Swiss Public Transport

Query Swiss public transport (SBB, BLS, ZVV, etc.) using the official transport.opendata.ch API.

Quick Commands

Search stations

curl -s "https://transport.opendata.ch/v1/locations?query=Zürich" | jq -r '.stations[] | "\(.name) (\(.id))"'

Get next departures

curl -s "https://transport.opendata.ch/v1/stationboard?station=Zürich%20HB&limit=10" | \
  jq -r '.stationboard[] | "\(.stop.departure[11:16]) \(.category) \(.number) → \(.to)"'

Plan journey from A to B

curl -s "https://transport.opendata.ch/v1/connections?from=Zürich&to=Bern&limit=3" | \
  jq -r '.connections[] | "Departure: \(.from.departure[11:16]) | Arrival: \(.to.arrival[11:16]) | Duration: \(.duration[3:]) | Changes: \(.transfers)"'

Get connection details with sections

curl -s "https://transport.opendata.ch/v1/connections?from=Zürich%20HB&to=Bern&limit=1" | \
  jq '.connections[0].sections[] | {from: .departure.station.name, to: .arrival.station.name, departure: .departure.departure, arrival: .arrival.arrival, transport: .journey.category, line: .journey.number}'

API Endpoints

/v1/locations - Search stations

curl "https://transport.opendata.ch/v1/locations?query=<station-name>"

Parameters:

• query (required): Station name to search
• type (optional): Filter by type (station, address, poi)

/v1/stationboard - Departure board

curl "https://transport.opendata.ch/v1/stationboard?station=<station>&limit=<number>"

Parameters:

• station (required): Station name or ID
• limit (optional): Number of results (default 40)
• transportations[] (optional): Filter by type (ice_tgv_rj, ec_ic, ir, re_d, ship, s_sn_r, bus, cableway, arz_ext, tramway_underground)
• datetime (optional): Date/time in ISO format

/v1/connections - Journey planner

curl "https://transport.opendata.ch/v1/connections?from=<start>&to=<destination>&limit=<number>"

Parameters:

• from (required): Starting station
• to (required): Destination station
• via[] (optional): Intermediate station(s)
• date (optional): Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
• time (optional): Time (HH:MM)
• isArrivalTime (optional): 0 (departure, default) or 1 (arrival)
• limit (optional): Number of connections (max 16)

Helper Script

Use scripts/journey.py for formatted journey planning:

python3 scripts/journey.py "Zürich HB" "Bern"
python3 scripts/journey.py "Basel" "Lugano" --limit 5

Notes

• All times are in Swiss local time (CET/CEST)
• Station names support autocomplete (e.g., "Zürich" finds "Zürich HB")
• API returns JSON by default
• No API key required
• Real-time data includes delays and platform changes