Passengers will soon be able to get public transport information on Google Maps and other apps, with the release of Victorian timetable information in General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) format.
Currently, in Victoria, it is possible to get information on how to get from A to B by car, bike and foot, but Google Maps cannot tell you how get from A to B using Victoria’s public transport system. That is about to change.
The Andrews Labor Government has released the GTFS format timetable data as promised. This will allow companies like Google to integrate the information into their website and apps, possibly within months.
While timetable information is already available in Application Programming Interface (API) format, GTFS is the format preferred by Google and most other app developers.
Google has public transport information for other major cities on their maps application. However, due to local timetable data not being available in its preferred format, it has never integrated Victorian-specific information.
And it’s not just about Google. The release of timetable data in GTFS means it’s available to all app developers who use this format, to create any number of inventive and useful products.
The data is available on the Data Victoria website,
Public Transport Victoria will be hosting an open access event for the developer community in mid-2015.
This will comprise of a series of data innovation events and workshops which will enable developers to get an understanding of public transport in Victoria, with the aim of producing in-market digital products by the end of the year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan
“Google maps is awesome but right now it can’t tell you how to get where you’re going on public transport. That’s about to change.”
“Today, as promised, we released the timetable data so Google can plug public transport timetables into maps and show you the best way to get around.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is investing in public transport and making it easier for people to use.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020