Knowledge Base
Technical guides, tutorials, and documentation to help you integrate Belgian public transport data into your applications.
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Understanding GTFS
What is GTFS?
GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) is a common format for public transportation schedules and associated geographic information. Originally developed by Google, it's now the industry standard for transit data.
GTFS consists of:
- Static data: Routes, stops, schedules, fares
- Real-time data: Live vehicle positions, delays, alerts
GTFS File Structure
A GTFS dataset is a ZIP file containing CSV files:
gtfs.zip
├── agency.txt # Transit agencies
├── routes.txt # Transit routes
├── trips.txt # Individual trips
├── stops.txt # Transit stops
├── stop_times.txt # Stop times for trips
├── calendar.txt # Service patterns
├── calendar_dates.txt # Service exceptions
└── shapes.txt # Route geometry
Working with GTFS Data
Essential Files
- agency.txt: Information about transit agencies
- stops.txt: Individual stops/stations with coordinates
- routes.txt: Transit routes (bus lines, train routes)
- trips.txt: Individual journeys along routes
- stop_times.txt: Times when vehicles arrive/depart stops
Optional Files
- calendar.txt: Service days for routes
- shapes.txt: Route paths for mapping
- fare_attributes.txt: Fare information
- transfers.txt: Transfer rules between routes
API Documentation
GTFS Static API
Download complete schedule data for all operators.
GET https://belgianmobility.blob.core.windows.net/gtfs/production/gtfs-delijn-bmc-latest.zip
GET https://belgianmobility.blob.core.windows.net/gtfs/production/gtfs-stibmivb-bmc-latest.zip
GET https://belgianmobility.blob.core.windows.net/gtfs/production/gtfs-tec-bmc-latest.zip
GET https://belgianmobility.blob.core.windows.net/gtfs/production/gtfs-nmbssncb-bmc-latest.zip
Returns: ZIP file containing GTFS data
GTFS Real-time API
Access live trip updates and service alerts.
GET https://gtfs-rt.api.production.belgianmobility.io/{agencyId}/TripUpdates.pbf
GET https://gtfs-rt.api.production.belgianmobility.io/{agencyId}/ServiceAlerts.pbf
# Agency IDs: nmbssncb, tec, delijn
# Note: STIB-MIVB does not produce GTFS-RT feeds
Returns: Protocol Buffer format
STIB Specific APIs
Brussels-specific data feeds with enhanced information.
GET /api/stib/waiting-times
GET /api/stib/vehicle-positions
GET /api/stib/messages
Returns: JSON format
Authentication & Rate Limits
Public APIs
- • No authentication required
- • Rate limit: 1000 requests/hour
- • GTFS downloads: 10/day per IP
- • Real-time feeds: 120 requests/minute
Premium APIs
- • API key authentication required
- • Higher rate limits based on plan
- • Historical data access
- • Priority support
Data Quality & Cleaning
Our Data Processing Pipeline
We implement comprehensive data quality checks and cleaning processes to ensure reliable, consistent data across all operators.
Validation Steps
- GTFS format compliance checking
- Geographic coordinate validation
- Schedule consistency verification
- Stop name and ID standardization
Data Enhancements
- Route shape optimization
- Multi-language support
- Accessibility information
- Cross-operator transfer rules
Best Practices for Using Our Data
- • Always validate GTFS feeds before using in production
- • Cache data appropriately to reduce API calls
- • Handle real-time data delays and missing information gracefully
- • Subscribe to our status page for maintenance notifications
Code Samples & Tutorials
Python: Fetching GTFS Data
Download and process GTFS data using Python.
import requests
import zipfile
import pandas as pd
from io import BytesIO
# Download GTFS data
def download_gtfs(operator='delijn'):
url = f"https://belgianmobility.blob.core.windows.net/gtfs/production/gtfs-{operator}-bmc-latest.zip"
response = requests.get(url)
if response.status_code == 200:
return zipfile.ZipFile(BytesIO(response.content))
else:
raise Exception(f"Failed to download: {response.status_code}")
# Extract and read stops
gtfs_zip = download_gtfs('delijn')
stops_df = pd.read_csv(gtfs_zip.open('stops.txt'))
print(f"Found {len(stops_df)} stops")
print(stops_df.head())
JavaScript: Real-time Vehicle Positions
Fetch and display real-time vehicle positions using JavaScript.
// Fetch real-time vehicle positions
async function getVehiclePositions() {
try {
const response = await fetch('/api/gtfs-rt/vehicle-positions');
const data = await response.arrayBuffer();
// Parse Protocol Buffer data (requires protobuf.js)
const feed = gtfs.transit_realtime.FeedMessage.decode(
new Uint8Array(data)
);
return feed.entity.map(entity => ({
vehicleId: entity.vehicle.vehicle.id,
routeId: entity.vehicle.trip.routeId,
latitude: entity.vehicle.position.latitude,
longitude: entity.vehicle.position.longitude,
timestamp: entity.vehicle.timestamp
}));
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error fetching vehicle positions:', error);
return [];
}
}
// Update map markers
getVehiclePositions().then(vehicles => {
vehicles.forEach(vehicle => {
updateMapMarker(vehicle);
});
});
cURL: API Examples
Command-line examples for accessing our APIs.
# Download GTFS static data
curl -O "https://belgianmobility.blob.core.windows.net/gtfs/production/gtfs-stibmivb-bmc-latest.zip"
# Get real-time trip updates
curl "https://gtfs-rt.api.production.belgianmobility.io/tec/TripUpdates.pbf" \
-H "Accept: application/x-protobuf"
# Get STIB waiting times (JSON)
curl "https://api.belgianmobility.be/api/stib/waiting-times?stop_id=8754" \
-H "Accept: application/json"
# Premium API with authentication
curl "https://api.belgianmobility.be/api/premium/historical" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Accept: application/json"
Need More Help?
Can't find what you're looking for? Our team is here to help you integrate Belgian transport data successfully.