ menu. From there, select any station on the Tyne and Wear Metro line. You’ll instantly see live departures display directly on your board.

We are excited to grow the amount of stations available to UKDB users.

We continuously strive to improve the UK Departure Boards offer. This latest update is just one of the many enhancements we have planned.

The integration of the Tyne and Wear Metro into UK Departure Boards marks a significant milestone in providing comprehensive public transport information. We invite you to purchase a board today and experience this new feature for yourself. Happy travels, and we look forward to making your commuting experience better than ever!

Stay tuned for more updates and features. We’re just getting started on making your travel experience seamless and stress-free!

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UK Departure Boards partners with HOPS Heritage Rail

We are delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with HOPS Heritage Railways to make heritage railway station data available on UK Departure Boards!

HOPS is the management and compliance system used by heritage railways, museums and centres in the UK and Australia. The system is continuously under development by heritage and professional railway operators.

Here is a list of currently supported heritage railways.

Data for stations at participating heritage railways will be available in the new ‘Heritage’ tab of your board config.