TransportAPI
transportapi.com
What it is
TransportAPI provides managed services for accessing and publishing UK transport data through APIs. Its Journey Planner covers bus, train, metro, coach, tram, light rail, cycle, car, ferry, and taxi journeys across Great Britain. Bus Information and Rail Information provide nationwide scheduled and real-time data through APIs or GTFS. Managed services monitor data quality and send errors to data vendors for correction at source. API options include polling and streaming, with RESTful JSON and, for some services, Websocket JSON-RPC. Journey Planner engine choices include SilverRail, TfL API, OTP, R5, OSRM, CycleStreets, and TaxiCode. Bus Information draws on UK datasets including TNDS, BODS, NaPTAN, BODS SIRI VM, and Traveline Nextbuses SIRI SM. The services are intended for apps, websites, transport analytics, and data mining. TransportAPI says customers can use data as they see fit and that it retains no downstream rights in customer-created or developed work. The free plan costs nothing and allows 30 API hits per day, free forever.
Spec sheet
- Product
- TransportAPI provides managed services for accessing and publishing UK transport data through APIs.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Trial
- The managed-services page says trial periods are available, while the developer portal describes trials of paid plans with higher allowances.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Integrations
- Journey Planner offers engine options including SilverRail, TfL API, OTP, R5, OSRM, CycleStreets and TaxiCode.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Support
- TransportAPI lists separate email contacts for technical support, account support and business enquiries.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Headquarters
- London, UKRead 28 Sep 2026 · transportapi.com
- Founded
- 2012Read 28 Sep 2026 · transportapi.com
- Company
- TransportAPI says it launched in 2012 and identifies Placr Limited as its official company name.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- API formats
- Managed services provide polling and streaming APIs, including RESTful JSON and, for some services, Websocket JSON-RPC.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Bus information
- TAPI Bus Information provides nationwide scheduled and real-time bus data through API or GTFS.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Data quality
- Managed services monitor data quality and report errors to data vendors so they can be addressed at source.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Data sources
- Bus Information combines UK datasets including TNDS, BODS, NaPTAN, BODS SIRI VM and Traveline Nextbuses SIRI SM.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Journey planning
- TAPI Journey Planner supports bus, train, metro, coach, tram, light rail, cycle, car, ferry and taxi journeys across Great Britain.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Rail information
- TAPI Rail Information provides nationwide rail schedules and real-time information through API or GTFS.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Terms and data rights
- TransportAPI says it does not retain downstream rights in customer-created or developed work and permits use of data as the customer sees fit.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
- Use cases
- The services are intended for apps and websites, transport analytics and data mining.Read 11 Oct 2026 · transportapi.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Journey planning spans ten transport modes
- Bus and rail data include scheduled and real-time information
- Offers polling and streaming API options
- Free plan allows 30 API hits per day
- Separate technical, account, and business email contacts
Limits
- Free plan is limited to 30 API hits per day
- Some services use Websocket JSON-RPC rather than RESTful JSON
Who it suits
TransportAPI suits developers and organizations building UK transport apps or websites, as well as teams doing transport analytics or data mining. Its scheduled and real-time bus and rail data may suit services that need those feeds.
Verdict
TransportAPI combines journey planning with bus and rail feeds and managed data-quality services. The free allowance is clearly stated, while the Home user plan lists its request limit but not its price.
Where Specifiction places it
- API Integration Platforms#25 of 377.5