In order to be able to use this format in both static data and API responses, you may chose wether to reference an item by its id or inline the item as an object. Take this stop as an example:
{
type: 'stop',
id: '1234',
name: 'Bus Terminal A',
station: '123' // this references a `station` object
}You may also inline the station if that's more convenient:
{
type: 'stop',
id: '1234',
name: 'Bus Terminal A',
station: { // inline `station` object
type: 'station',
id: '123',
name: 'Copenhagen Central Station'
}
}A location object is used by other items to indicate their locations.
{
type: 'location', // required
name: 'Reichstagsgebäude', // optional
address: 'Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin', // optional
longitude: 13.4, // optional
latitude: 52.5, // optional
altitude: 130.5 // optional, in meters
}If the latitude field is specified in a location object, the longitude field must also be specified, and vice-versa.
A station is a larger building or area that can be identified by a name. It is usually represented by a single node on a public transport map. Whereas a stop usually specifies a location, a station often is a broader area that may span across multiple levels or buildings.
{
type: 'station', // required
id: '123456', // unique, url-safe, required
name: 'Berlin Hauptbahnhof', // official non-abbreviated name, required
// todo: other names
location: { // location object, optional
// … see above
},
regions: [ // region ids or region objects, see the section on 'region's, optional
'1234', '2345'
]
}A stop is a single small point or structure at which vehicles stop. A stop always belongs to a station. It may for example be a sign, a basic shelter or a railway platform.
If the underlying data source does not allow such a fine-grained distinction, use stations instead.
{
type: 'stop', // required
id: '12345678', // unique, url-safe, required
station: '123456', // station id or station object, required
name: 'Berlin Hauptbahnhof (tief)', // official non-abbreviated name, required
// todo: other names
location: { // location object, optional
// … see above
}
}A region is a group of stations, for example a metropolitan area or a geographical or cultural region.
In many urban areas, there are several long-distance train & bus stations, all distinct but well-connected through local public transport. It makes sense to keep them as stations, because they may still have individual stops, but clustering them enables more advanced routing information.
A station can be part of multiple regions.
{
type: 'region', // required
id: '1234', // unique, url-safe, required
name: 'Bretagne', // official non-abbreviated name, required
// todo: other names
stations: [ // station ids or station objects, required
'123456', '234567'
]
}{
type: 'line', // required
id: '123', // unique, url-safe, required
name: 'ICE 599', // official non-abbreviated name, required
mode: 'train', // see section on modes, required
subMode: …, // reserved for future use
// todo: color, ...
routes: [], // array of route ids or route objects
operator: '123456', // operator id or operator object
}A route represents a single set of stations, of a single line.
For a very consistent subway service, there may be one route for each direction. Planned detours, trains stopping early and additional directions would have their own route.
{
type: 'route', // required
id: '1234', // unique, url-safe, required
line: '123', // line id or line object, required,
mode: 'bus', // see section on modes, overrides `line` mode, e.g. for replacements services
subMode: …, // reserved for future use
stops: [ // array of stop/station ids or objects, required
'12345678',
'87654321'
]
}Note: There are many ways to format schedules of public transport routes. This one tries to balance the amount of data and consumability. It is specifically geared towards urban public transport, with frequent trains and homogenous travels.
{
type: 'schedule', // required
id: '12345', // unique, url-safe, required
route: '1234', // route id or object, required
mode: 'bus', // see section on modes, overrides `route`/`line` mode, e.g. for replacements services
subMode: …, // reserved for future use
sequence: [
// seconds relative to departure at first station/stop
// in 1-to-1 relation to `route` stops
{
arrival: -30 // optional, when the vehicle enters the route
// The departure at the first stop must be 0.
departure: 0 // required
},
{
arrival: 50, // optional
departure: 70 // required
}
{
arrival: 120, // The arrival at the last stop is required.
departure: 150 // optional, when the vehicle leaves the route
}
],
starts: [ // array of Unix timestamps, required
1488379661, // start time of the trip
1488379761,
1488379861,
1488379961
]
}{
type: 'operator', // required
id: 'sncf', // unique, url-safe, required
name: 'Société nationale des chemins de fer français' // official non-abbreviated name, required
}A stopover represents a vehicle stopping at a stop/station at a specific time.
{
type: 'stopover', // required
// - stop/station id or object
// - required
stop: '12345-678',
// - ISO 8601 string (with stop/station timezone)
// - required if `departure` is null
arrival: '2017-03-17T15:00:00+02:00',
// - seconds relative to scheduled arrival
// - optional
arrivalDelay: -45,
arrivalPlatform: '4-1', // string, optional
// - ISO 8601 string (with stop/station timezone)
// - required if `arrival` is null
departure: '2017-03-16T20:00:00+01:00',
// - seconds relative to scheduled departure
// - optional
departureDelay: 120,
departurePlatform: null, // string, optional
}A journey is a computed set of directions to get from A to B at a specific time. It would typically be the result of a route planning algorithm.
{
type: 'journey', // required
id: '12345', // unique, url-safe, required
legs: [ // array of objects, required
{
// - station/stop/location id or object
// - required
origin: '12345678',
// station/stop/location id or object
// - required
destination: '87654321',
// - ISO 8601 string (with origin timezone)
// - required
departure: '2017-03-16T20:00:00+01:00',
// - seconds relative to scheduled departure
// - optional
departureDelay: 120,
departurePlatform: '4-1', // string, optional
// - ISO 8601 string (with destination timezone)
// - required
arrival: '2017-03-17T15:00:00+02:00',
// - seconds relative to scheduled arrival
// - optional
arrivalDelay: -45,
arrivalPlatform: '9', // string, optional
// - array of stopover objects
// - optional
stopovers: […],
// - schedule id or object
// - optional
schedule: '1234',
// - see section on modes
// - overrides `schedule`'s `mode`
mode: 'walking',
subMode: …, // reserved for future use
public: true, // is it publicly accessible?
// - operator id or object
// - overrides `schedule`'s `operator`
operator: 'sncf'
// use this if pricing information is available for specific legs
price: { // optional
amount: 12.50, // number, required
currency: 'EUR' // ISO 4217 code, required
}
}
// …
],
price: { // optional
amount: 19.95, // number, required
currency: 'EUR' // ISO 4217 code, required
}
}The departureDelay and arrivalDelay fields should only contain a value if realtime data or a prognosis based on realtime data is actually available.
As discussed in #4, we decided to have two fields mode and subMode.
The following list shows all possible values for a mode property. For consumers to be able to use mode meaningfully, we will keep this list very short.
trainbuswatercrafttaxigondolaaircraftcarbicyclewalking
In order to convey more details, we will add the subMode field in the future. It will differentiate means of transport in a more fine-grained way, in order to enable consumers to provide more context and a better service.