# TransportAPI MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect > TransportAPI MCP gives your AI agent real-time access to UK public transport data. Track live bus and train movements, plan multimodal journeys across Great Britain, and get instant alerts on rail and bus disruptions. ## Overview - **Category:** data-analytics - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_aEnDVP9vYpaRF0s62gmXVIgMCtfGkpxcqZqV4kLL/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** public-transport, real-time-tracking, journey-planning, bus-schedules, rail-data, transit-api ## Description You don't have to jump between five different transit websites just to see if your train is running late. This Connector lets your AI agent handle the heavy lifting of parsing UK transport data. Whether you're checking if a bus is actually at the stop or figuring out how to get from Manchester to London using a mix of rail and cycling, it just works. You can grab real-time ETAs, check station facilities like step-free access, or look up full bus timetables for the weekend. It's a massive time-saver for anyone who spends too much time staring at transit maps. Since Vinkius hosts this, you can plug it right into your existing setup and start asking questions about Great Britain's transit network immediately. ## Tools ### get_bus_arrivals Get a list of buses arriving at a specific UK stop. This shows real-time ETAs and operator details. ### get_bus_departures See all upcoming bus departures from a specific stop. It includes destination info and delay notices. ### get_journey_plan Generate a multimodal trip between two locations. It maps out rail, bus, and walking legs in one itinerary. ### get_rail_departures Get the full list of train departures for a UK station. It shows calling points and service types. ### get_rail_route Find the specific train route between two stations. It lists all calling points and typical frequencies. ### get_rail_services List all train services calling at a specific station. This helps you see the full scope of rail connectivity. ### search_stops Search for UK bus stops by name or landmark. This is useful for finding the correct Naptan stop ID. ### get_timetable Access the full scheduled timetable for a UK bus line. It covers weekday, weekend, and holiday patterns. ### get_updates Fetch active rail and bus disruption alerts. Use this to see if a specific line is currently delayed. ### get_rail_arrivals Check which trains are arriving at a specific station. This includes platform numbers and cancellation status. ### get_station_info Get detailed metadata for a rail station. It covers accessibility features, facilities, and staffing hours. ### get_stop_info Retrieve specific details for a bus stop. It lists served lines, accessibility features, and stop types. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Is there any engineering work on the Northern Line today? ``` **Response:** ``` ### Northern Line Service Status **Current Status:** ⚠️ **Minor Delays** * **Reason:** Engineering works between Old Street and Edgware. * **Impact:** Trains are running approximately 5-8 minutes late. * **Expected Duration:** Until 23:00 tonight. * **Advice:** Consider using the Central Line as an alternative for parts of your journey. ``` **Prompt:** ``` How do I get from Manchester Airport to the city centre? ``` **Response:** ``` ### Journey Options: Manchester Airport to City Centre | Option | Mode | Duration | Frequency | Est. Price | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Fastest** | Train | 18 mins | Every 10 mins | £3.50 | | **Direct** | Tram | 35 mins | Every 12 mins | £3.30 | | **Budget** | Bus | 55 mins | Every 30 mins | £2.00 | *Note: All prices are estimates based on contactless caps.* ``` **Prompt:** ``` Does Euston station have step-free access? ``` **Response:** ``` ### Euston Station Facilities Yes, **Euston Station** provides step-free access to all platforms. **Key Amenities:** * **Accessibility:** Full step-free routes, accessible toilets, and hearing loops. * **Facilities:** Ticket office, waiting rooms, and cycle storage. * **WiFi:** Available throughout the station. ``` ## Capabilities ### Track live bus locations Get real-time ETAs and delay indicators for any UK bus stop. ### Find train departures See live rail departures with platform numbers and cancellation statuses. ### Plan multi-mode routes Generate door-to-door itineraries combining bus, rail, tram, and cycling. ### Get service alerts Receive instant notifications on rail and bus disruptions across the UK. ### Look up station facilities Check for step-free access, WiFi, and parking at specific rail stations. ### Fetch full bus timetables Access complete weekday and