Stoptimes

Stoptimes are the scheduled moments when a transit vehicle is expected to arrive at and depart from a specified stop during a trip. They are central to timetable planning and passenger information, enabling riders to estimate when a bus, train, or tram will be at a given location and to plan transfers between services.

In data systems, stoptimes are represented in standard timetable feeds. In the GTFS format, for example, stoptimes appear in stop_times.txt, and each row corresponds to a vehicle’s visit to a stop. Fields include trip_id, stop_id, stop_sequence, arrival_time, departure_time, and optional pickup_type and drop_off_type indicators. The arrival_time and departure_time define the dwell time, the interval the vehicle spends at the stop to board or alight passengers. If no dwell is needed, arrival and departure times may be equal, or a vehicle may pass through without stopping.

Stoptimes are used for schedule planning, passenger information, and trip planning tools. They are also the basis for real-time updates, where live predictions modify the planned times to reflect delays, early arrivals, or service changes. Dwell times can vary due to passenger volume, accessibility features, or operational constraints, and are a key factor in timetable adherence and reliability metrics.

Considerations include overnight or cross-midnight trips, changes in service patterns, and data quality issues that can affect accuracy. Overall, stoptimes provide the structured temporal framework that underpins how riders and operators understand and manage transit service.