Initial Situation
In a system where there are over 300 data providers (transport companies) and at least as many data recipients, certain specifications in the form of standards are essential. In the overall context, all parties must have the same understanding of what a stop is and also be able to clearly identify a specific stop. This information must then be transmitted correctly and consistently across all interfaces.
System management only sets out binding specifications in two areas:
- Structural standards: overarching specifications, such as how objects at the Swiss Union of Public Transport are defined and identified.
- Interface standards: based on interface standards that usually exist, the versions specific to Switzerland are set out precisely in the form of implementation guidelines.
All standards declared binding by the Management Board for Switzerland’s licensed transport companies are listed below as downloads. Previous versions and documents in the process of being drawn up are also listed where possible. There are also links to further supplementary documents.

Contact
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1. Structural standards
Structural standards ensure the same understanding throughout the entire system of the Swiss Union of Public Transport. Some structural standards have been produced in cooperation with the Transport Customer Information Committee of ch-direct.
All structural standards validated by the SKI Management Board are summarised in this table. The status provides information on the progress of the item in the overall validation process (for planning, see SKI Roadmap).
Overview interface standards for structural standards (as at: January 2021)
Items | Current valid version | Status* | Comments |
Swiss Identification for Public Transport (SID4PT) | Master Specifications for the Swiss Identification for Public Tranport (version 1.0) Download: DE | FR | IT | Binding | Details of the last review: Link |
Swiss Journey ID (SJYID) | Business Specifications for the Swiss Journey ID (version 1.1) Download: DE | FR | IT | Binding | Details of the last review: Link |
Swiss Location ID (SLOID) | Business Specifications for the Swiss Location ID (version 1.1) Download: DE | FR | IT | Binding | Details of the last review: Link |
Swiss Business Organisation ID (SBOID) | Business Specifications for the Swiss Business Organisation (version 1.1) Download: DE | FR | IT | Binding | Details of the last review: Link |
Swiss Line ID (SLNID) Swiss Direction ID (SDIID) | Business Specifications for the Swiss Line ID (version 0.9) incl. SDIID Download: DE | FR | IT | Review | |
Swiss Situation ID (SSTID) | Business Specifications for the Swiss Situation ID (version 0.3) Download: DE | Draft |
Binding = Binding for public transport in Switzerland, offical validation by Management Board SKI
Review = Document is under review, no validation by Management Board SKI
Draft = Work in progess, no validation by Management Board SKI
2. Interface standards
In total, there are over 50 interfaces in and out of the systems of the Customer Information System Tasks. The following graphic provides an overview of the underlying standards, including their issuer. The overview contains both currently used as well as planned standards.
For some interfaces there are specific Swiss implementation guidelines that require further specification of the existing standards. The working groups are responsible for drafting.
Timetable data
Overview interface standards for timetable data (as at: February 2021)
Items | Current valid version | Status* | Comments |
HRDF 5.20.39 Guidelines | HRDF – Guidelines (version 5.20.39) Download: DE | EN | Binding | More Information about HRDF (HAFAS Raw Data Format): Link |
HRDF 5.20.39 Realisation Guide of the Swiss Public Transport | HRDF – Realisation Guide – Swiss public transport system (version 1.0.1) Download: DE | FR | IT | EN | Binding | Based on HAFAS raw data format 5.20.39) |
HRDF 5.40.41 Guidelines | HRDF – Guidelines (version 5.40.41) Download: DE | Binding | More Information about HRDF (HAFAS Raw Data Format): Link |
HRDF 5.40.41 Realisation Guide of the Swiss Public Transport | HRDF – Realisation Guide – Swiss public transport system (version 2.0.2) Download: DE | FR | IT | EN Advances notice for the Realisation Guide Download: DE | FR | Binding | Based on HAFAS raw data format 5.40.41) |
NeTEx Realisation Guide of the Swiss Public Transport | NeTEx Realisation Guide – Swiss public transport system (version 0.8.8.5) Download: EN | Draft | More Information about NeTEx on GitHub: Link |
Binding = Binding for public transport in Switzerland, offical validation by Management Board SKI
Review = Document is under review, no validation by Management Board SKI
Draft = Work in progess, no validation by Management Board SKI
Real time data
Overview interface standards for real time data (as at: November 2020)
Items | Current valid version | Status* | Comments |
VDV453 Guidelines | VDV453 – Guidelines (version 2.6) Download: DE | Binding | More Information about VDV453 – Guidelines (version 2.6) and interfaces for realtime data: Link |
VDV453 Realisation Guide of the Swiss Public Transport | VDV453 – Realisation Guide – Swiss public transport system (version 1.3.1) Download: DE | FR | IT | EN | Binding | Based on VDV453 – Guidelines (version 2.6) |
VDV454 Guidelines | VDV454 – Guidelines (version 2.2) Download: DE | Binding | More Information about VDV454 – Guidelines (version 2.2) and interfaces for realtime data: Link |
VDV454 Realisation Guide of the Swiss Public Transport | VDV454 – Realisation Guide – Swiss public transport system (version 1.3.1) Download: DE | FR | IT | EN | Binding | Based on VDV454 – Guidelines (version 2.2) |
VDV454 Using the Forecast Status in VDV454 | VDV454 – Using the Forecast Status in VDV454 (version 1.0) Download: DE | FR | IT | EN | Binding | Extension to the VDV454 – Realisation Guide – Swiss public transport system (version 1.3.1) |
VDV Transposition deadlines of implementation guides VDV | VDV – Transposition deadlines of realisation guides VDV (version 1.3) Download: DE | FR | IT | EN | Binding | |
SIRI Realisation Guide of the Swiss Public Transport | SIRI – Realisation Guide – Swiss public transport system (version 0.8.6.8) Download: EN | Draft | Based on SIRI-specification Siri 2.0o More Information about SIRI on GitHub: Link |
Binding = Binding for public transport in Switzerland, offical validation by Management Board SKI
Review = Document is under review, no validation by Management Board SKI
Draft = Work in progess, no validation by Management Board SKI
Instance XSD2017c Implementation Details (as at: September 2020)
Items | Current valid version | Status* | Comments |
VDV454 SBB Interface Specification | VDV454 – SBB interface specification (version 2.9 - CUS 5.14). Download: DE | FR | IT | Draft | |
Differences XSD2015 XSD2017c | CUS VDV Differences XSD2015 XSD2017c (version 1.0.) - Management Presentation Download: DE | FR | IT CUS VDV Differences XSD2015 XSD2017c (version 1.0.) - Excel Document Download: DE | FR | IT | Draft | |
Migration_XSD2017 and OAuth | Migration XSD2017 ext OAuth Download: DE | FR | IT | Draft |
Binding = Binding for public transport in Switzerland, offical validation by Management Board SKI
Review = Document is under review, no validation by Management Board SKI
Draft = Work in progess, no validation by Management Board SKI
Situation exchange data
Situation Exchange data (as at: November 2020)
Items | Current valid version | Status* | Comments |
VDV736 Global architecture | Global architecture: data exchange on events in Swiss public transport (version 1.0.) Download: DE | FR | IT | Binding | Details of the last review: Link |
Binding = Binding for public transport in Switzerland, offical validation by Management Board SKI
Review = Document is under review, no validation by Management Board SKI
Draft = Work in progess, no validation by Management Board SKI
Active working groups for interface standards
Kundeninformation Datenschnittstellen (KIDS) VDV Unterarbeitsgruppe (Verantwortlich: Daniel Hollenstein)
Kundeninformation Datenschnittstellen (KIDS) HRDF Unterarbeitsgruppe (Verantwortlich: Harri Müller)