Questions

Straight answers about Platform, the free Sydney public transport app for iPhone and Android. Something missing? Email [email protected].

What is Platform?

Platform is a free public transport app for Sydney, on iPhone, Apple Watch and Android. It shows live trains, metro, buses, ferries and light rail on one map, plus departure boards, journey planning and trip tracking. It is in beta: open to anyone on iPhone through TestFlight, and by invitation on Android.

What is the best app for Sydney public transport?

It depends on what you want from it. If you want live times for trains, metro, buses, ferries and light rail in one place, with times marked as live, predicted or from the timetable, and no ads or account, that is exactly what Platform is built for. It is free, so the easiest way to judge is to try it on your usual trip.

Is there a free Sydney transport app without ads?

Yes. Platform is free, has no advertising, takes no payments and needs no account. It is a non-commercial project, and its makers have no plans to add paid tiers.

Does Platform show live train times in Sydney?

Yes, where Transport for NSW publishes live data. Platform uses the Transport for NSW real-time feeds for trains, Sydney Metro, buses, ferries and light rail. When no live update is available, it aims to show the timetable time and label it that way rather than pass it off as live.

What do Live, Predicted and Timetable mean in Platform?

Live is an estimate from the live Transport for NSW feed for that service. Predicted is a forecast rather than a live reading. Timetable is the scheduled time when no live update is available. Platform also marks data that is stale or unavailable where it can tell, so an old time is not passed off as a live one.

Which kinds of transport does Platform cover?

Sydney Trains, Sydney Metro, buses, ferries and light rail, all on one map, with departures and your journey in the same place.

Does Platform work outside Sydney, across NSW?

Platform is built and tested for Sydney. It uses Transport for NSW data, but its maps, planning and testing focus on Sydney trips, and live data is not available at every stop. For travel further afield in NSW, check Transport for NSW as well.

Can I plan a trip with Platform?

Yes. Pick a start and a destination and Platform plans the journey across every mode, with platforms, times and changes. You can save the trips you make often, and follow a journey as you travel with the next stop and change kept in view.

Does Platform work on iPhone, Android and Apple Watch?

Yes. Platform is a native app on each. On iPhone it has Live Activities on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, and an Apple Watch app. On Android it has an ongoing tracking notification and a journey widget. Some beta features differ between the two.

Is Platform an official Transport for NSW app?

No. Platform is independent. It uses open data published by Transport for NSW under a Creative Commons licence, but it is not made, endorsed or operated by Transport for NSW or the NSW Government.

Do I need an account, and does Platform track me?

There is no account. Completed trips are kept on your device, and Platform does not record a GPS trace. On Apple devices, saved trips can sync through your own iCloud account. Journey planning sends your chosen start and destination to Transport for NSW through the Platform server, and the Android Nearby screen sends your location to the server for that one request. The beta apps collect app analytics to help testing. The privacy policy explains all of it.

Can I share my trip with someone?

Yes. A shared trip link shows your planned route, progress and timing, never your GPS position. It expires after eight hours, or earlier if you stop sharing.

How do I get Platform?

Platform is in beta. On iPhone, join through Apple TestFlight. On Android, request access to the Google Play closed test. Both links are on platformtransit.com.

Who made Platform?

Platform is made in Sydney by Immanuel Lam (founder) and Hunter Balderson (co-founder), two riders who were tired of transport apps that blur the line between live and scheduled times.

More detail lives in the privacy policy, the terms of use and disclaimer and about Platform. Join the beta.