Marcus Vechiato

Telegram Alerts for UK Commute Disruptions

  1. What it does
  2. Directory layout
  3. Configure config.json
  4. Setup
    1. Message format

The Telegram notifier is independent of SwiftBar and xbar. It runs on a schedule and sends alerts when trains are cancelled or delayed beyond a threshold.

Repo: https://github.com/vechiato/uk-next-train/tree/main/telegram

What it does

  • Polls Huxley2 for configured routes inside defined time windows
  • Filters by weekdays and criteria per trip
  • Sends a single alert per problematic next train to avoid spam
  • Logs to cron.log for audit

Directory layout

  • notify_train.py — main script
  • config.json.example — starter config
  • setup_cron.sh — adds a cron job to run every 5 minutes
  • README.md — usage notes

Configure config.json

{
  "telegram_token": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN",
  "telegram_chat_id": "YOUR_CHAT_ID",
  "trips": [
    {
      "name": "Morning Commute",
      "from": "WIM",
      "to": "WAT",
      "days": [, "tuesday", "thursday"],
      "time_start": "06:45",
      "time_end": "08:00",
      "criteria": {
        "notify_cancelled": true,
        "notify_delayed": true,
        "delay_threshold_minutes": 5
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Evening Commute",
      "from": "WAT",
      "to": "WIM",
      "days": [, "tuesday", "thursday"],
      "time_start": "16:00",
      "time_end": "17:30",
      "criteria": {
        "notify_cancelled": true,
        "notify_delayed": true,
        "delay_threshold_minutes": 10
      }
    }
  ]
}

Setup

# Create bot and get token via @BotFather
# Get chat ID via @userinfobot

cd telegram
cp config.json.example config.json
# Edit config.json with token, chat ID, and trips

# Add a cron job every 5 minutes
chmod +x setup_cron.sh
./setup_cron.sh

# Or add manually:
# */5 * * * * /usr/bin/python3 /path/to/telegram/notify_train.py >> /path/to/telegram/cron.log 2>&1

Message format

  • Cancelled: ❌ Cancelled WIM → WAT 08:54
  • Delayed beyond threshold: ⏰ Delayed +7m WIM → WAT 09:02
  • Includes platform and destination when available