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TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server: Critical Alerts & Seamless API - MCP Implementation

TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server: Critical Alerts & Seamless API

Empower real-time TfNSW transit decisions with our MCP server – instantly access critical alerts via seamless, reliable API integration for smarter operations.

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About TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server

What is TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server: Critical Alerts & Seamless API?

This server acts as a bridge between Transport for NSW's real-time transport alerts system and AI-driven applications. Built with TypeScript, it provides a structured interface for accessing up-to-the-minute data on disruptions, planned works, and critical alerts across NSW's vast transport network. By leveraging Model Context Protocol (MCP), it ensures AI assistants can easily parse and act on time-sensitive information like train delays, ferry cancellations, or road closures.

How to use TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server: Critical Alerts & Seamless API?

  1. Obtain API Credentials: Register on the TfNSW developer portal to get your API key
  2. Configure Environment: Add credentials to .env files following the security guidelines
  3. Deploy with MCP: Integrate the server into your application using standardized MCP endpoints
  4. Query Real-Time Data: Use RESTful endpoints like /alerts?mode=train to fetch filtered results

TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server Features

Key Features of TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server

  • Mode-Specific Filtering: Dynamically narrow results by transport type (e.g., bus, rail, ferries)
  • Structured Alerts: Returns standardized JSON objects with severity levels (minor, major, critical)
  • AI-Ready Outputs: Pre-formatted data for natural language processing (e.g., "Delayed services on T2 between Circular Quay and Strathfield")
  • Webhook Support: Automated alert notifications via configurable webhooks

Use Cases for TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server

Developers use this API to:

  • Create smart transit apps that auto-update route recommendations during disruptions
  • Power emergency response dashboards with real-time incident mapping
  • Generate dynamic customer alerts for travel agencies
  • Enable predictive maintenance systems by analyzing recurring issues

TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server FAQ

FAQ for TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server

How often is the data updated?

Data refreshes every 2 minutes from TfNSW's operational systems, ensuring near-realtime accuracy.

Can I test the API without credentials?

A sandbox environment exists for testing with sample data before production deployment.

What happens during API downtime?

The system maintains a 99.9% uptime SLA. Fallback mechanisms include cached data from the last reliable update.

Content

TfNSW Realtime Alerts MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol server for Transport for NSW's (TfNSW) Realtime Alerts API. This server provides tools to access and interact with real-time transport alerts and information via Large Language Models.

Overview

This TypeScript-based MCP server implements integration with Transport for NSW's Realtime Alerts system. It enables AI assistants to access up-to-date information about transport disruptions, planned works, and other important alerts across the NSW transport network.

Features

Resources

  • List and access transport alerts via nsw-transport:// URIs
  • Filter alerts by transport mode (buses, trains, ferries, etc.)
  • Plain text format for easy consumption by AI assistants

Tools

  • get-transport-alerts - Retrieve current transport alerts
    • Filter by transport mode
    • Returns formatted alert information including affected routes, time periods, and impact details

Prompts

  • transport-disruption-summary - Generate a summary of current transport alerts
    • Includes relevant alert details as embedded resources
    • Returns structured prompt for LLM summarisation of major disruptions

Transport Modes

The following transport modes are supported:

  • all - All transport modes
  • buses - Sydney Metro and Outer Metro Bus services
  • ferries - Sydney Ferries and Newcastle Transport ferries
  • lightrail - Light Rail services
  • metro - Sydney Metro
  • nswtrains - NSW Trains regional trains and coaches
  • regionbuses - Regional Bus services
  • sydneytrains - Sydney Trains suburban and intercity network

Authentication

This server requires authentication with the TfNSW Open Data API. You will need to register for an API key at the TfNSW Open Data Hub.

Installation

To use with Claude Desktop, add the server config:

On MacOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

On Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tfnsw-realtime-alerts": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "tfnsw-realtime-alerts-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "NSW_TRANSPORT_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace "your_api_key_here" with your TfNSW API key from the TfNSW Open Data Hub.

Development

Configure your API key as an environment variable in your .env file:

NSW_TRANSPORT_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"

Install dependencies:

npm install

Build the server:

npm run build

For development with auto-rebuild:

npm run watch

Debugging

You can use the MCP Inspector for debugging, which is available as a package script:

npm run inspector

The Inspector will provide a URL to access debugging tools in your browser.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

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