How do I view GTFS data in QGIS?

Question

I would like to use QGIS to create my map. One data feed is the gtfs regarding to bus routes. I can view it on Google Earth (although laggy), but when I tried to import the .kml into QGIS, it just ran out of RAM (for 30 min) and crashed my map. If I import 10 in the 18xx layers, the route is duplicated 10 times (Google Earth could show all the routes, although laggy).

My procedure

I am trying a new method, so...

What I did was download the .txt on TfNSW website (Google tfnsw data and login), then use a .py script called Transitfeed by bdferris to convert the .txt into .kml. Finally import the .kml as vector layers, but I did viewed in Google Earth prior that so I though it will be okay.

I am intended to convert the shape.txt into route shapes.

Problem

I was thinking of the possibilities and solutions, for example:

1. Faulty .kml
2. Faulty .txt in the gtfs
3. Faulty conversion from .txt to .kml

I was thinking if either first two possibilities are valid, then what is the suitable validation (of my .kml) solution? Otherwise I would like a cost-less (i.e. monetary) solution for viewing gtfs .txt file into QGIS.

Answer 1

From http://code.google.com/p/googletransitdatafeed/wiki/PublicFeeds, I took the data from TriMet Portland and had no problem adding the geometry data (stops.txt and shapes.txt) to QGIS with the MMQGIS plugin.

Once installed, use MMQGIS -> Import/Export -> Geometry Import from CSV file

Geometry Type Point for the stops and Polylinefor the shapes.

If you experience the same laggy effect as with Google Earth, you might save the result to a spatialite database. Or store the data in a postgis database, as explained here:

http://opendesignarch.blogspot.de/2014/03/loading-gtfs-data-into-postgresql.html

https://github.com/pgRouting/pgrouting/wiki/MMPTR-Tutorial

Answer 2

I have used the Points2One plugin and I found it pretty straight forward. https://youtu.be/cxAkTg_01vg

1 - Import GTFS file named 'shapes.txt' using 'Add limited Text Layer'

2 - Click on the Points2One plugin and create Lines by "shape_id"

Answer 3

I found this really nice tutorial by google search:

http://www.stevencanplan.com/2016/02/converting-a-transit-agencys-gtfs-to-shapefile-and-geojson-with-qgis/

I got my data here: http://apps2.saskatoon.ca/app/data/google_transit.zip

In order to make the points into a path, it looks like the Points to Path plugin does not ship with qgis 3, but it also looks like qgis 3 comes bundled with a points to path tool thanks to another post I found here.