go-planning-mcp

An MCP server that wraps the Metrolinx GO Transit Open Data API, letting LLMs plan trips, check schedules, and query live departures through natural conversation. Self-hostable via Docker or deployable to Vercel in minutes.

Tools

17 tools, normalized to consistent snake_case DTOs (never a passthrough of Metrolinx's raw shapes). Full parameter tables and example output for every tool live in docs/TOOLS.md.

Tool	Description
Trip planning
plan_trip	Plan a trip by station/stop name (fuzzy-resolved) or code; composes cross-line transfers via Union automatically.
plan_journey	Fine-control trip planner for exact stop codes — no fuzzy resolution, no transfer composition.
Stops
search_stops	Fuzzy search for stops/stations by name fragment.
get_stop_details	Location, service modes, facilities, parking, and accessibility for one stop.
get_next_service	Live upcoming departures for one stop.
get_stop_destinations	Where a stop's services go within a time window.
Schedules & lines
list_lines	GO Transit's line roster for a service day, with valid direction codes.
get_line_schedule	A line's published schedule for a service day (trip summaries, or times at one stop).
get_trip_status	Live stop-by-stop status for a single trip.
Service updates
get_service_alerts	Folded service/information/marketing alerts.
get_service_exceptions	Today's cancelled trips and stops.
get_service_guarantee	Service guarantee eligibility for a past trip.
get_union_departures	Live Union Station departure board.
Fares & fleet
get_fares	Fare rows between two stops, flattened by rider type and payment method.
get_fleet_consist	The physical car makeup of a train, by trip or engine number.
Real-time (GTFS-RT)
get_vehicle_positions	Live positions, delay, and occupancy for vehicles of one mode.
get_trip_updates	What's off-plan right now — delays and cancellations.

Running your own server

Transport split: Claude Desktop → stdio; everything else → Streamable HTTP.

1. Get a Metrolinx API key

Register at the Metrolinx Open Data API registration form. It's free, but approval is manual and can take up to 10 business days.

2. docker run one-liner

docker run -e METROLINX_API_KEY=xxx -p 3000:3000 ghcr.io/emilsoleymani/go-planning-mcp

This serves the MCP endpoint at http://localhost:3000/mcp and a liveness probe at http://localhost:3000/health.

3. Compose quick start

git clone https://github.com/EmilSoleymani/go-planning-mcp.git
cd go-planning-mcp
cp .env.example .env  # then add your METROLINX_API_KEY
docker compose up

4. Claude Desktop (stdio)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "go-transit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["go-transit-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "METROLINX_API_KEY": "your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

From source (contributor/dev variant):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "go-transit": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["dist/entry/stdio.js"],
      "env": {
        "METROLINX_API_KEY": "your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

License

MIT