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Glama

Departures at a stop

get_departures
Read-onlyIdempotent

Find what leaves a stop next, the first service or last service in a bounded window. Pass a stopRef from find_transit, or a stop name with its coverage: a name for one place covers all its stations in that network (otherStations lists the same place in other networks, such as the LIRR at Penn Station); a name for different places returns a question to ask, with candidates. A station covers its whole complex, e.g. every line at Times Sq-42 St; a platform ref covers that platform. Pass toStop or toStopRef for the next trips from here that stop at a destination, each with its arrival time there. Returns dated trip references for get_vehicle_status. For a journey with a change use plan_trip (with routes where needed): departures alone cannot prove a connection.

Input Schema

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
atNo
stopNoStop or station name, with coverage. Give this or stopRef.
limitNo
toStopNoDestination stop or station name, with coverage. Give this or toStopRef, or neither.
stopRefNoExact stop or station reference. Give this or stop.
coverageNoRegion: sfbay (San Francisco Bay Area), dc (Washington DC Metro and Metrobus), nyc (New York City Subway, LIRR and Metro-North). Region names such as SF or Washington DC also work. Pick the region the place is in; where optional, leave it out only if the place could be in several.
routeRefsNo
selectionNofirst
toStopRefNoDestination stop or station: only trips that go on to stop there are listed, each with its arrival time there.
agencyRefsNo
windowSecondsNoSearch window in seconds, 1 through 604800 (seven days).

