GTFS Realtime Test Setup Guide

Note: This is a test setup for sending vehicle positions to the GTFS realtime pipeline.

1. Access the Admin Panel

1. Open: https://manage.rt.gtfs.zone/
2. Click through the interface as needed.
3. Choose Login with GitHub.

2. Create Required Resources

Create a Feed

1. In the admin UI, create a new Feed.

Create a Tracker

1. Create a new Tracker.
2. Give it a nickname — this is the public label that appears in the feed (e.g. Bus 12). It is not a secret.
3. On save, the tracker is assigned a random Tracker ID (a pet-name such as gently-tender-oyster). This ID is the device's secret credential — treat it like a password and do not share it. There is no separate password.

3. Install the Traccar Client

Install the Traccar Client app on your phone:

• Website: https://www.traccar.org/client/
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/traccar-client/id843156974
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.traccar.client

4. Provision the Device

1. In the admin UI, open the tracker's detail page and find the Traccar Provisioning section.
2. Scan the QR code with your phone to configure the Traccar Client in one step, or copy the Config URL and open it on the device.
3. This sets the server URL and the device identifier (the secret Tracker ID) automatically — you do not type a username or password.

5. Finish

1. Ensure the Traccar Client has location permission.
2. Toggle tracking on in the app.

6. Download the Feed

Vehicle positions will be available at:

https://rt.gtfs.zone/feed_name/vehicle_positions.pb

The feed labels each vehicle by its tracker nickname — the secret Tracker ID is never published.

7. Helpful Resources

You can:

• Read the beginner guide: https://open-innovations.org/blog/2024-12-23-gtfs-and-gtfs-rt-for-beginners
• Clone the API: https://git.kcfam.us/gtfs.zone/redis-gtfs-rt-api
• Fetch vehicles with:

uv run scripts/fetch_vehicles.py feed_name --backend https://rt.gtfs.zone