What is GTFS

The General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) is a worldwide standard public transportation data format that was established in the United States. The primary goal of GTFS is to provide transit information to routing and mapping services. Comprised of TXT files formatted according to specific rules (such as field items and file names), it has become a widely adopted means of delivering public transportation information to users around the world. Many regions openly publish this data, and it is used not only for buses but also for various other forms of public transport including trains, ships, and planes.

Structure of GTFS Data Format

The data in GTFS are structured as a group of TXT files created according to specific rules and conventions. This structure is intended to facilitate the extraction and processing of data by various transit services and applications. The TXT files hold different types of transit data such as routes, stops, trips, schedules, and more, each containing detailed information to provide a comprehensive overview of a given public transportation network.

Use and Applications of GTFS

GTFS is widely adopted around the globe for the purpose of delivering comprehensive public transportation data to end-users. By offering this data as open source, GTFS provides a platform for the development of various transit-related applications, such as journey planners and real-time transit updates. It is extensively used in various regions and across different modes of transport including buses, trains, ships, and airplanes.

Types of GTFS

GTFS-static

The first type of GTFS file format is called 'GTFS-static.' It is commonly referred to simply as 'GTFS.' This format primarily encompasses static information that does not change due to daily operational circumstances, such as the names and locations of stops, fare information, and timetable data. This form of data provides a solid framework for understanding the general operations of a transit agency.

GTFS-realtime

The second type of GTFS is known as 'GTFS-realtime.' This format is designed to express dynamic information that changes over time, such as the day's operating status and passenger count.

The dynamic data offered by GTFS-realtime lacks basic foundational information, such as stop information, rendering it useless on its own. It is only when paired with the corresponding GTFS-static data that its full utility value comes to light. In this way, GTFS-realtime serves to supplement GTFS-static, adding value to the information it provides.

GTFS-JP: The Japanese Adaptation of GTFS

In Japan, a unique variant of GTFS, known as GTFS-JP, was established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism in 2017.

The primary aim of creating GTFS-JP was to enhance bus information available for online route searches in Japan. Its creation ensured that data in Japan could be shared in a format that is compatible with the widely used international GTFS standard, thus facilitating global data interoperability.

While maintaining compatibility with GTFS, GTFS-JP also takes into account unique factors related to bus operators in Japan. It covers the essential information required by domestic route search operators, reflecting a balance between maintaining international standards and addressing local needs.

Contents of GTFS-JP

GTFS-JP is provided as a ZIP file containing several TXT files. Each of these files corresponds to a different aspect of the public transport service, offering a comprehensive overview of the transit network.

File name	Overview	Content
agency.txt	Agency Information	Defines the public transit operator and data creator
stops.txt	Stop Information	Defines stop names and geographical coordinates
routes.txt	Route Information	Defines details such as route name
trips.txt stop_times.txt	Schedule Information	Defines schedules in a time-based format
calendar.txt calendar_dates.txt	Operational Days/Category Information	Defines operational days of buses (weekdays, weekends, holidays, etc.)
fare_attributes.txt fare_rules.txt	Fare Information	Defines fare information (flat-rate, per kilometer, etc.)
feed_info.txt	Feed Information	Defines the validity period of the data
translations.txt	Translation Information	Defines translations such as stop name readings and English translations