n8n Automation Project🚀

Table of Contents

Belgian Train Departure Agent: An n8n Automation Project

Overview

This project showcases a powerful n8n workflow that creates an intelligent Belgian train departure agent. The system integrates with the iRail API to provide real-time train departure information through Telegram bot interactions and scheduled checks, demonstrating the capabilities of low-code automation for real-world transportation data.

Features

Real-time Train Data: Fetches live departure information from Belgian railway stations via the iRail API
Telegram Bot Integration: Users can query train departures through natural language messages
Smart Station Matching: Intelligent fuzzy matching algorithm to find stations from user input
Multiple Input Methods: Supports both webhook triggers and scheduled automated checks
Rich Formatting: Displays departure information with platform details, delays, and status indicators
Error Handling: Robust error handling for invalid station names or API failures

Architecture

The workflow consists of several key components working in harmony:

Core Components

Webhook Trigger (Webhook): Listens for POST requests at /train-departures endpoint
Message Parser (Code in JavaScript1): Extracts city and time information from natural language messages
Station Finder (Find Station): Matches user input to official Belgian station names using fuzzy logic
API Integration (Get Stations & Get Liveboard): Retrieves station data and live departure information
Response Formatter (Code in JavaScript3): Formats departure data into user-friendly messages
Telegram Bot (Send to Telegram): Delivers formatted results to users

Additional Features

Schedule Trigger: Enables automated departure checks at specified intervals
Chat Interface: Provides an interactive chat-based interface for users
HTTP Request Nodes: Allow testing and integration with external systems

Technical Implementation

Natural Language Processing

The system uses sophisticated regex patterns to parse user messages:

const patterns = [
  /departures?\s+from\s+([^\s]+)\s+at\s+(\d{1,2}:?\d{0,2})/i,
  /([^\s]+)\s+(\d{1,2}:?\d{0,2})/,
  /([^\s]+)\s+at\s+(\d{1,2}:?\d{0,2})/i
];

Station Matching Algorithm

The fuzzy matching system scores stations based on:

Perfect match: Exact name match (100 points)
Close match: Partial name inclusion (80 points)
Weak match: First three characters (40 points)

Response Formatting

The system displays up to 5 departures with rich formatting:

Train numbers and destinations
Departure times with delay information
Platform numbers
Real-time status (on time, delayed, or canceled)

API Integration

iRail API Endpoints

Stations: https://api.irail.be/stations/?format=json&lang=en
Liveboard: https://api.irail.be/liveboard/?station={station}&format=json&lang=en

Data Processing

The workflow handles:

Timestamp conversion from Unix timestamps to human-readable format
Delay calculations (seconds to minutes)
Vehicle ID cleanup (removes “BE.NMBS.” prefix)
Cancellation status detection

Use Cases

For Commuters

Quick departure checks before leaving home/office
Real-time delay information
Platform changes and service updates

For Travelers

Tourist-friendly station name matching
Multi-language support (English)
Intuitive natural language queries

For Developers

Example of n8n workflow design
API integration patterns
Error handling best practices

Configuration Requirements

Prerequisites

n8n instance with webhook capabilities
Telegram Bot API token
Internet access to iRail API endpoints

Setup Steps

Import the workflow JSON into n8n
Configure Telegram bot credentials
Set up webhook endpoint URL
Test with sample requests
Configure schedule triggers if needed

Example Interactions

User Message: “Charleroi” Bot Response:

🚄 Departures: Charleroi-Central

1. 🚂 S614160
   🕐 09:54
   📍 Platform 10
   🧭 To: Jambes
   ✅ On time

2. 🚂 S624260
   🕐 09:55
   📍 Platform 6
   🧭 To: Luttre
   ✅ On time

3. 🚂 IC932
   🕐 10:13
   📍 Platform 9
   🧭 To: Lille Flandres
   ✅ On time

4. 🚂 S614560
   🕐 10:16
   📍 Platform 1
   🧭 To: Jambes
   ✅ On time

5. 🚂 IC3810
   🕐 10:19
   📍 Platform 7
   🧭 To: Herstal
   ✅ On time

📅 Requested for: now
🔄 Updated: 9:53:26 AM

Benefits

Automation: Reduces manual checking of train schedules
Accessibility: Provides instant information through familiar chat interfaces
Reliability: Handles errors gracefully with helpful messages
Scalability: Can be extended to support multiple languages or regions
Integration: Easy to integrate with other systems and workflows

Future Enhancements

Potential improvements could include:

Multi-language support (English, French, Dutch…)
Journey planning with route information
Fare information and ticket booking integration
Push notifications for favorite routes
Historical delay analytics

Conclusion

This Belgian Train Departure Agent demonstrates how n8n can be used to create sophisticated, real-world automation solutions that integrate multiple APIs and provide genuine value to users. The combination of natural language processing, API integration, and messaging platform connectivity creates a seamless user experience while showcasing the power of low-code automation platforms.

The project serves as an excellent reference for developers looking to build similar transportation or data-driven automation workflows using n8n.