db-timetables 0.1.1

Python client for the Deutsche Bahn Timetables API

db-timetables

A Python library for the Deutsche Bahn Timetables API.

Requirements

• Python 3.13+
• requests

Installation

uv add db-timetables

Or with pip:

pip install db-timetables

Setup

1. Register at developers.deutschebahn.com, create an application, and subscribe to the Timetables API.
2. Copy your Client ID and API Key.

Usage

from db_timetables import TimetablesClient

client = TimetablesClient(
    client_id="your_client_id",
    api_key="your_api_key",
)

Find a station

stations = client.get_station("Frankfurt")
# [Station(name='Frankfurt am Main - Stadion', eva='8002040'), ...]

eva = stations[0].eva

Stations are identified by their EVA number, a numeric DB station ID.

Planned timetable

plan = client.get_plan(eva)               # current hour
plan = client.get_plan(eva, hour=14)      # specific hour today
plan = client.get_plan(eva, date=datetime(2026, 5, 20), hour=9)

for stop in plan.stops:
    dp = stop.departure
    print(stop.train_line.display_name, dp.planned_time, dp.planned_platform)

Returns one hour of scheduled departures/arrivals. No live data.

Live timetable (plan + changes merged)

live = client.get_timetable_with_changes(eva)

for stop in live.stops:
    dp = stop.departure
    if dp and dp.delay_minutes:
        print(f"{stop.train_line.display_name} is +{dp.delay_minutes} min late")
    if stop.is_cancelled:
        print(f"{stop.train_line.display_name} is cancelled")

This is the most useful method - it fetches the plan and all current deviations, then merges them so each stop reflects reality.

Changes only

# All current deviations for the station (delays, cancellations, platform changes)
changes = client.get_full_changes(eva)

# Only what changed since your last call - use this when polling
recent = client.get_recent_changes(eva)

Data model

TimetableStop

Attribute	Type	Description
id	str	Unique stop identifier
train_line	TrainLine	Train category and number
arrival	ArrivalDeparture | None	Arrival data
departure	ArrivalDeparture | None	Departure data
messages	list[Message]	Delay/disruption messages
is_cancelled	bool	True if arrival or departure is cancelled

ArrivalDeparture

Attribute	Type	Description
planned_time	datetime | None	Scheduled time
changed_time	datetime | None	Actual/expected time (set when delayed)
planned_platform	str	Scheduled platform
changed_platform	str	Actual platform (set when changed)
planned_path	list[str]	Scheduled route as station names
changed_path	list[str]	Actual route (set when rerouted)
effective_time	datetime | None	changed_time if set, else planned_time
effective_platform	str	changed_platform if set, else planned_platform
delay_minutes	int | None	Difference in minutes, or None if on time
is_cancelled	bool	True if status is cancelled

TrainLine

Attribute	Type	Description
category	str	Train category (ICE, IC, RE, S, …)
number	str	Train number
owner	str	Operator code
display_name	str	"{category} {number}" (e.g. "ICE 9551")

Station

Attribute	Type	Description
eva	str	EVA station number
name	str	Station name
ds100	str	DS100 abbreviation
lat / lon	float	Coordinates

Exceptions

Exception	When
AuthenticationError	Invalid or missing credentials (401/403)
NotFoundError	Station or resource not found (404)
RateLimitError	Too many requests (429) - free tier allows 60 req/min
DBApiError	Any other API or network error

from db_timetables import TimetablesClient, RateLimitError, NotFoundError

try:
    stations = client.get_station("München")
except NotFoundError:
    print("No stations found")
except RateLimitError:
    print("Slow down - rate limit hit")

API reference

Full DB API documentation: developers.deutschebahn.com

Data is provided under CC BY 4.0.