Public transport routes
Public transport routes are the fixed lines served by buses, trams, the metro, trains and boats. A route has a line number, an alignment, a set of stops and a timetable that describes when services run. For property analysis, it is the combination of route and frequency that counts: a stop with no departures has little value, and a high-frequency line passing 200 metres away is worth more than an hourly bus at your doorstep.
In Norway, the timetable data is gathered in a national journey planner operated by the state-owned company Entur. Entur was set up in 2016 under Samferdselsdepartementet (the Norwegian Ministry of Transport) and collects timetable data from county public transport companies, train operators and ferry companies in a single service, available through entur.no, the Entur app and open APIs. The data is delivered in the international standards NeTEx (timetable data) and SIRI (real time), and is available under the NLOD licence so that both private apps and analysis tools can build on the same basis. The services themselves are run by regional operators: Ruter in Oslo and Akershus, Skyss in Vestland, AtB in Trøndelag, Kolumbus in Rogaland and a handful more. Vy and SJ Norge run trains, and Bane NOR owns the infrastructure.
For developers, public transport coverage is both a planning argument and a numbers argument. On the planning side, municipalities give weight to densification around transport hubs, which is anchored in the national planning guidelines for coordinated housing, land use and transport planning from 2014. On the numbers side, the distance to the nearest high-frequency line feeds into parking standards and sequencing requirements: a new housing project 400 metres from a metro station can get away with substantially fewer parking spaces than one 1,500 metres away. Commercial property also prices rental value against public transport coverage, in particular office buildings that recruit from a large commuter catchment.
In Placepoint, public transport routes are shown as a transport map layer together with the stops, so you can assess the alignment, the frequency and the walking distance to a property in one place.
How the dataset appears on the map
The dataset is part of the map layer Transport and communications as Public transport routes:
From Placepoint's glossary: Public transport routes
More information: Entur: national journey planner, Store norske leksikon: kollektivtransport
English: Public-transport routes.
Frequently asked questions
What are public transport routes?
Public transport routes are planned alignments for buses, trams, the metro and boats where public transport runs regularly to a timetable. Good public transport coverage is an important planning consideration in urban and housing development.
Why do public transport routes matter for property development?
Proximity to public transport routes and stops increases the appeal of both homes and commercial properties. High public transport coverage reduces the parking requirement and makes car-free neighbourhoods possible.
Where do I find data on public transport routes in Norway?
Municipal and regional public transport companies such as Ruter, Skyss and AtB publish timetable data. Nasjonalt stoppestedsregister (the national stop place register) and Entur gather timetable data from across the country in one place.
What does public transport coverage mean for zoning planning?
Many municipalities require homes or office buildings to be within walking distance (typically 500 to 1,000 metres) of a public transport service. Good public transport coverage can also reduce the parking requirement.
Can I see public transport routes in Placepoint?
Yes, Placepoint shows public transport routes and stops as map layers so that you can quickly assess the public transport service near a property.