Routetabellerna

Routetabellerna is a Swedish term that translates to “the route tables” and is used to describe compiled data and documents that list routes, stops, and timetables for public transportation and related services. The concept encompasses both planning and operational information used to guide travel, scheduling, and passenger information.

In public transport, routetabellerna cover multiple modes, including bus, tram, rail, metro, and ferry services. They typically specify a route identifier, origin and destination, the sequence of stops, service days, headways or frequencies, and the first and last departures. Additional details may include transfer rules, accessibility notes, fare information, and special conditions. Routetabellerna are used by transport authorities and operators for timetable design, capacity planning, and coordination between different services, as well as by information providers and trip-planning tools to present reliable guidance to passengers.

Historically, routetabellerna were published as printed timetables displayed at stations and stops. With digitalization, they are increasingly maintained in machine-readable formats and shared as open data. A widely used standard for digital route information is the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), which encodes routes, trips, stops, calendars, and other related data. Real-time updates are often provided via GTFS-RT or similar feeds, enabling dynamic passenger information.

Beyond public transport, the term can also apply to internal routetabeller for logistics and freight routing, where routes and schedules are managed to optimize deliveries and resources. Maintaining accuracy and timely updates is a central challenge, and routetabellerna remain essential for effective planning, navigation, and service reliability.