mcp-sncf MCP Server

SNCF API MCP Server

This project provides a modular Python wrapper for the SNCF API, with an MCP server interface that integrates seamlessly with Claude Desktop for intelligent journey planning and train information retrieval across France.

Overview

The SNCF MCP Server provides a comprehensive interface to the French National Railway's (SNCF) API services, allowing you to:

Plan train journeys between cities in France
Get detailed information about train stations
Check schedules for departures and arrivals
Monitor service disruptions
Find nearby places and transport options

The structure is organized as follows:

sncf_api/ - The main package for SNCF API interaction
- __init__.py - Package initialization
- config.py - Configuration settings
- client.py - Base API client
- api.py - Main API interface combining all modules
- search.py - Search-related endpoints
- journey.py - Journey planning endpoints
- stations.py - Station-related endpoints
- networks.py - Network and transport mode endpoints
- disruptions.py - Disruption-related endpoints
- station_finder.py - Efficient station lookup by coordinates
- csv_station_finder.py - Station lookup using CSV database
- vehicle_journey.py - Detailed train journey information
sncf_server.py - MCP server implementation with all tool endpoints
train_stations_europe.csv - Database of European train stations with coordinates

Features

Intelligent Journey Planning: Plan trips between any cities in France with automatic station selection
Comprehensive Station Details: Get detailed information about stations including:
- Available transport types (trains, buses, trams)
- Nearby places and points of interest
- Coordinates and accessibility information
Real-time Schedules: Access up-to-date departure and arrival information
Disruption Monitoring: Stay informed about service disruptions
Smart Station Finding: Locate stations by city name, station name, or coordinates
Fallback Mechanisms: Hardcoded coordinates for major cities ensure reliability even when API searches fail
Detailed Logging: Comprehensive logging for debugging and monitoring

Installation

Prerequisites

Python 3.6+
pip (Python package manager)

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/sncf-mcp-new.git
cd sncf-mcp-new

Step 2: Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

If the requirements.txt file is missing, install the following packages: requests mcp

pip install requests pandas mcp

Getting an API Key

Before using this server, you need to obtain an API key from SNCF:

Visit the SNCF API Portal
Create an account or log in
Subscribe to the "Navitia" API service
Complete the registration process
Once approved, you'll receive your API key in your account dashboard

The API key looks like a UUID string (e.g., 01293485-3NS3-3242-23AZ-3241324512).

Configuration

Setting Up Claude Desktop

To integrate the SNCF MCP tools with Claude Desktop:

Install Claude Desktop if you haven't already
Open Claude Desktop Configuration:
- Navigate to the Claude Desktop settings
- Open the configuration file (usually located at %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json)

{
 "sncf": {
  "command": "py",
  "args": [
    "c:\\Users\\ChristianELHAJJ\\sncf-mcp-new\\sncf_server.py",
    "--api-key={YOUR-API-KEY}"
  ],
  "cwd": "c:\\Users\\ChristianELHAJJ\\sncf-mcp-new"
},

Replace path/to/sncf-mcp-new with the actual path to your installation directory.

Save the Configuration File and restart Claude Desktop

Available MCP Tools

Once configured, the following tools will be available to Claude Desktop:

Journey Planning

`plan_journey_by_city_names`

Plan a journey between two cities in France.

Parameters:

from_city: Departure city name (e.g., "Paris")
to_city: Destination city name (e.g., "Marseille")
datetime: Optional departure or arrival time (format: YYYYMMDDTHHMMSS)
datetime_represents: "departure" or "arrival" (default: "departure")
include_station_details: Whether to include detailed station information

Example prompt for Claude:

Plan a train journey from Paris to Lyon tomorrow morning at 8 AM.

Station Information

`get_station_details`

Get comprehensive details about train stations in a city.

Parameters:

city_name: Name of the city to search for stations
station_name: Optional specific station name
station_id: Optional direct station ID
include_transport_types: Whether to include transport type analysis
include_nearby_places: Whether to include nearby places information
nearby_distance: Search radius in meters for nearby places
nearby_count: Maximum number of nearby places to return

Example prompt for Claude:

What transport options are available at the main train station in Grenoble?

`get_station_schedule`

Get departure and arrival schedules for a station.

Parameters:

city_name: Name of the city to search for stations
station_name: Optional specific station name
station_id: Optional direct station ID
count: Number of departures/arrivals to return
datetime: Optional datetime to start from
duration: Optional duration in seconds
data_freshness: Data freshness level (realtime or base_schedule)

Example prompt for Claude:

Show me the next 5 train departures from Paris Gare de Lyon.

