Menetrendszer

Menetrendszer is a Hungarian term that refers to the timetable system of a public transport network. It encompasses the coordinated schedules, routes, and operational constraints that govern the deployment of buses, trains, trams, ferries, and other services. The aim is to provide reliable connections, optimize resource use, and offer predictable travel options for passengers.

A menetrendszer consists of several components. These include routes and stops, trip patterns (the actual sequences of stops along a service), service calendars (operating days and seasonal variations), and headways or intervals between departures. Transfer opportunities, dwell times at stops, and platform or bay assignments are also part of the system. Data quality, version control, and consistency across modes are essential for accuracy.

Planning and data management are core activities. Timetable design is typically undertaken by transit authorities or operators, often through collaborative processes that consider demand, capacity, rolling stock availability, and budget constraints. The timetable is periodically revised to reflect changes in services, infrastructure, or policy objectives. Timetable data are stored in centralized databases and shared with planners, operators, and the public, sometimes in standardized formats such as GTFS.

Dissemination and interoperability are important for user information and journey planning. Timetables are published in schedules, maps, and online tools, and may be accompanied by real-time updates. Machine-readable outputs enable journey-planning applications and integration with ticketing and passenger information systems.

In practice, a menetrendszer is an overarching framework rather than a single software solution. It represents the organized structure of a transit network’s planned services and the data that describe how those services operate and are communicated to users.