General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) is a digital exchange format developed by Google for timetables used for public passenger transport services and relevant geographical information, such as locations of stops. Data is supplied by transport companies and published as an accumulated database in GTFS format on the Open Data Platform Swiss Public Transport. The data is used to develop applications relating to public transport, such as timetable queries.
Unlike GTFS Realtime (GTFS RT), GTFS Static, as the name suggests, only provides static data and no real-time data.
This static file is first used to present a country’s entire public transport operation in a single feed.
Technical description
GTFS Static is provided in ZIP format using a series of text files. Each file provides information about a particular aspect of the transit information, for instance, stops (stops.txt), routes (routes.txt), journeys (trips.txt), transport companies (agency.txt) and other timetable-related data. Some information is required to provide valid GTFS data, while other information is optional and provides useful additional information (e.g. changes to the timetable on specific public holidays = calendar_dates.txt).
The diagram below illustrates how the different types of information interact, showing that, at present, not all information has been recorded for public transport in Switzerland and is available in GTFS Format.
GTFS Static classes
Access the relevant dataset at: https://opentransportdata.swiss/de/dataset/timetable-2021-gtfs2020
Key concepts
- GTFS Realtime Publication of static transit information in GTFS format.
- GTFS Realtime: Publication of real-time information to enhance the static GTFS Data, in the form of protocol buffers.
Technical aspects
Data structure
Each file comprises comma-separated rows of texts and numbers, which combine to provide the information being sought. A comprehensive description is provided of the individual fields in the various files on the following website: https://developers.google.com/transit/gtfs/reference/
The following files are currently provided for the GTFS export for public transport in Switzerland:
- agency.txt.
- calendar.txt.
- calendar_dates.txt
- feed_info.txt
- routes.txt
- stop_times.txt
- stops.txt
- transfers.txt being (being drafted)
- trips.txt
The following are not available: fare_attributes.txt, fare_rules.txt, feed_info.txt and frequencies.txt
Agency.txt.
agency_id,agency_name,agency_url,agency_timezone,agency_lang,agency_phone "11","Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SBB","http://www.sbb.ch/","Europe/Berlin","DE","0900 300 300 " "801","PostAuto Schweiz","http://www.sbb.ch/","Europe/Berlin","DE","0900 300 300 " "840","Busbetrieb Aarau","http://www.sbb.ch/","Europe/Berlin","DE","0900 300 300 " "31","BDWM Transport (bd)","http://www.sbb.ch/","Europe/Berlin","DE","0900 300 300 " "899","BDWM Transport (wm Auto)","http://www.sbb.ch/","Europe/Berlin","DE","0900 300 300 " "886","Regionale Verkehrsbetriebe Baden-Wettingen","http://www.sbb.ch/","Europe/Berlin","DE","0900 300 300 " "839","Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe","http://www.sbb.ch/","Europe/Berlin","DE","0900 300 300
calendar.txt
service_id,monday,tuesday,wednesday,thursday,friday,saturday,sunday,start_date,end_date "TA+b000b","1","1","1","1","1","0","0","20161211","20171209" "TA+b0001","1","1","1","1","1","1","1","20161211","20171209" "TA+b0016","0","0","0","0","1","1","0","20161211","20171209" "TA+b0dmg","0","0","0","0","0","0","1","20161211","20171209" "TA+b12cr","1","1","1","1","0","0","0","20161211","20171209" "TA+b0008","1","1","1","1","1","0","0","20161211","20171209" "TA+b0027","1","1","1","1","1","1","0","20161211","20171209" "TA+b0dnc","0","0","0","0","0","1","1","20161211","20171209" "TA+b001r","1","1","1","1","1","0","1","20161211","20171209" "TA+b001j","0","0","0","0","0","1","0","20161211","20171209" "TA+b001t","0","0","0","0","0","0","1","20161211","20171209" "TA+b04oi","1","1","1","1","1","0","0","20161211","20171209" "TA+b0ch2","0","0","0","1","0","0","0","20161211","20171209
calendar_dates.txt
service_id,date,exception_type "TA+b0003","20161226","2" "TA+b0003","20170102","2" "TA+b0003","20170414","2" "TA+b0003","20170417","2" "TA+b0003","20170501","2" "TA+b0003","20170525","2" "TA+b0003","20170605","2" "TA+b0003","20170801","2" "TA+b0007","20161226","2" "TA+b0007","20170102","2" "TA+b0007","20170414","2
feed_info.txt
feed_publisher_name,feed_publisher_url,feed_lang,feed_start_date,feed_end_date,feed_version "SBB","http://www.sbb.ch/","DE","20161211","20171209","20170518
routes.txt
route_id,agency_id,route_short_name,route_long_name,route_desc,route_type "91-10-A-j22-1","37","10","","T","900" "91-10-B-j22-1","78","S10","","S","109" "91-10-C-j22-1","11","S10","","S","109" "91-10-E-j22-1","65","S10","","S","109" "91-10-F-j22-1","11","RE10","","RE","106" "91-10-G-j22-1","11","SN10","","SN","109" "91-10-j22-1","3849","10","","T","900" "91-10-Y-j22-1","82","IR","","IR","103"3
Please note:
- Some routes in GTFS have an extension “-Y”. The reason for this is that they have a line number which has been created artificially. This is the only way that “route_short_name” can be valid. These artificial lines should therefore not be shown to users. In the case of trains, “trip_short_name” will include the train number.
