GTFS conversion of bus operations on an interval basis

[Tetsuya SATO]

Hi! Everyone!!

I would like to ask for guidance from everyone who is working on the development of static GTFS.

In our target bus operation, there is no exact timetable for each bus stop, only the operation intervals between at each time of day. (e.g. between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM, the buses run about every 10-15 minutes.

In such a case, the intervals are written down in "frequencies.txtt" and a hypothetical timetable of each bus stop is written down in "stop_times.txt".

However, when we applied these GTFS files to Google, they replied that they could not confirm the correctness of the information in "stop_times.txt" compare with our website. In our website, the bus operation intervals by time of day for each route are listed.

My understanding is that in many countries, with the exception of a few countries like Japan, the bus schedule for each bus stop is not exactly fixed, only the operation intervals are fixed, just like ours.

I would very much like to know how you are dealing with this issue.

Best regards,

[Stefan de Konink]

On Monday, July 27, 2020 8:55:56 PM CEST, Tetsuya SATO wrote:
> However, when we applied these GTFS files to Google, they replied that they
> could not confirm the correctness of the information in "stop_times.txt"
> compare with our website. In our website, the bus operation intervals by
> time of day for each route are listed.

> I would very much like to know how you are dealing with this issue.

Escalate it to their manager ;)

--
Stefan

[Tetsuya SATO]

Thanks.

However, my understanding is that in many countries, the bus schedule for each bus stop is not exactly fixed, only the operation intervals are fixed, just like ours.

So, I'd like to know how to make GTFS files for such cases.

Best regards,

2020年7月28日火曜日 21:31:06 UTC+9 Stefan de Konink:

[Stefan de Konink]

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020 8:48:30 PM CEST, Tetsuya SATO wrote:
> Thanks.
> However, my understanding is that in many countries, the bus schedule for
> each bus stop is not exactly fixed, only the operation intervals are fixed,
> just like ours.
> So, I'd like to know how to make GTFS files for such cases.

In frequencies.txt you have the option to set it exact (or not). I think
that is the basic way to describe regular intervals.

--
Stefan

[Tetsuya SATO]

Thank you for your reply.

Of course, we have crteated [frequencies.txt].

In case, I don't set the exact time by using [frequencies.txt], shouldn't I need to create a [stop_times.tx]"?

As I understand that [stop_times.txt] is a required file.

So I created a hypothetical Time Table in [stop_times.txt] based on the Bus Operation Interval as same as [frequencies.txt].

Then, uploaded GTFS files to Google.

As a result, Google told us that "we can't judge the information in [stop_times.txt] is correct or not because on your web site doesn't show the timetable for each bus stop".

This is  how it happened until now.

Could you please introduce me how I can solve?

Best regards,

------

Tetsu

2020年7月29日水曜日 21:40:20 UTC+9 Stefan de Konink:

[Stefan de Konink]

On Wednesday, July 29, 2020 4:33:34 PM CEST, Tetsuya SATO wrote:
> In case, I don't set the exact time by using [frequencies.txt], shouldn't I
> need to create a [stop_times.tx]"?

Exact time is just a boolean. In all cases you should create a single
instance (per trip) of stop_times.txt which gives the relative time between
stop a to stop b and between stop b to stop c and so on.

> As a result, Google told us that "we can't judge the information in
> [stop_times.txt] is correct or not because on your web site doesn't show
> the timetable for each bus stop".
>
> This is how it happened until now.
>
> Could you please introduce me how I can solve?

Present the girls and boys from the validation team some reference on a
website or wikipedia page where the national description of "interval
based" operation has been described. I suspect you would/should describe
this somewhere for tourists as well.

--
Stefan