Traveline National Data Set
TNDS Guidance
Data Sources
The TNDS is compiled from data sourced in TransXchange 2.1 from the Traveline regions including Scotland and Wales. The data for London is sourced from the London datastore. Bus stops in London closed or moved during the Olympic Games may not be shown correctly in the London data. Traveline is not aware of any other Open source of the correct information.
The data is resupplied by the Traveline regions and sourced from the London datastore on a weekly basis. TNDS contains public transport timetables for bus, light rail, tram and ferry services in Great Britain. It does not include national rail or coach services
The Traveline regions usually process their data once a week and they don't all process on the same day.
The data in the TNDS, with the exception of the London datastore data, is the same data that is used in the Traveline services, including NextBuses, and by Transport Direct.
TNDS Processing
Although TXC 2.1 compliant, each Traveline regional supply of TXC 2.1 data has been formatted in a slightly different way from the others.
In order to ensure a consistent TXC 2.1 file format for TNDS, the process involves importing the Traveline regional data supplies into a database. The TNDS is then exported using the same data elements and in the same TXC 2.1 format for all files.
TNDS format
The first release of TNDS will contain the same TXC 2.1 elements as the NPTDR with the addition of a nationaloperatorcode field.
This version of TNDS is a building block for future versions which will be informed by end user demand and updated in a controlled way with full backwards compatibility.
The TNDS has been released initially as a weekly UK dataset and as weekly datasets by Traveline region.
Duplicate Services
The first release of TNDS may contain duplicate services, with different filenames, where two or more Traveline regions have supplied the same service that crosses boundaries into other regions. These duplicates will be identified by data suppliers during the first few weeks of the TNDS live service and eliminated from the TNDS export over time. The progress of de-duplication will be reported with each weekly TNDS data supply.
TNDS Data Quality
To encourage data improvement where necessary, part of the provision of the TNDS service will include integrity testing on the TNDS export. Data suppliers will be given access to warnings reports generated from these tests and a GIS interface that will allow them to view warnings and either correct the source data or suppress the warning where it is not valid.
Integrity tests will include fast /slow links, duplicates and partial duplicates, a check against the current version of NaPTAN for stop references, and a check against the NOC database for correct coding.
The TNDS Data Manager role will be fulfilled by Traveline UK and this will include liaison with end users as well as the Traveline regions.
Associated Datasets and Services
TNDS uses NaPTAN to reference stopping points and the National Operator Codes database to reference transport operators.
Traveline also provides an API that returns a SIRI feed which contains the next buses due at a single NaPTAN point. This service includes live data from 30 real time systems across the UK. For details about access to this API please contact nextbuses@traveline.info.
TNDS Licensing and Costs
The weekly TNDS, for the whole UK and by region, is released under the Open Government Licence and is free to user.
Additional services such as daily updates, datasets by Local Authority or Operator, or by geographical area will also be released using the OGL but may carry an at cost charge to the end user.
