Multimodal data
Public transport services rely increasingly on information systems to ensure reliable, efficient operation and widely accessible, accurate passenger information.
These systems are used for a range of specific purposes: setting schedules and timetables, managing vehicle fleets, issuing tickets and receipts, providing real time information on service running, and so on.
Data is the key to a well-functioning public transport system, and large amounts of data are collected by the many providers to enhance their services.
The series of CEN European public transport data standards Transmodel, NeTEx and SIRI enable Union-wide multimodal travel information services which apply to the TEN-T network, including urban nodes.
Multimodal data model
“Transmodel” is the short name for the European Standard “Public Transport Reference Data Model” (EN 12896). It improves a number of features of public transport information and service management; in particular, the standard facilitates interoperability between the information processing systems of the transport operators and agencies by using matching definitions, structures and meanings for their data for the component systems. This applies both when connecting different applications within an organisation and connecting applications between interworking organisations (for instance, a public authority and a transport operator).
The Transmodel standard provides a framework for defining and agreeing data models, and covers the whole area of public transport operations. By making use of this European Standard, and of data models derived from it, it is possible for operators, authorities and software suppliers to work together much more easily towards integrated systems. Moreover, the breadth of the standard helps to ensure that future systems’ developments can be accommodated with the minimum of difficulty.
https://transmodel-cen.eu/
Static multimodal data
NeTEx is a CEN Technical Standard for exchanging Public Transport schedules and related data. It is divided into three parts, each covering a functional subset of the CEN Transmodel for Public Transport Information:
- Part 1 describes the Public Transport Network topology (CEN/TS 16614-1:2014);
- Part 2 describes Scheduled Timetables (CEN/TS 16614-2:2014);
- Part 3 covers Fare information (CEN/TS 16614-3:2015)
- Part 4 European Passenger Information Profile – EPIP (CEN/TS 16614-4:2017)
- Part 5 Alternative modes exchange format (CEN/TS 16614-5:2021)
- Part 6 European Passenger Information Accessibility Profile – EPIAP (under definition)
Dynamic multimodal data
SIRI provides an abstract model of common public transport concepts and data structures that enables the exchange of information on transport operations between different computer systems.
Implementation support
The DATA4PT project aims to advance data-sharing practices in the public transport sector by supporting the development of data exchange standards and models, to fulfil the needs of multimodal travel information service providers.
