How we make the map

The map is built from open data. This page explains where it comes from and where it can be wrong. For the project itself, see About.

Sources

• OpenStreetMap for the geometry and names of lines and stations. Its data is available under the Open Database License (ODbL), © OpenStreetMap contributors.
• Wikidata for identifiers, names in several languages and links between a network and its place. Its data is available under CC0.
• Natural Earth for country outlines, in the public domain.

The map does not use street tiles or paid map services.

Travel times

Where we have them, the minutes between two stations come from the timetables published by the operators (GTFS): the median of the scheduled trips during service hours. Everywhere else they are estimates from the distance between stations.

• Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB): Fahrplandaten: Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB), CC BY 4.0; travel times derived by The Metro Map. (CC BY 4.0). Feed file: GTFS.zip, retrieved on 2026-10-23.
• Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund (MVV): Soll-Fahrplandaten: Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund (MVV), CC BY 4.0; travel times derived by The Metro Map. (CC BY 4.0). Feed file: gesamt_gtfs.zip (version 20261005), retrieved on 2026-10-23.
• Pražská integrovaná doprava (PID) / Regionální organizátor pražské integrované dopravy (ROPID): Data: Pražská integrovaná doprava (PID/ROPID), CC BY 4.0; travel times derived by The Metro Map. (CC BY 4.0). Feed file: PID_GTFS.zip, retrieved on 2026-10-23.
• Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (hvv), via Transparenzportal Hamburg: Datenquelle: Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (hvv), Datenlizenz Deutschland – Namensnennung – Version 2.0 (https://www.govdata.de/dl-de/by-2-0), https://suche.transparenz.hamburg.de/dataset/hvv-fahrplandaten-gtfs-oktober-2026-bis-dezember-2026; Daten verändert (travel times derived by The Metro Map). (Datenlizenz Deutschland – Namensnennung – Version 2.0 (dl-de/by-2-0)). Feed file: Upload__hvv_Rohdaten_GTFS_Fpl_20261002.ZIP (version 2026-10-02T08:40:21), retrieved on 2026-10-23.
• Ilévia / Métropole Européenne de Lille (via transport.data.gouv.fr): Source: Ilévia / Métropole Européenne de Lille, données sous Licence Ouverte v2.0 (https://transport.data.gouv.fr/datasets/ilevia-localisation-des-arrets-bus-metro-et-tram-gtfs), dernière mise à jour des données: 2026-10-15; travel times derived by The Metro Map. (Licence Ouverte v2.0 (Etalab)). Feed file: gtfs.zip, retrieved on 2026-10-23.
• Comune di Milano / ATM (dati.comune.milano.it): Fonte: Comune di Milano / ATM, orari del trasporto pubblico locale in formato GTFS (https://dati.comune.milano.it/dataset/ds929-orari-del-trasporto-pubblico-locale-nel-comune-di-milano-in-formato-gtfs), licenza CC BY; travel times derived by The Metro Map. (Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)). Feed file: milano-gtfs.zip (version 424), retrieved on 2026-10-23.
• Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), via City of Toronto Open Data: Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Toronto (https://open.toronto.ca/open-data-licence/): TTC routes and schedules, City of Toronto Open Data; travel times derived by The Metro Map. (Open Government Licence – Toronto). Feed file: completegtfs.zip (version S1000542), retrieved on 2026-10-24.
• Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) / MBTA: Data provided by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the MBTA under the MassDOT Developers License Agreement; travel times derived by The Metro Map. (MassDOT Developers License Agreement). Feed file: MBTA_GTFS.zip (version Fall 2026, 2026-10-21T20:52:18+00:00, version D), retrieved on 2026-10-23.
• Helsingin seudun liikenne (HSL): Source: © HSL 2026, Helsinki Region Transport (HSL) open data, CC BY 4.0; travel times derived by The Metro Map. (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)). Feed file: hsl.zip (version 2026-10-23 04:11:14), retrieved on 2026-10-23.

How we handle it

• We import the data into our own catalog, so the map does not depend on those services being online when you visit.
• We keep track of where each record came from, so a doubtful entry can be traced back to its source.
• We review and correct entries by hand when we find problems, and we also fix mistakes that readers report.

Limits

• Open data is maintained by volunteers. It can be incomplete, out of date or simply wrong.
• Coverage differs between cities and countries. A missing network or station usually means we have not added it yet.
• We do not show real-time information, timetables or fares. The terms spell out what that means for how you can rely on the site.
• Lines under construction or recently opened may take a while to appear or to change status.

News and images

News and photos follow the sources policy: a headline, a short summary and a link, and only free-license images with visible attribution.

Our news articles are generated by artificial intelligence and published after automated checks, without prior human review. The checks cover attribution and a link to the original source, minimum length, copying of the source, outside links and duplicates; a text that fails stays unpublished, and sensitive topics are never published automatically. Every AI article carries a notice saying so. To ask for a correction or removal, use the contact page.

Helping improve it

The best fix is often made at the source: improving OpenStreetMap or Wikidata helps everyone who uses them. You can also tell us what looks wrong.