Query: timetable feed listing active RIDs for specific routes

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Mas Gol

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Feb 20, 2026, 9:33:38 AMFeb 20
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Dear Team,
I hope you are well.

I am currently working with real-time rail data and I would like to ask whether there is a timetable dataset or feed that provides a daily list of train services (by journey/RID).

In particular, I am trying to obtain a list of RIDs that are active for a given route on a specific day (for example, services running today or tomorrow from Weymouth to London Waterloo). Is there an existing timetable or schedule feed that publishes the set of planned services (and their RIDs) each day, for example overnight, similar to a daily timetable export?

If this is available, could you please point me to the relevant dataset, documentation, or best practice for deriving this list?

Many thanks for your help.

Kind regards,
Mas

Lawrence Job

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Feb 21, 2026, 10:14:19 AMFeb 21
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Hi,

If I understand you correctly, the simple answer is you're looking for the SCHEDULE feed.


This is weekly with daily updates. There are additional alterations to this in a second realtime feed called VSTP (very short term planning). These are changes with less than 48h notice.


The API for getting this data is currently in flux as they migrate to a more cost-effective way of delivering it through third parties.

If you're working with realtime data, you might be better off using the data feed in Darwin. Once per day it does a compilations of SCHEDULE+VSTP+any other alterations available daily (link below) and the Darwin feed produces Schedule events any time there's a schedule alteration (1000s/day). You may already be receiving them.

To use Darwin you do need these daily snapshots anyway to interpret its data (you will get a message once per day to tell you there's a new one to load into your system):

TLDR; use Darwin if you want the best out-of-the-box realtime data. Use Schedule+VSTP if you want to own the business logic of interpreting those files.

Kind regards,

Lawrence Job

Mas Gol

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Feb 23, 2026, 5:33:32 AMFeb 23
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Hi Lawrence,

Thanks for the detailed explanation, that’s very helpful and much appreciated. 

This gives me a much clearer picture of the options and how best to proceed.  

I’ll try to get the data set up, and if I have any further questions I’ll be sure to ask. 

Many thanks,

Mas



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Tom Cairns

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Feb 23, 2026, 5:35:11 AMFeb 23
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It is probably worth adding that the VSTP schedules delivered via Darwin and Network Rail’s VSTP feeds are different, Darwin does not consume NR’s feed and v.v. In theory for passenger services they should align but reasonably frequently don’t.

 

Tom

 

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