Glossary A–ZLetter G
GTFS
GTFS is an open data format for public transport timetables in which stops, routes, trips and departure times are described in several text files.
The files are distributed together as a ZIP archive; each one is a table in CSV format.
Alongside the scheduled data there is an extension called GTFS Realtime, which transmits ongoing changes such as delays, cancellations and vehicle positions. Many transport companies and associations publish their timetables in this format. For screen networks, GTFS is the basis for building a departure board without depending on a particular journey planner website.
Operators should know that scheduled data alone does not show delays; without real-time data, the display is merely a timetable. The datasets are republished regularly, for example when the timetable changes, and then have to be imported again. Stop names and identifiers can change between releases. Each data source has its own terms of use, which often require a credit line.