App Review: Station Master

M@
By M@ Last edited 146 months ago

Last Updated 06 September 2012

App Review: Station Master

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Choose your fate.
Choose your fate.
What? You don't tell us the number of tiles at the station? Rubbish.
What? You don't tell us the number of tiles at the station? Rubbish.
No luggage flaps at Finchley Central? They just lost another customer.
No luggage flaps at Finchley Central? They just lost another customer.
Surely the simple word 'Avoid' would be a better description for this station.
Surely the simple word 'Avoid' would be a better description for this station.
Bored of the Tube? Station Master tells you what else is nearby.
Bored of the Tube? Station Master tells you what else is nearby.

Station Master, a new-ish app for iPhone, is a real geek's guide to the Tube. It tells you which carriage to board in order to most economically switch lines or make a fast exit at your destination. You will, in effect, become The Station Master: a hero with the power to preternaturally bypass queues of tourists in a single bound.

It's not the first app to pull this trick, but it does go one stage of precision further by recommending the best doors to aim for. It's also rattling with station data, such as the types of ticket machines on offer, the number of stairs to platform level, the width of the barrier gates, ticket office opening times...even the number of luggage flaps. Much of this will be of limited interest to most people, but info on station cash machines, wifi availability and toilets could be genuinely useful.

This level of detail could only come from a true Tube trooper. It's no surprise to hear that Geoff Marshall, the former Guinness World Record holder for visiting all the stations in one day, is the Station Master behind it, in collaboration with developer Matthew Frost. They've crafted an app that's both compellingly detailed and simple to use. They're even planning ahead for new rolling stock and the extensions.

The Overground network is also included, as are the two stations on the cable car. Oddly, the DLR is absent. On reflection, this is perhaps because there's only one carriage anyone wants to be in: the one where you get to pretend to drive.

Station Master is out now for iPhone, price £1.49. The app has a support website and Twitter account (@stnmasterapp).

See other London-themed apps here.