The means of transport texts which are used (the variable route_desc contains informationen of the column “Abbreviation”):
| Abbreviation | DE | FR | IT | EN | Ref_TransportMode | route_type |
| ASC | Aufzug | Ascenseur | Ascensore | Lift | A | 1700 |
| B | Bus | Bus | Bus | Bus | B | 700 |
| BN | Nachtbus | Bus ligne de nuit | Bus notturno | Nightbus | B | 705 |
| BP | PanoramaBus | PanoramaBus | Bus panoramico | Panorama bus | B | 710 |
| BUS | Bus | Bus | Bus | Bus | B | 700 |
| CAR | Fernbus national | Bus longues distances national | Bus nazionale a lunga percorrenza | National long-distance bus | B | 202 |
| CAX | Fernbus international | Bus longues distances international | Bus internazionale a lunga percorrenza | International long-distance bus | B | 201 |
| EB | Eilbus | Bus acc‚l‚r‚ | Bus accelerato | Semi fast bus | B | 702 |
| EXB | Expressbus | Bus express | Bus espresso | Express bus | B | 702 |
| ICB | InterCity-Bus | InterCity-Bus | InterCity-Bus | Intercity-Bus | B | 202 |
| KB | Kleinbus | Minibus | Minibus | Minibus | B | 700 |
| NB | Nacht-Bus | Bus nocturne | Bus notturno | Night-Bus | B | 705 |
| NFB | Niederflur-Bus | Bus … plancher surbaiss‚ | Bus a pianale ribassato | Low-floor bus | B | 700 |
| NFO | Niederflur-Trolleybus | Trolleybus … plancher surbaiss‚ | Filobus a pianale ribassato | Low-floor trolley bus | B | 700 |
| RUB | Rufbus | Bus sur appel | bus a chiamata | On-call bus | B | 715 |
| TX | Taxi | Taxi | Taxi | Taxi | B | 1500 |
| SL | Sesselbahn | T‚l‚siŠge | Seggiovia | Chairlift | E | 1300 |
| CC | Zahnradbahn | Chemin de fer … cr‚maillŠre | Cremagliera | Rack-railroad | H | 1400 |
| GB | Gondelbahn | T‚l‚cabine | Cabinovia | Gondola lift | L | 1300 |
| LB | Luftseilbahn | T‚l‚ph‚rique | Funivia | Cableway | L | 1300 |
| PB | Pendelbahn | T‚l‚ph‚rique … va-et-vient | funivia a va e vieni | aerial tramway | L | 1300 |
| M | Metro | M‚tro | Metropolitana | Underground | M | 401 |
| FUN | Standseilbahn | Funiculaire | Funicolare | Funicular | N | 1400 |
| BAT | Schiff | Bateau | Battello | Ship | S | 1000 |
| BAV | Dampfschiff | Bateau … vapeur | Battello a vapore | Steam ship | S | 1000 |
| FAE | F„hre | Bac | Traghetto | Ferry-boat | S | 1000 |
| KAT | Katamaran | Catamaran | Catamarano | Katamaran | S | 1000 |
| NFT | Niederflur-Tram | Tram … plancher surbaiss‚ | Tram a pianale ribassato | Low-floor tramway | T | 900 |
| T | Tram | Tram | Tram | Tramway | T | 900 |
| TN | Nachttram | Tram ligne de nuit | Tram notturno | Nighttram | T | 900 |
| AIR | Flugzeug | avion | aeroplano | aircraft | U | 1100 |
| UUU | Unbekannte Art | Type inconnu | Tipologia sconosciuta | Unknown mode | U | 1700 |
| AG | Agenturzug | Train d’agence | Treno d’ agenzia | Agencytrain | Z | 117 |
| ARC | Arco | Arco | Arco | Arco | Z | 102 |
| ARZ | Autoreisezug | Train autos-couch | Treno navetta | Car-carrying train | Z | 104 |
| AT | Autotunnelzug | Train-auto | Treno auto in galleria | Car train | Z | 104 |
| ATR | Altaria | Altaria | Altaria | Altaria | Z | 102 |
| ATZ | Autotunnelzug | Train-auto | Treno auto in galleria | Car train | Z | 104 |
| AVE | Alta Velocidad ES | Alta Velocidad ES | Alta Velocidad ES | Alta Velocidad ES | Z | 101 |
| BEX | Bernina Express | Bernina Express | Bernina Express | Bernina Express | Z | 107 |
