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diff --git a/gtfs-book/ch-04-routes.md b/gtfs-book/ch-04-routes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e9716e --- /dev/null +++ b/gtfs-book/ch-04-routes.md @@ -0,0 +1,82 @@ +## 4. Routes (routes.txt) + +*This file is ***required*** to be included in GTFS feeds.* + +A route is a group of trips that are displayed to riders as a single +service. + +| Field | Required? | Description | +| :----- | :-------- | :---------- | +| `route_id` | Required | An ID that uniquely identifies the route. | +| `agency_id` | Optional | The ID of the agency a route belongs to, as it appears in `agency.txt`. Only required if there are multiple agencies in the feed. | +| `route_short_name` | Required | A nickname or code to represent this service. If this is left empty then the `route_long_name` must be included. | +| `route_long_name` | Required | The route full name. If this is left empty then the `route_short_name` must be included. | +| `route_desc` | Optional | A description of the route, such as where and when the route operates. | +| `route_type` | Required | The type of transportation used on a route (such as bus, train or ferry). See below for more information. | +| `route_url` | Optional | A URL of a web page that describes this particular route. | +| `route_color` | Optional | If applicable, a route can have a color assigned to it. This is useful for systems that use colors to identify routes. This value is a six-character hexadecimal number (for example, `FF0000` is red). | +| `route_text_color` | Optional | For routes that specify the `route_color`, a corresponding text color should also be specified. | + +### Sample Data + +The following extract is taken from the TriMet GTFS feed +(<https://openmobilitydata.org/p/trimet>). + +| `route_id` | `route_short_name` | `route_long_name` | `route_type` | +| :--------- | :----------------- | :--------------------------- | :----------- | +| `1` | `1` | `Vermont` | `3` | +| `4` | `4` | `Division / Fessenden` | `3` | +| `6` | `6` | `Martin Luther King Jr Blvd` | `3` | + +This sample shows three different bus routes for the greater Portland +area. The `route_type` value of `3` indicates they are buses. See +the next section for more information about route types in GTFS. + +There is no agency ID value in this feed, as TriMet is the only agency +represented in the feed. + +The other thing to note about this data is that TriMet use the same +value for both `route_id` and `route_short_name`. This is very +useful, because it means if you have a user that wants to save +information about a particular route you can trust the `route_id` +value. Unfortunately, this is not the case in all GTFS feeds. Sometimes, +the `route_id` value may change with every version of a feed (or at +least, semi-frequently). Additionally, some feeds may also have multiple +routes with the same `route_short_name`. This can present challenges +when trying to save user data. + +### Route Types + +To indicate a route's mode of transport, the `route_type` column is +used. + +| Value | Description | +| :---- | :---------------- | +| `0` | Tram / Light Rail | +| `1` | Subway / Metro | +| `2` | Rail | +| `3` | Bus | +| `4` | Ferry | +| `5` | Cable Car | +| `6` | Gondola | +| `7` | Funicular | + +Agencies may interpret the meaning of these route types differently. For +instance, some agencies specify their subway service as rail (value of +`2` instead of `1`), while some specify their trains as light rail +(`0` instead of `2`). + +These differences between agencies occur mainly because of the vague +descriptions for each of these route types. If you use Google Transit to +find directions, you may notice route types referenced that are +different to those listed above. This is because Google Transit also +supports additional route types. You can read more about these +additional route types at +<https://support.google.com/transitpartners/answer/3520902?hl=en>. + +Very few GTFS feeds made available to third-party developers actually +make use of these values, but it is useful to know in case you come +across one that does. For instance, Sydney Buses include their school +buses with a route type of `712`, while other buses in the feed have +route type `700`. + |