diff --git a/src/components/director-rail.js b/src/components/director-rail.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94422d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/director-rail.js
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { analyze } from '../core/timeline.js';
+import { fmtElapsed, fmtDrift } from '../core/format.js';
+
+export class DirectorRail extends HTMLElement {
+  constructor() {
+    super();
+    this._state = { scenario: null, elapsedMs: 0, stamps: {} };
+  }
+  connectedCallback() { this.render(); }
+  update(patch) { Object.assign(this._state, patch); this.render(); }
+
+  render() {
+    const { scenario, elapsedMs, stamps } = this._state;
+    if (!scenario) { this.innerHTML = `<div class="rail rail--empty">No scenario loaded</div>`; return; }
+    const m = analyze(scenario.timeline, elapsedMs / 60000, stamps);
+    const here = m.currentBeat ? m.currentBeat.label : (scenario.timeline[0]?.label ?? '—');
+    const drift = fmtDrift(m.driftMin);
+    const driftClass = m.driftMin > 0 ? 'behind' : 'ahead';
+    const nh = m.nextHardTrigger;
+    const nhText = nh ? `${nh.label} · ~${Math.max(0, Math.round(m.minutesToNextHard))}m` : '—';
+
+    this.innerHTML = `
+      <div class="rail">
+        <div class="cell"><span class="k">Session</span><span class="v" data-role="clock">${fmtElapsed(elapsedMs)}</span></div>
+        <div class="cell here"><span class="k">You are here</span>
+          <span class="v"><span data-role="here">${here}</span>${drift ? ` <span class="drift ${driftClass}">${drift}</span>` : ''}</span></div>
+        <div class="cell trig"><span class="k">Next hard trigger</span><span class="v" data-role="next">${nhText}</span></div>
+        <button class="reached" data-role="reached">✓ Reached it</button>
+        <button class="tray-btn" data-role="open-dice" aria-label="Dice">🎲</button>
+      </div>`;
+
+    this.querySelector('[data-role=reached]').addEventListener('click', () => {
+      this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('reached', { bubbles: true }));
+    });
+    this.querySelector('[data-role=open-dice]').addEventListener('click', () => {
+      this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('open-tool', { detail: { tool: 'dice' }, bubbles: true }));
+    });
+  }
+}
+customElements.define('director-rail', DirectorRail);
diff --git a/tests/components/director-rail.test.js b/tests/components/director-rail.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cdca223
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/components/director-rail.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// tests/components/director-rail.test.js
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
+import '../../src/components/director-rail.js';
+import afterimage from '../../src/scenarios/afterimage.js';
+
+describe('<director-rail>', () => {
+  let el;
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    document.body.innerHTML = '';
+    el = document.createElement('director-rail');
+    document.body.appendChild(el);
+  });
+
+  it('shows the first beat and no drift before any stamp', () => {
+    el.update({ scenario: afterimage, elapsedMs: 0, stamps: {} });
+    expect(el.querySelector('[data-role=here]').textContent).toContain('The pier');
+    expect(el.querySelector('.drift')).toBe(null);
+    expect(el.querySelector('[data-role=clock]').textContent).toBe('0:00');
+  });
+
+  it('shows drift and the next hard trigger after a late stamp', () => {
+    el.update({ scenario: afterimage, elapsedMs: 40 * 60000, stamps: { 'a1-open': 6 } });
+    expect(el.querySelector('.drift').textContent).toBe('+6 behind');
+    expect(el.querySelector('[data-role=next]').textContent).toContain('Door-cam');
+  });
+
+  it('emits "reached" when the button is clicked', () => {
+    el.update({ scenario: afterimage, elapsedMs: 0, stamps: {} });
+    let fired = 0;
+    el.addEventListener('reached', () => fired++);
+    el.querySelector('[data-role=reached]').click();
+    expect(fired).toBe(1);
+  });
+});