- name
- trains
- description
- Query UK National Rail live departure boards, arrivals, delays, and train services. Use when asked about train times, departures, arrivals, delays, platforms, or "when is the next train" for UK railways. Supports all GB stations via Darwin/Huxley2 API.
UK Trains
Query National Rail Darwin API for live train departures and arrivals.
Setup
Requires free Darwin API token:
- Register at https://realtime.nationalrail.co.uk/OpenLDBWSRegistration/
- Set
NATIONAL_RAIL_TOKENin environment (or configure in skills.entries.uk-trains.apiKey)
Commands
# Departures
./scripts/trains.py departures PAD
./scripts/trains.py departures PAD to OXF --rows 5
# Arrivals
./scripts/trains.py arrivals MAN
./scripts/trains.py arrivals MAN from EUS
# Station search
./scripts/trains.py search paddington
./scripts/trains.py search kingsStation Codes
Use 3-letter CRS codes:
PAD= London PaddingtonEUS= London EustonKGX= London Kings CrossVIC= London VictoriaWAT= London WaterlooMAN= Manchester PiccadillyBHM= Birmingham New StreetEDB= Edinburgh WaverleyGLC= Glasgow CentralBRI= Bristol Temple MeadsLDS= LeedsLIV= Liverpool Lime StreetRDG= ReadingOXF= OxfordCBG= Cambridge
Response Format
JSON with:
locationName,crs- Station infomessages[]- Service alertstrainServices[]- List of trains:
- std/sta - Scheduled departure/arrival time - etd/eta - Expected time ("On time", "Delayed", or actual time) - platform - Platform number - operator - Train operating company - destination[].name - Final destination - isCancelled, cancelReason, delayReason - Disruption info
Message Template
Use this compact format for WhatsApp/chat responses:
🚂 {Origin} → {Destination}
*{dep} → {arr}* │📍{platform} │ 🚃 {coaches}
{status}
*{dep} → {arr}* │📍{platform} │ 🚃 {coaches}
{status}Elements
- Header: 🚂 emoji + origin → destination
- Time: Bold, departure → arrival times
- Platform: 📍 + number (or "TBC" if unknown)
- Coaches: 🚃 + space + number
- Status:
- ✅ On time - ⚠️ Delayed (exp {time}) - ❌ Cancelled — {reason} - 🔄 Starts here
Example
🚂 Hemel Hempstead → Euston
*20:18 → 20:55* │📍4 │ 🚃 4
✅ On time
*20:55 → 21:30* │📍4 │ 🚃 12
✅ On time
*21:11 → 21:41* │📍4 │ 🚃 8
✅ On timeGetting Arrival Times
To show arrival times, make two API calls:
departures {origin} to {dest}— get departure times + service IDsarrivals {dest} from {origin}— get arrival times
Match services by the numeric prefix in serviceID (e.g., 4748110HEMLHMP_ matches 4748110EUSTON__).
Notes
- Separate each service with a blank line
- Omit coaches if formation data unavailable
- For delays, show expected time:
⚠️ Delayed (exp 20:35)