| CAT | City Airport Train | City Airport Train | City Airport Train | City Airport Train | Z | 111 |
| CNL | CityNightLine | CityNightLine | CityNightLine | CityNightLine | Z | 105 |
| D | Schnellzug | Train direct | Treno diretto | Fast train | Z | 103 |
| E | Eilzug | Train acc‚l‚r‚ | Treno accelerato | Semi fast train | Z | 103 |
| EC | EuroCity | EuroCity | EuroCity | EuroCity | Z | 102 |
| EM | Euromed | Euromed | Euromed | Euromed | Z | 102 |
| EN | EuroNight | EuroNight | EuroNight | EuroNight | Z | 105 |
| ES | Eurostar Italia | Eurostar Italia | Eurostar Italia | Eurostar Italia | Z | 101 |
| EST | Eurostar | Eurostar | Eurostar | Eurostar | Z | 101 |
| EXT | Extrazug | Train sp‚cial | Treno speciale | Special train | Z | 117 |
| GEX | Glacier Express | Glacier Express | Glacier Express | Glacier Express | Z | 107 |
| IC | InterCity | InterCity | InterCity | InterCity | Z | 102 |
| ICE | InterCityExpress | InterCityExpress | InterCityExpress | InterCityExpress | Z | 102 |
| ICN | IC-Neigezug | IC-pendulaire | IC-pendolare | IC-tilting train | Z | 102 |
| IN | InterCityNacht | InterCityNuit | InterCityNotte | InterCityNight | Z | 102 |
| IR | InterRegio | InterRegio | InterRegio | InterRegio | Z | 103 |
| IRE | Interregio-Express | Interregio-Express | Interregio-Express | Interregio-Express | Z | 103 |
| IT | Italo | Italo | Italo | Italo | Z | 102 |
| JAT | Gef„ngniszug | Train prison | Jail Train | Jail Train | Z | 111 |
| MAT | LeermaterialZ (Reisezugswagen) | Train de mat‚riel vide (voitures voyageurs) | Materiale vuoto (treno viaggiatori) | Empty material train (passenger carriage) | Z | 111 |
| MP | LeermaterialZ Personenbef”rd | Train de mat‚riel vide avec transport de voyageurs | Materiale vuoto con trasporto di persone | Empty material train with passenger transport | Z | 111 |
| NJ | nightjet | nightjet | nightjet | nightjet | Z | 105 |
| NZ | Nacht-Zug | Train de nuit | Treno notturno | Night train | Z | 105 |
| P | Zug ohne Gew„hr | Train non garanti | Treno non garantito | No guaranteed train | Z | 100 |
| PE | PanoramaExpress | PanoramaExpress | PanoramaExpress | PanoramaExpress | Z | 107 |
| R | Regio | Regio | Regio | Regio | Z | 106 |
| RB | Regionalbahn | Train r‚gional | Ferrovia regionale | Regional train | Z | 106 |
| RE | RegioExpress | RegioExpress | RegioExpress | RegioExpress | Z | 106 |
| RJ | Railjet | Railjet | Railjet | Railjet | Z | 102 |
| RJX | railjet xpress | railjet xpress | railjet xpress | railjet xpress | Z | 102 |
| S | S-Bahn | RER | Rete celere | Urban train | Z | 109 |
| SN | Nacht-S-Bahn | RER-nuit | Rete celere notte | Night-urban train | Z | 109 |
| STB | Stadtbahn | Train urbain | Ferrovia urbana | City railway | Z | 109 |
| TAL | Talgo | Talgo | Talgo | Talgo | Z | 101 |
| TER | Train Express Regional | Train Express Regional | Train Express Regional | Train Express Regional | Z | 106 |
| TE2 | TER200 | TER200 | TER200 | TER200 | Z | 106 |
| TGV | Train … grande vit. | Train … grande vit. | Train … grande vit. | Train … grande vit. | Z | 101 |
| THA | Thalys | Thalys | Thalys | Thalys | Z | 101 |
| TLK | Twoje Linie Kolejowe | Twoje Linie Kolejowe | Twoje Linie Kolejowe | Twoje Linie Kolejowe | Z | 102 |