Disruption Monitoring

`check_disruptions`

Check for current disruptions in the SNCF transport network.

Parameters:

coverage: The coverage area (default: "sncf")
count: Maximum number of disruptions to return
station_id: Optional filter for a specific station
line_id: Optional filter for a specific line
since: Only disruptions valid after this date
until: Only disruptions valid before this date
fetch_train_details: Whether to fetch additional details about affected trains

Example prompt for Claude:

Are there any current disruptions affecting trains to Marseille?

Usage Examples

Planning a Journey

You can ask Claude to plan a journey between any two cities in France:

I need to travel from Paris to Nice next Friday at 2 PM. Can you find me a train?

Claude will use the plan_journey_by_city_names tool to:

Find the main stations in both cities
Plan the optimal journey between them
Present you with departure/arrival times, durations, and connection details

Getting Station Information

To get detailed information about a station:

What facilities and transport options are available at Gare de Lyon in Paris?

Claude will use the get_station_details tool to provide:

Basic station information (name, ID, coordinates)
Available transport types (trains, buses, trams)
Nearby places and points of interest

Checking Train Schedules

To check upcoming departures or arrivals:

When are the next trains leaving from Bordeaux to Paris today?

Claude will use the get_station_schedule tool to show:

Upcoming departures from Bordeaux
Destination information
Platform details when available
Real-time status updates

Monitoring Disruptions

To check for service disruptions:

Are there any disruptions affecting the Paris to Lyon route today?

Claude will use the check_disruptions tool to:

Find relevant disruptions
Explain the impact on services
Provide additional details about affected trains

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"No API key provided"

Ensure you've added your SNCF API key to the Claude Desktop configuration
Check that the environment variable is correctly referenced in the MCP server configuration

"No stations found for city"

Try using a more specific city name
For smaller cities, try using the name of a nearby larger city
The system has hardcoded coordinates for major French cities which should work reliably

"Failed to connect to SNCF API"

Check your internet connection
Verify that your API key is valid and not expired
The SNCF API may be experiencing downtime; try again later

"Error initializing CSV station finder"

Ensure the train_stations_europe.csv file is in the correct location
Check file permissions to ensure the file is readable

Advanced Features

Hardcoded Coordinates

The system includes hardcoded coordinates for major French cities to ensure reliability even when the API search fails:

Paris (48.853, 2.348)
Marseille (43.303, 5.380)
Lyon (45.760, 4.860)
Toulouse (43.611, 1.454)
Nice (43.704, 7.262)
Nantes (47.217, -1.542)
Strasbourg (48.585, 7.735)
Bordeaux (44.826, -0.556)
Lille (50.638, 3.072)
Rennes (48.103, -1.672)
Grenoble (45.192, 5.716)

Transport Type Analysis

The get_station_details tool can analyze and categorize the types of transport available at a station:

Long-distance trains (TGV, Intercités)
Regional trains (TER)
Local transit (buses, trams, metros)
Other services (taxis, bike sharing)

Nearby Places Search

The station details tool can find points of interest near a station:

Other transport stops
Public facilities
Points of interest
Address points

This feature is particularly useful for travelers planning their onward journey from a station.

Contributing

Contributions to improve the SNCF MCP Server are welcome! Please feel free to submit pull requests or open issues for bugs and feature requests.

License

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

Acknowledgments

SNCF for providing the API
The Navitia team for their comprehensive public transport API
Claude AI for intelligent integration capabilities

created by Christian delage (dr.christian.delage@gmail.com)

SNCF API MCP Server

Overview

The SNCF MCP Server provides a comprehensive interface to the French National Railway's (SNCF) API services, allowing you to:

Plan train journeys between cities in France
Get detailed information about train stations
Check schedules for departures and arrivals
Monitor service disruptions
Find nearby places and transport options

The structure is organized as follows:

sncf_api/ - The main package for SNCF API interaction
- __init__.py - Package initialization
- config.py - Configuration settings
- client.py - Base API client
- api.py - Main API interface combining all modules
- search.py - Search-related endpoints
- journey.py - Journey planning endpoints
- stations.py - Station-related endpoints
- networks.py - Network and transport mode endpoints
- disruptions.py - Disruption-related endpoints
- station_finder.py - Efficient station lookup by coordinates
- csv_station_finder.py - Station lookup using CSV database
- vehicle_journey.py - Detailed train journey information
sncf_server.py - MCP server implementation with all tool endpoints
train_stations_europe.csv - Database of European train stations with coordinates

