Example TFL API calls

When prototyping something with the TFL API I found the documentation on the official site lacking. However I since found some information from looking at other peoples implementations of the TFL API. Here I will document them so I don’t forget them.

For example the API call for arrivals for Liverpool Street Overground rail is

https://api.tfl.gov.uk/StopPoint/910GLIVST/arrivals

This can be customised to any TFL station, by changing the 910GLIVST, the code can be found by searching this link

https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/stations-stops-and-piers/

and taking the station ID from the URL path for a station. Be aware that each line has it’s own ID, but can fall under a umbrella ID for the station that has many services, e.g. Liverpool Street is HUBLST since it includes London Overground & Rail, Central line and Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitain.

So for each transport line, drill down to find the Id for example, the Liverpool Street - Central line underground station’s URL is

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLULVT/liverpool-street-underground-station?lineId=central

Thus the API call for arrivals would be https://api.tfl.gov.uk/StopPoint/940GZZLULVT/arrivals

TFL Blog post on these calls from TFL can be found here

More information and some example calls using Postman can be found on the official API webpage as well here

Written by Farhad Agzamov who lives and works in London building things. You can follow him on Twitter and check out his github here