Bring Public Transit
to Claude Desktop
Create your Vinkius account to connect WMATA to Claude Desktop and start using all 12 AI tools in minutes. Fully managed, enterprise secure, and ready to use without writing a single line of code. No hosting, no server setup โ just connect and start using.
Compatible with every major AI agent and IDE
What is the WMATA MCP Server?
Connect your WMATA API Washington DC public transit data platform to any AI agent and take full control of real-time Metrorail and Metrobus tracking, incident monitoring, and station information through natural conversation.
What you can do
- Next Rail Predictions โ Get real-time next train predictions system-wide or at specific Metrorail stations
- Station Discovery โ List all Metrorail stations with codes, addresses, coordinates, and line affiliations
- Station Predictions โ Get detailed next train arrivals at any specific Metrorail station
- Metrobus Tracking โ Track real-time GPS positions of all Metrobus vehicles or filter by route
- Bus Route Details โ Get complete route information including stop sequences for any Metrobus route
- Rail Incidents โ Monitor active service disruptions affecting Metrorail lines and stations
- Bus Incidents โ Check current incidents and detours affecting Metrobus service
- Elevator Outages โ Track elevator and escalator outages for accessibility planning
- Station Entrances โ Get street-level entrance information for any Metrorail station
- Parking Lots โ Find station parking availability, fees, and amenities for park-and-ride planning
- Bus Routes โ Browse all Metrobus routes operating across DC, Maryland, and Virginia
- Bus Predictions โ Get next bus arrival predictions at stations and stops
How it works
- Subscribe to this server
- Enter your WMATA API key (free from the Developer Portal)
- Start tracking DC Metro transit from Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client
No more navigating the Metro website or manually checking train times. Your AI acts as a dedicated DC transit analyst and trip planning assistant.
Who is this for?
- DC Commuters โ track trains and buses, check incidents, and plan park-and-ride trips
- Tourists โ navigate the Metrorail system with station discovery and entrance guidance
- Accessibility Planners โ verify elevator status and accessible entrances before traveling
- Transit Apps โ integrate real-time WMATA data into mobility and journey planning applications
Built-in capabilities (12)
Returns incident descriptions, affected route IDs, detour information, bus stop closures, incident types (accident, road closure, construction, mechanical), start timestamps, and alternative service recommendations. Essential for bus service disruption awareness, alternative route planning, and passenger communication. AI agents should use this when users ask "are there any bus delays", "is route 30N running normally", or need to check Metrobus service reliability. Get current incidents affecting Metrobus service
Returns bus vehicle IDs, route IDs, latitude/longitude coordinates, trip IDs, destination names, deviation from schedule in seconds, and direction. Can query all buses system-wide or filter by specific route ID. Essential for real-time bus tracking, passenger wait time estimation, and bus arrival prediction. AI agents should reference this when users ask "where is the X2 bus", "show all buses on route 30N", or need to track Metrobus vehicles in real-time. Route IDs are typically 2-5 character identifiers (e.g., "30N", "X2", "L2"). Use getBusRoutes first to find route IDs if unknown. Get real-time positions of Metrobus vehicles, optionally filtered by route
Returns all stops served by the route in order, trip headsigns, and route path information. Essential for route planning, understanding bus service coverage, stop discovery, and passenger journey preparation. AI agents should use this when users ask "what stops does the 30N bus serve", "show me the route details for X2", or need complete route structure including stop sequences for trip planning. Get detailed information about a specific Metrobus route
Returns route IDs, route names, descriptions, and route types. Covers all WMATA-operated bus routes including limited-stop, local, and express services across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Essential for route discovery, service area analysis, transit network understanding, and identifying route IDs for use in bus position and route detail queries. AI agents should reference this when users ask "list all bus routes", "what bus routes serve DC", or need to identify route IDs for subsequent Metrobus queries. List all Metrobus routes in the WMATA system
Returns bus route IDs, destination names, predicted arrival times in minutes, trip IDs, and vehicle IDs. Supports filtering by station code for station-specific predictions or system-wide queries. Essential for bus trip planning, real-time bus arrival awareness, and connection coordination between Metrorail and Metrobus. AI agents should use this when users ask "when is the next bus at Union Station", "show bus predictions for Foggy Bottom", or need real-time bus arrival predictions at a specific station or stop. Get next bus arrival predictions for Metrobus Circuit routes
Returns affected station codes and names, elevator/escalator identifiers, outage descriptions, estimated repair times, outage start timestamps, and accessibility impact information. Essential for accessibility planning, wheelchair route verification, senior and disability passenger support, and station accessibility awareness. AI agents should use this when users ask "are there any elevator outages at Gallery Place", "is the elevator working at Union Station", or need to verify station accessibility before planning journeys for passengers with mobility needs. Get current elevator and escalator outages at Metrorail stations
