NeTEx is dedicated to the exchange of scheduled data (network, timetable and fare information). It is based on Transmodel European reference model for PT data. The most recent version of NeTEx v1.1 is based on the most recent version of Transmodel, V6.0 (EN 12986 1/2/3/4/5/6), which now incorporates the prior IFOPT (EN 28701). NeTEx also relates to SIRI (CEN 15531-1/2/3/4) and supports the exchange of information of relevance for passenger information about public transport services and also for running Automated Vehicle Monitoring Systems (AVMS).
NOTE NeTEx is an implementation of a subset of Transmodel (including IFOPT); the definitions and explanations of its concepts are extracted directly from Transmodel and reused in NeTEx, sometimes with adaptations in order to fit the NeTEx context. Although the data exchanges targeted by NeTEx Parts 1 to 5 are predominantly oriented towards provisioning passenger information systems, AVMS and fare systems with data from transit scheduling systems, it is not restricted to this purpose and NeTEx can also provide an effective solution to many other use cases for transport data exchange.
This Part 5 of NeTEx is specifically concerned with the exchange of reference data to support “new” alternative modes for mobility services, adding certain new concepts to the NeTEx schema (indicated as NeTEx v1.2.2), but also to a high degree making use of existing schema elements defined in NeTEx Parts 1, 2 and 3.
The high-level design for alternative modes support is derived from a conceptual model for alternative modes CEN PT1711 (CEN/TS 17413:2020) prepared by CEN working group TC278 WG17. This CEN Technical Specification describes a conceptual model for alternative modes as an extension to Transmodel V6.0 and based on a detailed set of use cases taken from CEN PT1711 and given in Appendix A.
The NeTEx format is concerned with a subset of the use cases for reference data (real-time use cases are covered by dynamic protocols such as SIRI and DATEX II). Overall, it is concerned with data for the following purposes:
to be able to integrate legs made on alternative modes with conventional mode legs in seamless trip plans;
to describe the coverage areas of alternative mode mobility services so that trip planning engines and others can make passengers aware of the possibility of using them, and provide appropriate links to invoke the dynamic services;
to be able to find the locations of access points for alternative mode services, such as parking points, pooling stations, etc. including their relation to access points for conventional modes;
to be able to indicate the costs of the mobility services for specific trip legs. Where operators offer a bundle of modes services (for example free cycle use with metro use) to be able to include the “fare product” for alternative mode legs in the sales offer;
to be able to indicate how to book, purchase and pay for mobility services, and how to access them.
NeTEx is primarily concerned with the exchange of reference data to allow the integration of new modes with other data; it does not describe dynamic services. The PT1711 specification indicates the nature of some of these services such as trip planning.
All mass public transport modes are taken into account by NeTEx, including train, bus, coach, metro, tramway, ferry, air, and their submodes. Such modes are provided by transport operators, who may operate one or more modes.
NeTEx part 5 widens the concept of an operator to include providers of other forms of transport, and introduces the separate concept of a “mode of operation” to classify the way services are provided: conventional, flexible, pooling, sharing, etc.
The overall approach for the definition of products for alternative modes within NeTEx Part 5 Alternative modes) follows the approach used by Transmodel v6.0 Part5 (Fare Management data model), namely through the definition of access rights rather than of just products. Prices are separated from the things they price. The existing model also allows for dynamic prices to be fetched from a pricing engine.
This approach of using the access rights related to the urban public transport (for all urban modes) can be applied to any mode, including long-distance rail and alternative modes.
The exchange of data in NeTEx format can be undertaken using a variety of protocols. For example: through dedicated web services, through data file exchanges by FTP or otherwise, or by using the SIRI exchange protocol as described in part 2 of the SIRI documentation. NeTEx adds additional services using the common SIRI transport mechanisms.
CEN/TS 16614-5