sncf-unfucker

README

SNCF Unfucker ⚙

This project is born from my frustration from working with SNCF GTFS feeds, which do not follow the GTFS spec.

Context 🚈

• In order to understand these ramblings you should probably get familiar with the GTFS schedule spec first.
• SNCF allows the free download and use of their GTFS feeds under the ODBL License:
  • TER feed (regional trains)
  • IC feed (intercity trains)
  • TGV feed (high speed trains)

However, these feeds do not follow the spec (Google Maps users will probably have already noticed trains that go to numbers instead of cities).

• Therefore, my plan is to make a converter to fix these issues by turning the default SNCF feed into a ✨pretty feed✨

What SNCF does wrong ❌

• trip.trip_headsign contains a train number and not a destination (they don't use trip.trip_short_name instead)
• route_type is defined at the route level instead of the trip level. This mostly means that hybrid bus/train routes are shown as train only
• The actual route type comes from the stop.stop_id prefixes (OCETrain, OCECar, OCEInoui, OCEOuigo, ...)
• No stable calendar even though most routes run on a known schedule, everything is stored as calendar_dates (not really extra hamful, but it's frustrating to have to deal with)

Usage

Just build and run the following:

./sncf-unfucker <config.json> <output.zip>

TODO 📋

• Split route types by actual route type
• Set trip.trip_headsign to the actual destination, and put the train number in trip.trip_short_name
• Actually have a valid GTFS output
• Give stable calendars whenever possible
• Add attributions.txt in the output file to avoid legally spicy stuff
• Make sure calendar ID space is unique

Attributions ⚖

• Credit goes to SNCF for their feeds, which are published under ODbL