Transportation modes

[Tristramg]

GTFS and Transmodel seem to be very focused on what is the physical mode (bus vs. trolleybus).
http://sitp.transmodel.org/transmodel_v5_en/pages/7dd1ba283a7e0230.htm

However, this classification doesn’t always fit to what the user expects: bus rapid transit are simple busses, but the frequency and speed is higher than most tram lines.
Eurostar and Thalys can be considered as two different modes, however both are high speed trains.

In http://navitia.io they chose to have a physical mode and a commercial mode. I’m in favor of that approach, even if we diverge from transmodel.

[pietercolpaert]

Isn't commercial mode an agency and a physical mode just a mode?

[Tristramg]

No : for instance this rapid bus transit is operated by the agency "Tan" and is presented as the mode "Busway" (even if they are completely normal busses) http://www.transportxtra.com/files/6906-l.jpg

However it might overlap with the networks: the nightbus network of Paris is operated both by the RATP and SNCF.

[pietercolpaert]

Don't we need to differentiate the infrastructure managers from the operator then?

A line can be operated by a couple agencies, but another company can be the infrastructure manager for for instance the railroad tracks, the fast bus lane, etc.

To get a better understanding of the issue you've raised, can you give an example of what you see as a commercial mode and what the physical mode for a Tan busway?

[Tristramg]

Of course infrastructure and operators are different. Two operators will
share a stop.

The example in Nantes :
– Agency : Semitan (they operate also some peri-urban lines)
– Network : TAN (there are smaller companies running single lines in the
network)
– Line : "Line 4"
– Physical mode : bus
– Commercial mode : busway

The commercial mode is independent of the infrastructure (the busway also
uses normal streets, and usual buses could use the infrastructure).

An other example would be a branded "Express train" that would run on the
same tracks, with the same vehicles as the "train", but only stopping less.

Yet an other example, is the Berlin "MetroNetz" network that runs using
"MetroTram" and "MetroBusses"
http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/17104/name/Metro+Routes.html

On 27 July 2013 19:15, Pieter Colpaert [email protected] wrote:

Don't we need to differentiate the infrastructure managers from the
operator then?

A line can be operated by a couple agencies, but another company can be
the infrastructure manager for for instance the railroad tracks, the fast
bus lane, etc.

To get a better understanding of the issue you've raised, can you give an
example of what you see as a commercial mode and what the physical mode for
a Tan busway?

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHubhttps://github.com//issues/3#issuecomment-21668922
.

[pietercolpaert]

Ok, got it.

What do we do for modes where this difference doesn't apply? Where physical mode == commercial mode? Create just a word "mode" which is both a commercial and a physical one?

[Tristramg]

The commercial mode is just how the agency or the transportation
organisator wants to market their line.

If then brand it as « Bus » then it will have commercial mode « bus » and
physical mode « bus »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acq5CGbUgfs

On 29 July 2013 13:45, Pieter Colpaert [email protected] wrote:

Ok, got it.

What do we do for modes where this difference doesn't apply? Where
physical mode == commercial mode? Create just a word "mode" which is both a
commercial and a physical one?

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHubhttps://github.com//issues/3#issuecomment-21714401
.

[pietercolpaert]

So to be complete: a commercial brand can be an xsd:string which can be chosen freely. The physical mode is selected from a list which we define in #4