What is GTFS Data? How Does Standardized Data Impact Public Transport?

Hello!

We know that public transportation is not just about buses, trams, or subways. Behind these systems lies a complex structure that organizes the movement of thousands of people every day — determining timetables, assigning vehicles to routes, and coordinating schedules. One of the key elements that makes this system more efficient, transparent, and accessible is: data standardization.

Today, we're going to talk about GTFS data, one of the foundational components of data sharing and integration in public transport, and what it means for cities.

What is GTFS?

GTFS stands for General Transit Feed Specification. Developed by Google, this international open data format provides essential information about a city’s public transport services — such as routes, stops, timetables, and schedules — in a common language that everyone can understand.

The data is stored in simple .txt files, making it highly accessible for both municipalities with limited technical infrastructure and software developers. Today, GTFS has become the most widely used data standard in cities around the world — integrated into apps and adopted by decision-makers globally.

Why is GTFS important?

1. Transparency and Accessibility

GTFS makes public transport data accessible not only to operators but also to passengers, developers, and city planners. Anyone living in or visiting a city can view real-time bus schedules, stops, and routes via platforms like Google Maps.

2. Seamless Technological Integration

GTFS enables different software systems to work together. Trip planners, mobile apps, decision support tools, and maps can easily process this data. In other words,

standardized data is the foundation of technological solutions.

3. Data-Driven Planning and Decision-Making

If a municipality wants to use its fleet more efficiently, reschedule services, or adjust routes based on passenger demand, GTFS is the starting point. Systems like Cermoni rely on GTFS or similar structures to function — using data like timetables, stop locations, and route geometry for in-depth analysis.

Example: What Could Change in a City with GTFS?

Imagine Municipality X, currently planning with spreadsheets and outdated schedules. Each new analysis requires significant time and manual effort.

Once this data is digitized and standardized through GTFS:

• Journey planning applications become instantly usable.

• Timetables can be optimized easily.

• Existing vehicles can serve more efficiently.

• Most importantly, a culture of data-driven decision-making emerges.

  
  

What Does Cermoni Do?

At Cermoni, we don’t just use GTFS — we help create, improve, and optimize it.

In our collaborations with municipalities and public transport agencies:

• We convert existing data into GTFS format.

• We identify and correct missing or inaccurate data.

• We support planning decisions through GTFS-based analysis and optimization.

Cermoni uses GTFS to analyze vehicle routes, service frequencies, stop structures, and passenger demand holistically. This allows agencies to offer better service with fewer resources.

In Conclusion...

Public transport solutions aren’t just about more buses — they’re also about better data. Standards like GTFS allow cities to learn from one another, make systems more efficient, and improve the experience for passengers.

The smart cities of the future will be the ones that can share and utilize data. And maybe, the first step is just a simple .txt file 🙂