Getting started with GTFSwizard

In GTFSwizard: Creating, Exploring, and Manipulating GTFS Files

knitr::opts_chunk$set(collapse = TRUE, comment = "#>")

GTFSwizard creates, reads, validates, explores, edits, and exports General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) Schedule feeds. Its functions work with a wizardgtfs object: a named list of GTFS tables plus a dates_services table that connects calendar dates, services, and service patterns.

Use an included feed

The package includes two real, reduced examples from Fortaleza, Brazil. for_rail_gtfs is small enough for learning and examples; for_bus_gtfs is useful for checking workflows on a larger bus network.

library(GTFSwizard)

gtfs <- for_rail_gtfs
summary(gtfs)

Access an individual GTFS table with the usual list syntax.

head(gtfs$routes)
head(gtfs$stops)

Read an existing feed

read_gtfs() reads a GTFS zip archive and validates its required tables, fields, identifiers, sequences, dates, and times. Supply the archive path explicitly. To choose a file interactively, call explore_gtfs() without a feed in an interactive R session.

gtfs <- read_gtfs("path/to/feed.zip")
explore_gtfs() # choose a zip file and open the dashboard

Use as_wizardgtfs() when the GTFS tables are already available as a named list. If shapes.txt is absent, the default behavior infers straight lines from ordered stop coordinates for analysis and visualization.

converted <- as_wizardgtfs(unclass(for_rail_gtfs))
inherits(converted, "wizardgtfs")

Create a feed from tables

create_gtfs() validates the supplied tables using the same package rules. A feed must define service using calendar, calendar_dates, or both.

created <- create_gtfs(
  agency = data.frame(
    agency_id = "A",
    agency_name = "Demo Transit",
    agency_url = "https://example.com",
    agency_timezone = "America/Fortaleza"
  ),
  routes = data.frame(
    route_id = "R1", agency_id = "A", route_short_name = "1",
    route_long_name = "Central", route_type = 3
  ),
  trips = data.frame(
    route_id = "R1", service_id = "WK", trip_id = "T1"
  ),
  stop_times = data.frame(
    trip_id = "T1",
    arrival_time = c("08:00:00", "08:10:00"),
    departure_time = c("08:00:00", "08:10:00"),
    stop_id = c("S1", "S2"),
    stop_sequence = 1:2
  ),
  stops = data.frame(
    stop_id = c("S1", "S2"),
    stop_name = c("First", "Second"),
    stop_lat = c(-3.73, -3.74),
    stop_lon = c(-38.52, -38.53)
  ),
  calendar = data.frame(
    service_id = "WK",
    monday = 1, tuesday = 1, wednesday = 1, thursday = 1,
    friday = 1, saturday = 0, sunday = 0,
    start_date = "20260101", end_date = "20261231"
  )
)

created

Inspect and plot

The print method previews tables, summary() reports system-level properties, and plot() draws the network. Analytical functions return ordinary tibbles or sf objects so they remain compatible with standard R workflows.

plot(gtfs)

Export a feed

write_gtfs() removes the internal dates_services table, restores standard GTFS date and spatial columns, and writes a zip archive.

output <- tempfile(fileext = ".zip")
write_gtfs(created, output)
file.exists(output)
unlink(output)

Continue with service analysis, or learn how to filter and edit feeds.

GTFSwizard documentation built on Aug. 21, 2026, 5:16 p.m.