Features

Intelligent Journey Planning: Plan trips between any cities in France with automatic station selection
Comprehensive Station Details: Get detailed information about stations including:
- Available transport types (trains, buses, trams)
- Nearby places and points of interest
- Coordinates and accessibility information
Real-time Schedules: Access up-to-date departure and arrival information
Disruption Monitoring: Stay informed about service disruptions
Smart Station Finding: Locate stations by city name, station name, or coordinates
Fallback Mechanisms: Hardcoded coordinates for major cities ensure reliability even when API searches fail
Detailed Logging: Comprehensive logging for debugging and monitoring

Installation

Prerequisites

Python 3.6+
pip (Python package manager)

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/sncf-mcp-new.git
cd sncf-mcp-new

Step 2: Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

If the requirements.txt file is missing, install the following packages: requests mcp

pip install requests pandas mcp

Getting an API Key

Before using this server, you need to obtain an API key from SNCF:

Visit the SNCF API Portal
Create an account or log in
Subscribe to the "Navitia" API service
Complete the registration process
Once approved, you'll receive your API key in your account dashboard

The API key looks like a UUID string (e.g., 01293485-3NS3-3242-23AZ-3241324512).

Configuration

Setting Up Claude Desktop

To integrate the SNCF MCP tools with Claude Desktop:

Install Claude Desktop if you haven't already
Open Claude Desktop Configuration:
- Navigate to the Claude Desktop settings
- Open the configuration file (usually located at %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json)

{
 "sncf": {
  "command": "py",
  "args": [
    "c:\\Users\\ChristianELHAJJ\\sncf-mcp-new\\sncf_server.py",
    "--api-key={YOUR-API-KEY}"
  ],
  "cwd": "c:\\Users\\ChristianELHAJJ\\sncf-mcp-new"
},

Replace path/to/sncf-mcp-new with the actual path to your installation directory.

Save the Configuration File and restart Claude Desktop

Available MCP Tools

Once configured, the following tools will be available to Claude Desktop:

Journey Planning

`plan_journey_by_city_names`

Plan a journey between two cities in France.

Parameters:

from_city: Departure city name (e.g., "Paris")
to_city: Destination city name (e.g., "Marseille")
datetime: Optional departure or arrival time (format: YYYYMMDDTHHMMSS)
datetime_represents: "departure" or "arrival" (default: "departure")
include_station_details: Whether to include detailed station information

Example prompt for Claude:

Plan a train journey from Paris to Lyon tomorrow morning at 8 AM.

Station Information

`get_station_details`

Get comprehensive details about train stations in a city.

Parameters:

city_name: Name of the city to search for stations
station_name: Optional specific station name
station_id: Optional direct station ID
include_transport_types: Whether to include transport type analysis
include_nearby_places: Whether to include nearby places information
nearby_distance: Search radius in meters for nearby places
nearby_count: Maximum number of nearby places to return

Example prompt for Claude:

What transport options are available at the main train station in Grenoble?

`get_station_schedule`

Get departure and arrival schedules for a station.

Parameters:

city_name: Name of the city to search for stations
station_name: Optional specific station name
station_id: Optional direct station ID
count: Number of departures/arrivals to return
datetime: Optional datetime to start from
duration: Optional duration in seconds
data_freshness: Data freshness level (realtime or base_schedule)

Example prompt for Claude:

Show me the next 5 train departures from Paris Gare de Lyon.

Disruption Monitoring

`check_disruptions`

Check for current disruptions in the SNCF transport network.

Parameters:

coverage: The coverage area (default: "sncf")
count: Maximum number of disruptions to return
station_id: Optional filter for a specific station
line_id: Optional filter for a specific line
since: Only disruptions valid after this date
until: Only disruptions valid before this date
fetch_train_details: Whether to fetch additional details about affected trains

Example prompt for Claude:

Are there any current disruptions affecting trains to Marseille?

Usage Examples

Planning a Journey

You can ask Claude to plan a journey between any two cities in France:

I need to travel from Paris to Nice next Friday at 2 PM. Can you find me a train?

Claude will use the plan_journey_by_city_names tool to:

Find the main stations in both cities
Plan the optimal journey between them
Present you with departure/arrival times, durations, and connection details

Getting Station Information

To get detailed information about a station:

What facilities and transport options are available at Gare de Lyon in Paris?