| UEX | UrlaubsExpress | UrlaubsExpress | UrlaubsExpress | UrlaubsExpress | Z | 104 |
| VAE | Voralpen-Express | Voralpen-Express | Voralpen-Express | Voralpen-Express | Z | 103 |
| WB | Westbahn | Westbahn | Westbahn | Westbahn | Z | 100 |
| X | InterConnex | InterConnex | InterConnex | InterConnex | Z | 100 |
| X2 | X2000 Neigezug | X2000 pendulaire | X2000 pendolare | X2000 tilting train | Z | 100 |
| ZUG | Zugskategorie unbekannt | Cat‚gorie du train inconnue | Categoria di treno sconosciuta | Train category unknown | Z | 100 |
stop_times.txt
trip_id,arrival_time,departure_time,stop_id,stop_sequence,pickup_type,drop_off_type "1.TA.1-9-j17-1.1.H","05:25:00","05:25:00","8502034:0:2","1","0","0" "1.TA.1-9-j17-1.1.H","05:28:00","05:29:00","8502033:0:2","2","0","0" "1.TA.1-9-j17-1.1.H","05:33:00","05:33:00","8502032:0:1","3","0","0" "1.TA.1-9-j17-1.1.H","05:36:00","05:36:00","8502031:0:1","4","0","0" "1.TA.1-9-j17-1.1.H","05:42:00","05:42:00","8502030:0:2","5","0","0" "1.TA.1-9-j17-1.1.H","05:50:00","05:50:00","8502119:0:7","6","0","0" "2.TA.1-9-j17-1.2.H","05:53:00","05:53:00","8502034:0:1","1","0","0" "2.TA.1-9-j17-1.2.H","05:57:00","05:58:00","8502033:0:2","2","0","0" "2.TA.1-9-j17-1.2.H","06:02:00","06:02:00","8502032:0:1","3","0","0" "2.TA.1-9-j17-1.2.H","06:04:00","06:04:00","8502031:0:1","4","0","0" "2.TA.1-9-j17-1.2.H","06:09:00","06:11:00","8502030:0:2","5","0","0" "2.TA.1-9-j17-1.2.H","06:20:00","06:20:00","8502119:0:7","6","0","0" "3.TA.1-9-j17-1.3.H","24:38:00","24:38:00","8502119:0:7","1","0","0" "3.TA.1-9-j17-1.3.H","24:46:00","24:46:00","8502030:0:1","2","0","0" "3.TA.1-9-j17-1.3.H","24:49:00","24:49:00","8502031:0:1","3","0","0" "3.TA.1-9-j17-1.3.H","24:52:00","24:52:00","8502032:0:1","4","0","0" "3.TA.1-9-j17-1.3.H","24:57:00","24:57:00","8502033:0:1","5","0","0" "3.TA.1-9-j17-1.3.H","25:01:00","25:01:00","8502034:0:1","6","0","0
stops.txt
stop_id,stop_name,stop_lat,stop_lon,location_type,parent_station "1101064","Malpensa Aeroporto, terminal 1","45.6272144319203","8.7111160249179","","" "8000339","Weissenhorn Eschach","48.3010036099201","10.135089480891","","" "8000709:0:2","Neckarsulm Mitte","49.1934688770383","9.22294014126908","","" "8000778","Asselheim (D)","49.5762169849528","8.16159859923981","","" "8000781","Grünstadt-Nord","49.5733510011593","8.17078836459763","","" "8000988","Witzighausen","48.3174402469306","10.097800413442","","" "8002015","Nördlingen","48.85084676195","10.4978651252803","","8002015P" "8002015:0:4","Nördlingen","48.85090587299","10.4978651252803","","8002015P" "8002015P","Nördlingen","48.85084676195","10.4978651252803","1","" "8002023","Ebermergen","48.7562093140126","10.7109634770088","","" "8002023:0:1","Ebermergen","48.7562685367003","10.7109634770088","","" "8002038","Möttingen","48.8068073922247","10.5978386332639","","8002038P" "8002038:0:1","Möttingen","48.8069257181851","10.5978386332639","","8002038P" "8002038:0:2","Möttingen","48.8068665552398","10.5978386332639","","8002038P" "8002038P","Möttingen","48.8068073922247","10.5978386332639","1","" "8002039","Hoppingen","48.8038195691943","10.6532018042319","","
The platforms must be modelled in GTFS as individual stops. Replacing the platform is then the same as replacing the stop from a GTFS perspective.
