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UK Transport Boards: It started with cancelled trains, young kids and a lot of frustration.
Now, just a few months later, a spare-room idea from Urmston is quietly helping people across the UK plan their days, calm anxiety and avoid standing on cold platforms wondering what’s going on.
We’re not promising miracles, but our boards will at least tell it like it is.
Behind it are James and Dan, the founders of UK Transport Boards. Their product is a compact, desktop version of the classic railway departure board, updated live via Wi-Fi with real-time train data from any UK station.
The idea didn’t come from chasing trends. It came from real life.
“I don’t even commute by train every day,” James explains. “But when you’ve got young kids and you’re travelling for leisure, the amount of times you set off only to find the train’s cancelled or delayed is unreal. You check your phone once, then assume it’s fine.
“And it’s not.”
Being able to see delays before you leave the house changes everything.
The solution was something simple and visible. A board you can glance at while getting ready, grabbing your keys or even still lying in bed. If a train’s cancelled or postponed, you know before you leave the house. No refreshing apps. No nasty surprises.
That honesty has become part of the brand’s tone, too. In a recent post, the pair joked: “New year, reliable trains? We’re not promising miracles, but our boards will at least tell it like it is.”
What’s surprised them most is how quickly it’s resonated.
In just three months, they’ve sold hundreds of boards, built a small community of early testers across the UK and earned near-perfect feedback. The very first sale, made through eBay, is still there on their account.
“We honestly couldn’t believe it,” James says. “That first order was a proper buzz. Then suddenly you’re doing ten a day and thinking, how do we keep up with this?”
Especially when everything is still built locally.
Every board is assembled, tested and packed in Urmston. Cases and components are sourced in the UK wherever possible, with Dan painstakingly building each unit around a full-time job. Even during an international Raspberry Pi shortage, they refused to rush or cut corners.
“We wanted to keep it moral,” says James. “We’re an English company. Building it here matters to us. It’s part of what makes it ours.”
The early prototypes were far from polished. No case. Wires everywhere. Text that didn’t line up properly. At one point, Dan was 3D-printing cases himself, taking around 15 hours per unit.
“It was rough,” James laughs. “But it worked. And that was the important bit.”
As the orders grew, so did the stories coming back from customers. One in particular stopped them in their tracks.
Hearing how it’s helped neurodiverse families was something we never expected.
“We’ve had messages from parents of autistic children saying it’s really helped,” James explains. “Trains and routine are a big thing. If a train’s suddenly half an hour late, that can cause a meltdown. Being able to see it in advance helps them plan and manage expectations.”
It’s not a market they set out to target, but it’s one they now take seriously. Feedback from neurodiverse families has shaped how they think about future designs, accessibility and use.
That community mindset extends closer to home too. The pair regularly take their boards to local markets around Urmston and Trafford, not just to sell, but to stay visible and give something back.
“If more small businesses did that in their own area, things would feel better,” James says. “We’re proud to be growing from here.”
Longer term, the ambition is to scale without losing those roots. Larger boards for pubs, cafés and venues. Manchester first. Then further afield. Maybe even international networks one day.
But not at the expense of quality.
“We test every batch for at least 24 hours before it goes out,” says James. “Out of hundreds sold, we’ve had one or two returns, mostly damage in the post. Communication is key. People are understanding if you’re honest.”
In a city built on graft, humour and straight talking, UK Transport Boards feels very Manchester. A practical idea. Built locally. Solving a real problem. And telling it like it is.
Three months in, this really is just the beginning.
They are currently on back order until 1 February 2026. Order yours here
In the meantime, declare your interest by emailing them at [email protected] and join the conversation on their Facebook page here
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