Claude will use the get_station_details tool to provide:

Basic station information (name, ID, coordinates)
Available transport types (trains, buses, trams)
Nearby places and points of interest

Checking Train Schedules

To check upcoming departures or arrivals:

When are the next trains leaving from Bordeaux to Paris today?

Claude will use the get_station_schedule tool to show:

Upcoming departures from Bordeaux
Destination information
Platform details when available
Real-time status updates

Monitoring Disruptions

To check for service disruptions:

Are there any disruptions affecting the Paris to Lyon route today?

Claude will use the check_disruptions tool to:

Find relevant disruptions
Explain the impact on services
Provide additional details about affected trains

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"No API key provided"

Ensure you've added your SNCF API key to the Claude Desktop configuration
Check that the environment variable is correctly referenced in the MCP server configuration

"No stations found for city"

Try using a more specific city name
For smaller cities, try using the name of a nearby larger city
The system has hardcoded coordinates for major French cities which should work reliably

"Failed to connect to SNCF API"

Check your internet connection
Verify that your API key is valid and not expired
The SNCF API may be experiencing downtime; try again later

"Error initializing CSV station finder"

Ensure the train_stations_europe.csv file is in the correct location
Check file permissions to ensure the file is readable

Advanced Features

Hardcoded Coordinates

The system includes hardcoded coordinates for major French cities to ensure reliability even when the API search fails:

Paris (48.853, 2.348)
Marseille (43.303, 5.380)
Lyon (45.760, 4.860)
Toulouse (43.611, 1.454)
Nice (43.704, 7.262)
Nantes (47.217, -1.542)
Strasbourg (48.585, 7.735)
Bordeaux (44.826, -0.556)
Lille (50.638, 3.072)
Rennes (48.103, -1.672)
Grenoble (45.192, 5.716)

Transport Type Analysis

The get_station_details tool can analyze and categorize the types of transport available at a station:

Long-distance trains (TGV, Intercités)
Regional trains (TER)
Local transit (buses, trams, metros)
Other services (taxis, bike sharing)

Nearby Places Search

The station details tool can find points of interest near a station:

Other transport stops
Public facilities
Points of interest
Address points

This feature is particularly useful for travelers planning their onward journey from a station.

Contributing

Contributions to improve the SNCF MCP Server are welcome! Please feel free to submit pull requests or open issues for bugs and feature requests.

License

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

Acknowledgments

SNCF for providing the API
The Navitia team for their comprehensive public transport API
Claude AI for intelligent integration capabilities

created by Christian delage (dr.christian.delage@gmail.com)

SNCF API MCP Server

README Documentation

SNCF API MCP Server

Table of Contents

Overview

Features

Installation

Prerequisites

Step 1: Clone the Repository

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Getting an API Key

Configuration

Setting Up Claude Desktop

Available MCP Tools

Journey Planning

plan_journey_by_city_names

Station Information

get_station_details

get_station_schedule

Disruption Monitoring

check_disruptions

Usage Examples

Planning a Journey

Getting Station Information

Checking Train Schedules

Monitoring Disruptions

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"No API key provided"

"No stations found for city"

"Failed to connect to SNCF API"

"Error initializing CSV station finder"

Advanced Features

Hardcoded Coordinates

Transport Type Analysis

Nearby Places Search

Contributing

License

Acknowledgments

Quick Actions

Key Features

SNCF API MCP Server

README Documentation

SNCF API MCP Server

Table of Contents

Overview

Features

Installation

Prerequisites

Step 1: Clone the Repository

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Getting an API Key

Configuration

Setting Up Claude Desktop

Available MCP Tools

Journey Planning

plan_journey_by_city_names

Station Information

get_station_details

get_station_schedule

Disruption Monitoring

check_disruptions

Usage Examples

Planning a Journey

Getting Station Information

Checking Train Schedules

Monitoring Disruptions

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"No API key provided"

"No stations found for city"

"Failed to connect to SNCF API"

"Error initializing CSV station finder"

Advanced Features

Hardcoded Coordinates

Transport Type Analysis

Nearby Places Search

Contributing

License

Acknowledgments

`plan_journey_by_city_names`

`get_station_details`

`get_station_schedule`

`check_disruptions`

`plan_journey_by_city_names`

`get_station_details`

`get_station_schedule`

`check_disruptions`