Example using “8500010” (Basel SBB):
All the stops in Basel have a common “parent” “8500010P”. The individual platforms are separated by “:”. A “platform” can also be a platform+sectors (e.g. “8500010:0:7CD”). There are also very strange additions, such as “Bern Bfpl”, giving “8507000:0:Bfpl” if the RBS uses it for rail replacement buses.
trips.txt
route_id,service_id,trip_id,trip_headsign,trip_short_name,direction_id "1-9-j17-1","TA+b0001","2.TA.1-9-j17-1.2.H","Lenzburg","21916","0" "1-90-j17-1","TA+b0001","4.TA.1-90-j17-1.2.R","Wallbach, Gemeindehaus","90074","1" "1-90-j17-1","TA+b0001","10.TA.1-90-j17-1.2.R","Wallbach, Gemeindehaus","90022","1" "1-90-j17-1","TA+b0001","43.TA.1-90-j17-1.13.R","Schupfart, Dorf","90071","1" "1-90-j17-1","TA+b0001","44.TA.1-90-j17-1.13.R","Schupfart, Dorf","90013","1" "1-90-j17-1","TA+b0001","50.TA.1-90-j17-1.13.R","Schupfart, Dorf","90067","1 "8002015P","Nördlingen","48.85084676195","10.4978651252803","1","" "8002023","Ebermergen","48.7562093140126","10.7109634770088","","" "8002023:0:1","Ebermergen","48.7562685367003","10.7109634770088","","" "8002038","Möttingen","48.8068073922247","10.5978386332639","","8002038P" "8002038:0:1","Möttingen","48.8069257181851","10.5978386332639","","8002038P" "8002038:0:2","Möttingen","48.8068665552398","10.5978386332639","","8002038P" "8002038P","Möttingen","48.8068073922247","10.5978386332639","1","" "8002039","Hoppingen","48.8038195691943","10.6532018042319",""," "1-350-j16-1","TA","49.TA.1-350-j16-1.2.R","1-350-j16-1.2.R","Zürich, Triemli","1"
Please note:
- In the case of trains, “trip_short_name” will include the train number.
- A “trip” according to GTFS represents in Transmodel the concept of a “DatedVehicleJourney” (in OJP a “DatedJourney”). In Transmodel and OJP a TRIP is a journey of the customer as returned by the Trip Planner. It consists of different partial journeys, interchanges and other paths to be covered with different modes. In HRDF the GTFS ‘trip’ corresponds to the journey and in NeTEx to the ServiceJourney.
transfers.txt
The metastations will soon be presented in transfers.txt.
Consistency in terms of identifying between versions of the static file
The GTFS Static is recreated every week. This means that the “service_id” and the “trip_id” may not be identical.
When are there new GTFS Static files?
The new HRDF is published on Mondays.
The GTFS upload is carried out via script on Wednesdays at 09:10. The GTFS-RT feed downloads the files at 14:00 via script. It then takes about 5-10 minutes before the files in the system and, therefore, the GTFS-RT feed are switched.
Internal consistency of a GTFS Static file
We make every effort to produce correct GTFS Static files. Google suggests testing the internal consistency using the FeedValidator. Unfortunately, the current version is unable to cope with the size of our file. Another tool that can be used is gtfstidy, which includes among its functions the option to carry out validation using the parameter “-v”
More detailed information
You can find more detailed information about GTFS Static on Google’s GTFS developer website: https://developers.google.com/transit/gtfs/