As we rely more and more on digital tools to navigate public transport, the need for consistent, accurate, and real-time travel information has become essential. Whether it is knowing if your train is delayed or finding out whether a lift at your metro station is working, these updates shape how we plan and experience our journeys.
To make this possible across all European countries and transport modes, CEN has developed a new technical specification: CEN/TS 15531-7:2025, better known as SIRI Part 7. This document is a key milestone in enabling seamless real-time information exchange for public transport systems across Europe.
What is SIRI?
SIRI stands for Service Interface for Real-Time Information. It is a series of deliverables (standards or technical specifications) designed to allow different public transport systems and software platforms to talk to each other — and to do so in real time. For all modes of public transport, from buses and trams to subways and trains, SIRI enables data about delays, vehicle positions, disruptions, and station facilities to be shared quickly and consistently.
SIRI has already been used for years in several countries, but its full potential is now being unlocked through the development of a common European profile, which brings clarity, simplicity, and interoperability.
The European Real-Time Passenger Information Profile (EPIP-RT)
The newly published SIRI Part 7 introduces the EPIP-RT, short for European Passenger Information Profile – Real-Time. It defines what type of real-time data should be shared across systems and how.
Think of it as a recipe book for real-time information: it does not create new ingredients (the data), but it tells everyone how to use them in the same way. This ensures that a delay reported in Brussels can be understood in Paris or Milan — and by any journey planner or app developer, too.
What Kind of Information Does EPIP-RT Cover?
The EPIP-RT focuses on real-time data that matters most to travellers:
- Delays and cancellations: if a bus or train is running late or cancelled, the system sends immediate updates.
- Vehicle location: live tracking of public transport vehicles on a map.
- Station and stop information: from platform changes to broken elevators, relevant details are flagged as they happen.
- Disruptions: messages about strikes, construction work, or severe weather are shared in a structured, understandable way.
Behind the scenes, this is made possible using four key SIRI services:
- SIRI-ET for estimated timetables
- SIRI-SX for disruptions and incidents
- SIRI-VM for vehicle monitoring
- SIRI-FM for monitoring station facilities
Why Is This Important?
The strength of the EPIP-RT lies in its European-wide interoperability. Until now, many real-time information systems were local or national, each using different formats and rules. This created barriers to creating truly European transport apps and made integration costly for developers and operators alike.
With this new profile, data can be shared consistently and confidently, making it easier for:
- Passengers to get accurate updates, no matter where they travel;
- Transport authorities to integrate services across borders;
- Transport operators to deliver efficient services;
- App developers to build innovative journey planners using harmonized data;
- Public bodies to meet EU regulation requirements with greater ease.
A Key Step Forward for Multimodal Travel
The EPIP-RT directly supports the EU's goal to offer multimodal travel information services across Member States, as set out in the ITS Directive and the Delegated Regulation on Multimodal Travel Information Services (MMTIS).
By ensuring that real-time data is available and understandable across systems, the EPIP-RT helps Europe take a significant step toward smarter, greener, and more connected mobility.