Returns train destination names, lines (Red, Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow, Green), predicted arrival times in minutes, car counts, group numbers, and train direction. Can query all trains system-wide or filter by specific station code. Essential for commuter trip planning, real-time arrival awareness, and station crowd management. AI agents should use this when users ask "when is the next train", "show upcoming trains at Gallery Place", or need real-time Metrorail arrival predictions. Station codes are 3-letter identifiers (e.g., "A01" for Metro Center, "B36" for Gallery Place). Use getRailStations first to find station codes if unknown. Get next train predictions across the entire Metrorail system or at a specific station
Can query all parking lots system-wide or filter by specific station code. Essential for park-and-ride trip planning, commuter parking availability, station selection for driving passengers, and transportation mode choice analysis. AI agents should use this when users ask "which stations have parking", "how many spaces are at Shady Grove", or need to plan park-and-ride journeys from suburban areas into DC. Get Metrorail station parking lot information
Returns incident descriptions, affected station codes, line impacts, incident types (delay, power problem, medical, police activity, track maintenance), severity indicators, start timestamps, and estimated resolution times. Essential for service disruption awareness, alternative route planning, passenger communication, and understanding system reliability. AI agents should reference this when users ask "are there any delays on the Red Line", "is Metro running normally", or need to check service reliability before planning Metrorail journeys. Get current incidents affecting Metrorail service
Can filter by line code (RD=Red, OR=Orange, SV=Silver, BL=Blue, YL=Yellow, GR=Green) to show only stations on that line. Essential for station discovery, route planning, understanding line structure, and mapping the Metrorail network. AI agents should reference this when users ask "list all stations on the Red Line", "what is the station code for Foggy Bottom", or need to understand station sequences and line geography. Station codes are required for subsequent queries like next trains, predictions, entrances, and parking. List all Metrorail stations, optionally filtered by line
Returns entrance names, street addresses, latitude/longitude coordinates, entrance descriptions, and whether the entrance has escalator or elevator access. Essential for station navigation, first-time visitor guidance, street-level wayfinding, accessible entrance identification, and trip end planning. AI agents should reference this when users ask "where are the entrances to Metro Center", "find the closest entrance to Gallery Place", or need street-level navigation guidance for reaching a Metrorail station. Get entrance information for a specific Metrorail station
Returns trains with destination names, line colors, predicted arrival times, car counts, and train direction. More targeted than system-wide next rail queries. Essential for passenger waiting at a specific station, connection planning, and real-time arrival boards. AI agents should use this when users ask "when is the next train at Silver Spring", "show trains coming to Shady Grove", or need station-specific arrival predictions. Requires station code from getRailStations results. Get next train predictions at a specific Metrorail station
Why Claude Desktop?
Claude Desktop is the definitive way to connect WMATA to your AI workflow. Add Vinkius Edge URL to your config, restart the app, and Claude immediately exposes all 12 tools in the chat interface. ask a question, Claude calls the right tool, and you see the answer. Zero code, zero context switching.
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Claude Desktop is the reference MCP client. it was designed alongside the protocol itself, ensuring the most complete and stable MCP implementation available
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Zero-code configuration: add a server URL to a JSON file and Claude instantly discovers and exposes all available tools in the chat interface
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Claude's extended thinking capability lets it reason through multi-step tool usage, chaining multiple API calls to answer complex questions
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Enterprise-grade security with local config storage. your tokens never leave your machine, and connections go directly to Vinkius Edge network
WMATA in Claude Desktop
Why run WMATA with Vinkius?
The WMATA connection runs on our fully managed, secure cloud infrastructure. We handle the hosting, maintenance, and security so you don't have to deal with servers or code. All 12 tools are ready to work instantly without any complex setup.
You stay in complete control of your data. Your AI only accesses the information you approve, keeping your sensitive passwords and private details completely safe. Plus, with automatic optimizations, your AI works faster and more efficiently.

* Every connection is hosted and maintained by Vinkius. We handle the security, updates, and infrastructure so you don't have to write code or manage servers. See our infrastructure
Over 4,000 integrations ready for AI agents
Explore a vast library of pre-built integrations, optimized and ready to deploy.