weekend schedules for any UK bus line. ## Use Cases ### Avoiding a morning commute delay A commuter asks their agent if the Northern Line is running okay. The agent uses get_updates to report a 10 minute delay and suggests an alternative route. ### Planning a multi-modal holiday A tourist wants to get from London to the coast. They ask for a route that uses a train and then a local bus, which the agent builds using get_journey_plan. ### Verifying station accessibility A traveler with a stroller needs to know if a station has a lift. The agent uses get_station_info to confirm step-free access at the specific rail station. ### Building a transit dashboard A developer wants to show live arrivals in a local app. They use get_bus_arrivals to feed real-time data into their custom interface. ## Benefits - Stop guessing bus times by using get_bus_arrivals to see exact ETAs and delay indicators for any UK stop. - Plan complex multi-city trips instantly with get_journey_plan, which combines rail, bus, and cycling into one itinerary. - Avoid unexpected delays by checking get_updates for live rail and bus disruption alerts across Great Britain. - Verify station accessibility for your trip using get_station_info to check for step-free access and facilities. - Build better travel tools by using search_stops to find exact Naptan IDs for any bus stop in the UK. - Know the full schedule for regional travel by pulling complete bus timetables with get_timetable. ## How It Works The bottom line is you get a dedicated UK travel analyst inside your AI client. 1. Connect your TransportAPI credentials to the Vinkius platform. 2. Link the Connector to your preferred AI client like Claude or Cursor. 3. Ask your agent to plan a journey or check for live rail disruptions. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Can TransportAPI MCP track London buses?** Yes, it covers all bus operators across the UK, including Transport for London (TfL). You can get live ETAs and delay info for any stop. **Does TransportAPI MCP show train platform numbers?** Yes, it provides real-time platform numbers for rail departures, so you know exactly where to stand before your train arrives. **Can I use TransportAPI MCP to plan a trip with a bike?** Yes, the journey planner is multimodal. It can include cycling legs alongside rail and bus routes to help you plan a complete door-to-door trip. **Does TransportAPI MCP give real-time rail delays?** It provides live disruption alerts for the entire UK rail network, including expected durations and reasons for the delays. **Can TransportAPI MCP find bus stops near a specific landmark?** Yes, you can search for stops by name or landmark, and the agent will find the closest ones along with the lines they serve. **Does TransportAPI MCP work for regional UK travel?** It covers all regions of Great Britain, from local bus routes to national rail services, making it useful for both local and long-distance travel. **Can my AI check when the next bus is arriving at a specific UK bus stop?** Yes! First use `search_stops` to find the bus stop by name or location (e.g., "Oxford Street" or "Piccadilly Circus"). This returns the Naptan stop ID. Then use `get_bus_departures` with that stop ID to see all upcoming departures with expected arrival times, line numbers, destinations, and any delay information. You can also use `get_bus_arrivals` to monitor incoming services. The API provides real-time predictions based on live vehicle tracking across Great Britain. **How do I plan a complete journey from my hotel to a UK attraction using public transport?** Use the `get_journey_plan` tool with your hotel address or postcode as the origin and the attraction name or postcode as the destination. The TransportAPI journey planner will return complete multimodal itineraries combining buses, trains, trams, underground (tube), walking, and cycling with departure times, arrival times, total duration, number of changes, detailed legs with line names and operators, walking distances, and real-time disruption alerts. You can also specify a desired departure or arrival time for time-specific planning. **Can I check if there are any disruptions or engineering works affecting UK rail services?** Absolutely! Use `get_updates` to fetch current service alerts and disruption notices across the UK transport network. You can filter by mode ("rail" for trains, "bus" for buses) to get targeted alerts. The results include affected lines or stations, disruption descriptions, severity levels, expected duration, and alternative route recommendations. For station-specific information, use `get_rail_departures` or `get_rail_arrivals` which include cancellation and delay indicators for individual services.