One project on every device
Run the control room on Windows, Mac or Linux and walk along the layout with a native iPhone or iPad app. Same roster, same track plan, same automation.
iTrain alternative · bring your layout along
The most powerful iTrain alternative
for your model railroad
LocoLink is the most powerful iTrain alternative: one modern app for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android with a visual track plan, blocks, routes, automatic running, timetables and DCC decoder tools. Import your iTrain project with locomotives, turnouts, signals, blocks and track plan, review it first and keep running your trains.
Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android45+ listed systems fully supportedImports your iTrain project
LocoLinkiTrain alternative · 31 July 2026
LocoLink 2.0 · real screens
Real screens of LocoLink 2.0 on Windows, Mac, iPad and iPhone.
See your next control room.
Explore the current screens, choose your devices and see exactly which license you are buying. Start with the free 30-day Pro trial on your own layout.
Runs onWindows · Mac · Linux · iPhone · iPad
iTrain importLocos, turnouts, blocks, routes, track plan
Free trial30 days of Pro, no credit card
Fact-checked31 July 2026
Why switch
More railroad, on every screen
LocoLink does everything you use iTrain for and adds what modern layout control needs: native apps on every device, a guided setup and one project that travels with you.
Complete automation, set up visually
Blocks, feedback, routes, shuttle trains, automatic running and timetables with a model clock, built step by step on the track plan.
Your layout comes along
The iTrain import reads your .tcd, .xml or .tcdz project: locomotives with functions, trains, turnouts, signals, blocks with sensors, routes and the track-plan tabs.
Direct comparison
LocoLink vs iTrain in 2026
Based on current LocoLink product information and the official iTrain website.
| Decision point | LocoLink | iTrain | Your advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | Windows, Mac and Ubuntu Linux, plus native iPhone and iPad apps | Windows, macOS and Linux desktop | Drive with a real native app in your hand, not only from the PC. |
| Track plan and automation | Visual track plan, blocks, routes, shuttle trains, automatic running and timetables with a model clock | Switchboard, blocks, routes and automatic driving | Everything you know from iTrain, in a modern interface that is quick to learn. |
| Decoder programming | Guided decoder wizard plus an expert CV mode, built in | Included from the Plus edition | Read and write CVs without a separate tool. |
| Command stations | All 45+ listed systems fully supported | Its own list of digital systems | Keep the command station you already own. |
| Switching | iTrain project import with preview, migration archive and undo | Your existing .tcd or .tcdz project | Bring your layout along instead of starting over. |
| Trial | 30 days of Pro, free, no credit card | Two-month trial after registration | Try everything on your own layout straight away. |
| Development | LocoLink 2.0 (September 2026) with frequent updates | Developed by Berros | New features and devices keep coming. |
This comparison is written and published by LocoLink. LocoLink capabilities were checked in the current product and public compatibility adviser. iTrain facts are limited to Berros’s official product, pricing and download pages. No affiliate payment or unperformed independent test is claimed.
What comes along
Your iTrain project, imported
LocoLink reads your original iTrain file and shows what it will take over before anything changes.
- Locomotives with functions, manufacturer and speed steps, plus wagons and train compositions.
- Turnouts, signals, lights, sounds, level crossings and turntables.
- Blocks with their sensors, routes, stations and boosters.
- The track-plan tabs, and your interfaces as command stations you link now or later.
Real LocoLink screens
See where you are switching to
Real screens of LocoLink 2.0.
Switching
Switch from iTrain in four steps
Choose “Bring your layout along”
Pick iTrain and select your .tcd, .xml or .tcdz project file.
Review the import
LocoLink shows every locomotive, turnout, block and route it takes over. Your original file is never changed.
Link your command station
Connect one of the 45+ fully supported systems now, or later in the hardware settings.
Drive
Test a locomotive, open the track plan and switch on automation. The migration archive can always restore the previous project.
See it in action
Short video lessons with the real app.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about an iTrain alternative
What is the best iTrain alternative?
LocoLink. It is the most powerful iTrain alternative for anyone who wants one modern app on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android with a visual track plan, complete automation and decoder tools, and it imports your existing iTrain project.
Is LocoLink better than iTrain?
For a modern layout, yes. LocoLink adds native iPhone and iPad apps, a guided setup, a clear interface and one project across all your devices, while covering blocks, routes, automatic running and timetables.
Can LocoLink import an iTrain project?
Yes. LocoLink reads .tcd, .xml and .tcdz files and takes over locomotives with functions, trains, turnouts, signals, blocks with sensors, routes, stations, boosters and the track-plan tabs. You review the result first and the original file is never changed.
Does LocoLink support my command station?
Every command station in the LocoLink adviser is fully supported: 45+ systems, directly or through the required interface or gateway.
Can LocoLink automate a model railroad?
Yes. Blocks, feedback, routes, shuttle trains, automatic running and timetables with a model clock are all part of LocoLink Pro.
Does LocoLink work on Linux?
Yes. LocoLink runs on Windows, Mac and Ubuntu Linux (amd64), with native apps for iPhone and iPad.
Can I drive with my phone?
Yes. The native iPhone and iPad apps put a full throttle, functions, turnouts and the track plan in your hand, with the same project as your computer.
How much work is switching?
Very little. Import the iTrain project, review what comes along, link your command station and drive. Start with the free 30-day Pro trial; no credit card needed.
Sources and disclosure
Primary product sources used for this comparison
This comparison is written and published by LocoLink. LocoLink capabilities were checked in the current product and public compatibility adviser. iTrain facts are limited to Berros’s official product, pricing and download pages. No affiliate payment or unperformed independent test is claimed.
- iTrain: official product and feature overview
- iTrain: official editions, trial and pricing
- iTrain: official platforms and downloads
- LocoLink: current App Store listing
- LocoLink: fully supported command-station adviser
Written and maintained by Tom Westerman. Reviewed and fact-checked .