What live data can change
Realtime data can update the displayed departure time, add a delay, show that a vehicle may leave early, report a cancellation, change the platform or track, or attach a service alert. Not every provider sends every type of update, and not every stop or trip has the same coverage.
A useful live board keeps this visible without hiding the planned timetable underneath. That way you can still compare upcoming departures when only part of the board is live.
Why live coverage can be uneven
Live updates come from public transport data feeds. Coverage can differ by operator, line, stop, trip, time of day, and the type of change being reported. One line may have a fresh delay while another row on the same board still has only the planned timetable.
When matching is uncertain, mesdeparts.ch favours the safer display: it keeps the scheduled row visible and avoids pretending that a realtime estimate exists. That is less dramatic, but it is clearer for a public board.
Why some rows stay planned
A row may stay planned because the operator does not provide a live update for that service, because the update has not arrived yet, or because the stop, line or trip cannot be matched safely. In those cases, mesdeparts.ch keeps the scheduled time rather than inventing a live estimate.
This is normal on mixed boards. One bus can be live while another line, a tram, or a train row remains timetable-only.
How mesdeparts.ch shows confidence
The app uses status colors to show how much live context is currently available for the board. These colors are context, not a promise: they help explain why two nearby departures may not behave the same way.
- Green
- Live updates are being applied to this board.
- Orange
- Live data is partial, degraded, or getting old.
- Red
- Live data is stale or unavailable enough to treat carefully.
- Gray
- The row or board is using the planned timetable only.
Close to departure
Live estimates can still change shortly before a bus, tram or train leaves. A delay can shrink, a platform can be corrected, or a row can fall back to the planned time if fresh data stops arriving.
If you are deciding whether a train is still reachable, read the board as a quick signal and check the station or operator source when the consequence matters.
For a concrete board, try Zürich HB or Basel, Barfüsserplatz and compare live rows with planned-only rows.
When to trust the station or operator first
mesdeparts.ch is independent and non-official. Use official channels for tickets, fares, accessibility, major disruptions, guaranteed connections, or any decision where an operator announcement is the authority.