Welcome to CrossingGuard support. This page will help you get the most out of the app and resolve any issues you may encounter.
CrossingGuard shows real-time status for Irish Rail level crossings in the Dublin area. The app uses your location to send notifications when you approach a monitored crossing.
Q: Why does the app need "Always" location permission?
A: CrossingGuard uses geofencing to monitor when you approach a crossing (within ~400 meters). This requires "Always" permission to work in the background. Your location is only checked when you're near a monitored crossing - not continuously tracked.
Q: Which crossings are currently monitored?
A: We currently monitor 10 crossings in Dublin:
- Maynooth Line: Coolmine, Clonsilla, Ashtown, Pace
- DART South: Merrion Gates, Sydney Parade, Sandymount
- DART North: Raheny, Kilbarrack, Sutton
Q: Why is a crossing showing as closed when I can see it's open?
A: CrossingGuard uses real-time data from Irish Rail's public API. Occasionally, trains may be delayed or cancelled after the app has predicted a closure. The app updates every 30 seconds, so the status should correct itself shortly.
Q: I'm not receiving notifications. What should I check?
A: Make sure:
- Location permission is set to "Always"
- Notifications are enabled for CrossingGuard in Settings
- Geofencing is enabled in the app settings
- You're within ~400 meters of a monitored crossing
Q: Does the app track my location?
A: No. CrossingGuard does not collect, store, or transmit your location data. All location processing happens entirely on your device. See our
Privacy Policy for details.
Q: How accurate is the crossing status?
A: The app uses Irish Rail's real-time train API and GPS train tracking to predict when crossings will close. While generally accurate, Irish Rail data can occasionally be delayed or incomplete. We show "CLOSED" when a train is within 5 minutes, "CLOSING SOON" for 6-10 minutes, and "OPEN" for trains more than 10 minutes away.
Q: Can I request a new crossing to be added?
A: Yes! We're gradually adding more crossings. Please contact us with the crossing location and we'll consider it for a future update.
Q: Does the app work offline?
A: CrossingGuard requires an internet connection to fetch real-time train data from Irish Rail. The app will show an error if unable to connect.