modbender 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 searchtype(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 IDlimit(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 stationto(required): Destination stationvia[](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