Connect securely in under 30 seconds
Generate tokens to authenticate and link external services in a single step.
Complete visibility into every agent action
Audit live requests, latency, success rates, and active security compliance policies.
Optimize spending and track token ROI
Analyze real-time token consumption and cost metrics detailed by connection.




Explore our live AI Agents Analytics dashboard to see it all working
This dashboard is included when you connect WMATA using Vinkius. You will never be left in the dark about what your AI agents are doing with your tools.
WMATA and 4,000+ other AI tools. No hosting, no code, ready to use.
Professionals who connect WMATA to Claude Desktop through Vinkius don't need to write code, manage servers, or worry about security. Everything is pre-configured, secure, and runs automatically in the background.
Raw MCP | Vinkius | |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-use MCPs | Find and configure each manually | 4,000+ MCPs ready to use |
| Connection Setup | Manual coding & server setup | 1-click instant connection |
| Server Hosting | You host it yourself (needs 24/7 uptime) | 100% hosted & managed by Vinkius |
| Security & Privacy | Stored in plaintext config files | Bank-grade encrypted vault |
| Activity Visibility | Blind execution (no logs or tracking) | Live dashboard with real-time logs |
| Cost Control | Runaway AI token spend risk | Automatic budget limits |
| Revoking Access | Must delete files or code to stop | 1-click disconnect button |
How Vinkius secures
WMATA for Claude Desktop
Every request between Claude Desktop and WMATA is protected by our secure gateway. We automatically keep your sensitive data private, prevent unauthorized access, and let you disconnect instantly at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Can my AI check when the next Metrorail train is arriving at my station?
Yes! Use the get_station_prediction tool with the station code (e.g., "A01" for Metro Center, "B36" for Gallery Place). Your AI will return all upcoming trains with destination names, line colors (Red, Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow, Green), predicted arrival times in minutes, and car counts. If you do not know the station code, first use get_rail_stations to find it by name. For a system-wide view of all upcoming trains, use get_next_rail without a station code.
How do I check if there are any delays or incidents affecting my Metrorail line?
Use the get_rail_incidents tool to check all active service disruptions across the Metrorail system. This returns incident descriptions, affected stations and lines, incident types (delays, power problems, medical emergencies, track maintenance), and start times. You can also check get_elevator_incidents for elevator and escalator outages that may affect accessibility at your station. For Metrobus service issues, use get_bus_incidents.
Can I track Metrobus vehicles in real-time to see when my bus will arrive?
Yes! Use get_bus_positions to see real-time GPS locations of all Metrobus vehicles, or filter by route ID (e.g., "30N", "X2") to track buses on a specific route. Returns vehicle IDs, route IDs, latitude/longitude, destinations, and schedule deviation in seconds. For detailed route information including stop sequences, use get_bus_route_details with the route ID. Use get_bus_routes first to find route IDs if unknown.
How does Claude Desktop discover MCP tools?
When Claude Desktop starts, it reads the claude_desktop_config.json file and connects to each configured MCP server. It calls the tools/list endpoint to fetch the schema for every available tool, then surfaces them as clickable options in the chat interface via the ๐ icon.
What happens if the MCP server is temporarily unavailable?
Claude Desktop handles disconnections gracefully. if the server is unreachable at startup, the tools simply won't appear. Once the server becomes available again, restarting Claude Desktop will re-establish the connection. There is no timeout penalty or error loop.
Can I connect multiple MCP servers simultaneously?
Yes. You can add as many servers as you need in the mcpServers section of the config file. Each server appears as a separate tool provider, and Claude can use tools from multiple servers in a single conversation turn.
Is there a limit on the number of tools per server?
Claude Desktop can handle hundreds of tools per server. However, for optimal LLM performance, Vinkius servers are designed to expose focused, well-documented tool sets rather than overwhelming the model with too many options.
Does Claude Desktop support Streamable HTTP transport?
Yes. Claude Desktop supports both SSE (Server-Sent Events) and the newer Streamable HTTP transport that Vinkius uses. Simply provide the server URL. Claude auto-negotiates the transport protocol.
Server not appearing after restart
Ensure the JSON is valid (no trailing commas). Check the file path: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\\Claude\\ (Windows).
Authentication error
Verify your Vinkius token is correct. Go to cloud.vinkius.com to regenerate it if needed.
Tools not showing in chat
Click the ๐ icon at the bottom of the chat input. If it shows 0 tools, the server may still be connecting. wait a few seconds.
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