Validating GTFS feeds

read_gtfs(), as_wizardgtfs(), and create_gtfs() check package requirements when constructing a feed. For a broader, independent report against the GTFS Schedule specification and best practices, validate_gtfs() runs the MobilityData Canonical GTFS Schedule Validator. The validator is external to GTFSwizard; its results depend on its version and implemented rules. No reported errors is not a certification.

Set up the validator

Install Java 17 or newer and the optional R package jsonlite. To let GTFSwizard download the official version 8.0.1 CLI JAR, also install openssl and request the download explicitly. The first download is about 38 MB and requires internet access. The JAR is stored in the user cache, outside the R package, and its SHA-256 is checked before each use. Subsequent calls with download_validator = TRUE reuse the verified cached file.

install.packages(c("jsonlite", "openssl"))
library(GTFSwizard)
result <- validate_gtfs("path/to/feed.zip", download_validator = TRUE)

Alternatively, supply an existing compatible validator CLI JAR. A JAR path supplied explicitly or in GTFS_VALIDATOR_JAR takes precedence over the download option. The JAR must support --skip_validator_update.

result <- validate_gtfs("path/to/feed.zip", validator_jar = "path/to/validator.jar")
# Or configure the path once per session:
Sys.setenv(GTFS_VALIDATOR_JAR = "path/to/validator.jar")
result <- validate_gtfs("path/to/feed.zip")

Interpret and save results

The function prints a summary even when the result is assigned. notices contains codes, severities, counts, and samples; system_notices describes validator execution problems. has_errors is TRUE if GTFS errors are found, FALSE if validation completes without errors, and NA when execution is incomplete or the result cannot be interpreted reliably. quiet = TRUE suppresses the printed summary.

result$has_errors
result$notices
result$system_notices

By default, reports are temporary and removed after the result is read into R. To keep the full HTML and JSON reports, supply an empty or new directory:

result <- validate_gtfs("path/to/feed.zip", download_validator = TRUE,
                        output_dir = "validation-report")
result$html_path
result$report_path

Validate the source or an edited scenario

Pass an original ZIP to inspect it before package import or repair. A named feed object can also be supplied, but it is first exported to a temporary ZIP; the report then describes the exported representation, not the original file. This is useful for checking a scenario before publication. No feed is uploaded by GTFSwizard.

scenario <- delay_trip(for_rail_gtfs, trip = for_rail_gtfs$trips$trip_id[1],
                       duration = 60)
result <- validate_gtfs(scenario, download_validator = TRUE)