What does opening interfaces mean and who does it?
Opening interfaces means that traffic service providers open data on their services, such as bus and coach traffic, in a machine-readable format for other operators and service developers so that they can create journey planners and other services for end users based on the data. The data are opened in the NAP service at https://www.finap.fi/.
If the operator does not create their own interface, it is possible to agree that another operator, e.g., a brokering service, also opens the first operator’s data. If the operator does not have ready-made interfaces to be added to the NAP service, all data can also be saved directly in the NAP service or using its auxiliary tools. In this case, the data are transmitted to the interface catalogue in accordance with the law. NOTE: Service providers are obliged to keep their data up to date in the NAP service. More information on opening interface information for mobility services.
What is an interface?
An interface is a machine-readable connection of an information system that can be viewed from the outside, through which programs can make requests and exchange information, i.e., “converse with each other”. An interface can be simply a data interface through which data (e.g., timetable and route data) can be read by another system. A functional interface makes it possible to transform the data in the system through the interface (e.g., buying a ticket and reserving a seat). The interface is open if it is openly documented and can be freely tested and introduced.
What is essential information?
The obligation to open the essential information interfaces applies to the following traffic service operators:
- passenger traffic services (regular passenger traffic, chartered traffic, demand responsive traffic, taxi traffic)
- stations, ports and other terminals
- rental and commercial shared use services of vehicles
- general commercial parking services
- brokering services
Essential information includes all information essential for the passenger, such as the service area, routes, timetables, prices and accessibility information. Not all information is relevant for each service. The information to be opened is specified in more detail in the Government Decree on essential information concerning traffic services ( in Finnish). The NAP form will guide you on how to fill in the correct information.
What is a ticket and sales interface?
A ticket and sales interface refers to the interface to the traffic service provider’s ticket and payment system. You can book and order a trip or other traffic service via the interface. Through a sales interface, a traffic service provider for example, can allow a brokering service or combined services provider to purchase a ticket or book a vehicle for their own customer. The sales interface transfers some of the same data as the essential information interface required by the Act on Transport Services.
What is the obligation to open the ticket, sales and reservation interface and who does it apply to?
The NAP service also provides information on the sales and reservation interface. The obligation to open the ticket and payment system’s sales interface applies to road and railway operators providing passenger traffic services who have a ticket and payment system in place. The obligation also applies to those who have interfaces that allow booking trips. In the taxi sector, for instance, the obligation applies in principle to parties that use an information system-based brokering system and whose service selection includes the possibility to book a trip in advance.
Road and railway operators must open their single basic-priced ticket data in their sales interface. Only traffic services other than those operated by a competent authority are exempt if the implementation is neither technically appropriate nor reasonable (small operators). From 1 January 2019 onward, all operators regardless of the mode of transport must allow other operators to access seasonal packages and discounted products through the sales interface, i.e., enable “acting on behalf of another party”.
What does it mean to act on behalf of another party?
Acting on behalf of another party means acting at the customer’s request and on behalf of the customer in different services. The Act on Transport Services obliges the traffic service or combined services provider or the operator responsible for their ticket and payment system to enable acting on behalf of another party. This means that another traffic service or combined services provider must be granted access to the systems to obtain ticket products or other products entitling the user to use the traffic service on the user’s behalf, at the user’s request, using the identification and user data associated with the service user’s existing user account.
Can the data exist in multiple interfaces if one company has different data in different interfaces?
Yes, you can make a notification of the data through several different interface addresses.
Should the data be opened using the principles of open data (free of charge)?
No; access to and use of data may be subject to terms of use. Of course, the data may be opened using the principles of open data, and it is recommended.
How do I make a notification of the interface’s web address and its updates?
You should make a notification of the interfaces through the NAP service. In practice, the NAP service is a form-based website where you can enter information about your company, the traffic services it provides and the existing interfaces. You can find the NAP interface list at https://www.finap.fi/
How can I digitise route and timetable data for regular scheduled traffic? Is the use of the tools subject to a fee? For whom is the service intended?
As a rule, the digitisation tools offered by Traficom are free of charge for small operators. The tools are intended for companies that do not have other means (e.g., traffic planning software) for producing information in electronic format, publishable in the interfaces.
The route and timetable data for regular passenger traffic can be digitised:
1. For road traffic, using the RAE tool
2. For maritime and inland waterborne traffic, using the maritime editor integrated into the NAP service.
Note! Please remember to copy the address of the interface from the editing tools (applies to both the RAE tool and the maritime traffic editor) and attach it separately to the form to be filled out in the NAP service under “External machine-readable interfaces”, as the interface data will not be automatically transferred from the tool to the NAP form.
You can find the NAP interface list at https://www.finap.fi/.
I only carry out closed transports, am I subject to the obligations related to essential information?
For individual closed transports (e.g., KELA trips, VPL trips), there is no need to open essential traffic information in the interfaces. However, the company must comply with the obligation to provide information under the Act on Transport Services and provide other essential information where applicable. Thus, e.g., the business ID, contact details, operating area and accessibility of the equipment must be stated on the company’s website or elsewhere. However, this information does not need to be opened in the NAP service for closed transport.
If closed transports have been opened in a way that anyone can book a seat for individual closed transports that have been booked beforehand (e.g., VPL trips), for example through a mobile application, the details of the service in question must be provided in NAP. Chartered services (e.g., on buses) must also be notified as a separate service in NAP if any citizen can book the service, and it is not available to a certain group of users only.
I carry out fully/partly open transports in addition to closed transports. Are the obligations related to essential information applicable to me?
You must make a notification of not only information on the company but also information on traffic/individual transports for all open transports in accordance with the decree on essential information .
Should the competent public transport authority ensure that the operator fulfils its obligations to open essential information?
In competitive tendering, the client must only require a description of how the service provider fulfils its obligations in question. Supervision of obligations related to essential information means normal monitoring of contract terms during the contract period. In many cases, it is most natural that the competent authority itself is responsible for opening the essential information related to the traffic it has acquired. These contractual terms must be clear at the tendering stage and clearly recorded in the contract.
When procuring services, is it sufficient to require that the ticket and payment system’s sales interface allows the sale of single tickets to third parties, or should interoperability be more extensive?
The obligation to open single ticket data in the sales interface applies to all road and rail traffic operators, not only to traffic purchased by competent authorities. The interoperability requirements for traffic procured by the authorities generally refer to the verification of right to travel, so the authority itself can determine in the tendering documents how extensive interoperability it requires.
Can the data contained in the NAP service be retrieved also via an interface?
Yes, you can retrieve information from the NAP service by a machine.
How can I give feedback on the NAP service and/or monitor the progress of its development?
The NAP service is constantly being developed based on users’ experiences. You can give feedback by sending an email to nap@traficom.fi. You can also monitor the technical progress of the NAP development project in Github.
Who uses the data opened in NAP and how?
NAP is a traffic service catalogue for service developers, where they can find the data and interfaces they need. The data opened through the NAP service will be used, e.g., to develop more extensive journey planners and traffic services.
The parties using the data available in NAP can browse the services already saved in the system from the Traffic service catalogue tab without registration. The parties opening the data are responsible for the quality of their own data and decide on the terms of use of the data.
The data may be shared under the principles of open data (free of charge), or other terms of use may be associated with the data, but the data must be shared with all parties on the same terms. The open machine-readable interface means that the interface descriptions are open and accessible to everyone.
A developer page has also been opened for data users.