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
asOfYes
statusYes
reasonsYes
sourcesYes
departuresYes
attributionYes
otherStationsNoThe same place in another network (the LIRR at Penn Station): call again with its ref for its departures.
frequencyWindowsYes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed1 schema field changed
    • addedOutput schema / properties / otherStations
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "The same place in another network (the LIRR at Penn Station): call again with its ref for its departures.",
      +  "items": {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "properties": {
      +      "coordinates": {
      +        "anyOf": [
      +          {
      +            "additionalProperties": false,
      +            "properties": {
      +              "latitude": {
      +                "maximum": 90,
      +                "minimum": -90,
      +                "type": "number"
      +              },
      +              "longitude": {
      +                "maximum": 180,
      +                "minimum": -180,
      +                "type": "number"
      +              }
      +            },
      +            "required": [
      +              "latitude",
      +              "longitude"
      +            ],
      +            "type": "object"
      +          },
      +          {
      +            "type": "null"
      +          }
      +        ]
      +      },
      +      "coverage": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "endpoint": {
      +        "enum": [
      +          "origin",
      +          "destination"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "feed": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "kind": {
      +        "enum": [
      +          "agency",
      +          "route",
      +          "stop",
      +          "trip"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "modes": {
      +        "items": {
      +          "type": "string"
      +        },
      +        "type": "array"
      +      },
      +      "name": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "providerId": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "ref": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "routeCount": {
      +        "maximum": 9007199254740991,
      +        "minimum": 0,
      +        "type": "integer"
      +      },
      +      "routeNames": {
      +        "description": "Lines serving it, up to ten.",
      +        "items": {
      +          "type": "string"
      +        },
      +        "maxItems": 10,
      +        "type": "array"
      +      },
      +      "stationRef": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "stopType": {
      +        "description": "station: groups platforms; platform: part of stationRef; stop: a standalone stop such as a street corner.",
      +        "enum": [
      +          "station",
      +          "platform",
      +          "stop",
      +          "entrance",
      +          "other"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "string"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "ref",
      +      "kind",
      +      "name",
      +      "coverage",
      +      "feed",
      +      "providerId"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  },
      +  "type": "array"
      +}
  2. Changed4 schema fields changed
    • changedInput schema / properties / coverage / description
      Previous value: -"Runtime coverage name or identifier; use find_transit to inspect availability."New value: +"Region: sfbay (San Francisco Bay Area), dc (Washington DC Metro and Metrobus), nyc (New York City Subway, LIRR and Metro-North). Region names such as SF or Washington DC also work. Pick the region the place is in; where optional, leave it out only if the place could be in several."
    • addedInput schema / properties / coverage / enum
      Added value: +[
      +  "sfbay",
      +  "SF",
      +  "San Francisco",
      +  "Bay Area",
      +  "dc",
      +  "DC",
      +  "Washington DC",
      +  "Washington, DC",
      +  "WMATA",
      +  "DC Metro",
      +  "Metrobus",
      +  "nyc",
      +  "NYC",
      +  "New York",
      +  "New York City",
      +  "NYC Subway",
      +  "MTA Subway",
      +  "MTA",
      +  "LIRR",
      +  "Long Island Rail Road",
      +  "Metro-North",
      +  "Metro-North Railroad"
      +]
    • removedInput schema / properties / coverage / maxLength
      Removed value: -256
    • removedInput schema / properties / coverage / minLength
      Removed value: -1
  3. Changed5 schema fields changed
    • addedInput schema / properties / toStop
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Destination stop or station name, with coverage. Give this or toStopRef, or neither.",
      +  "maxLength": 256,
      +  "minLength": 1,
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / toStopRef
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Destination stop or station: only trips that go on to stop there are listed, each with its arrival time there.",
      +  "maxLength": 256,
      +  "minLength": 1,
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / arrival
      Added value: +{
      +  "anyOf": [
      +    {
      +      "additionalProperties": false,
      +      "properties": {
      +        "predictedTime": {
      +          "anyOf": [
      +            {
      +              "format": "date-time",
      +              "pattern": "^(?:(?:\\d\\d[2468][048]|\\d\\d[13579][26]|\\d\\d0[48]|[02468][048]00|[13579][26]00)-02-29|\\d{4}-(?:(?:0[13578]|1[02])-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\\d|3[01])|(?:0[469]|11)-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\\d|30)|(?:02)-(?:0[1-9]|1\\d|2[0-8])))T(?:(?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d(?::[0-5]\\d(?:\\.\\d+)?)?(?:Z|([+-](?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d)))$",
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            {
      +              "type": "null"
      +            }
      +          ]
      +        },
      +        "scheduledTime": {
      +          "anyOf": [
      +            {
      +              "format": "date-time",
      +              "pattern": "^(?:(?:\\d\\d[2468][048]|\\d\\d[13579][26]|\\d\\d0[48]|[02468][048]00|[13579][26]00)-02-29|\\d{4}-(?:(?:0[13578]|1[02])-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\\d|3[01])|(?:0[469]|11)-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\\d|30)|(?:02)-(?:0[1-9]|1\\d|2[0-8])))T(?:(?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d(?::[0-5]\\d(?:\\.\\d+)?)?(?:Z|([+-](?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d)))$",
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            {
      +              "type": "null"
      +            }
      +          ]
      +        },
      +        "stopName": {
      +          "type": "string"
      +        },
      +        "stopRef": {
      +          "type": "string"
      +        },
      +        "stopSequence": {
      +          "maximum": 9007199254740991,
      +          "minimum": -9007199254740991,
      +          "type": "integer"
      +        }
      +      },
      +      "required": [
      +        "stopRef",
      +        "stopName",
      +        "stopSequence",
      +        "scheduledTime",
      +        "predictedTime"
      +      ],
      +      "type": "object"
      +    },
      +    {
      +      "type": "null"
      +    }
      +  ],
      +  "description": "With a destination: where and when this trip reaches it. Null without one."
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "tripRef",
      -  "serviceDate",
      -  "routeRef",
      -  "routeName",
      -  "agencyRef",
      -  "stopRef",
      -  "stopName",
      -  "stopSequence",
      -  "stepFree",
      -  "headsign",
      -  "directionId",
      -  "pickupType",
      -  "status",
      -  "feedId",
      -  "scheduleVersion",
      -  "agencyTimezone",
      -  "tripInstanceRef",
      -  "scheduledTime",
      -  "predictedTime",
      -  "platform",
      -  "scheduleMatch"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "tripRef",
      +  "serviceDate",
      +  "routeRef",
      +  "routeName",
      +  "agencyRef",
      +  "stopRef",
      +  "stopName",
      +  "stopSequence",
      +  "stepFree",
      +  "headsign",
      +  "directionId",
      +  "pickupType",
      +  "status",
      +  "feedId",
      +  "scheduleVersion",
      +  "agencyTimezone",
      +  "tripInstanceRef",
      +  "scheduledTime",
      +  "predictedTime",
      +  "platform",
      +  "scheduleMatch",
      +  "arrival"
      +]
    • changedOutput schema / properties / reasons / items / enum
      Previous value: -[
      -  "REALTIME_STALE",
      -  "REALTIME_UNAVAILABLE",
      -  "SCHEDULE_EXPIRED",
      -  "SCHEDULE_APPROXIMATE",
      -  "SCHEDULE_REALTIME_MISMATCH",
      -  "TRIP_CANCELED",
      -  "STOP_SKIPPED",
      -  "VALIDATOR_REJECTED",
      -  "COVERAGE_UNAVAILABLE",
      -  "SCOPE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED",
      -  "ACCESSIBILITY_UNAVAILABLE",
      -  "ENDPOINT_NOT_STEP_FREE"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "REALTIME_STALE",
      +  "REALTIME_UNAVAILABLE",
      +  "SCHEDULE_EXPIRED",
      +  "SCHEDULE_APPROXIMATE",
      +  "SCHEDULE_REALTIME_MISMATCH",
      +  "TRIP_CANCELED",
      +  "STOP_SKIPPED",
      +  "VALIDATOR_REJECTED",
      +  "COVERAGE_UNAVAILABLE",
      +  "SCOPE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED",
      +  "ACCESSIBILITY_UNAVAILABLE",
      +  "ENDPOINT_NOT_STEP_FREE",
      +  "PLANNING_UNAVAILABLE"
      +]
  4. Changed6 schema fields changed
    • addedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / stepFree
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Step-free access to this platform per the agency's station data; live elevator outages are in get_service_status.",
      +  "enum": [
      +    "accessible",
      +    "not_accessible",
      +    "unknown"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "tripRef",
      -  "serviceDate",
      -  "routeRef",
      -  "routeName",
      -  "agencyRef",
      -  "stopRef",
      -  "stopName",
      -  "stopSequence",
      -  "headsign",
      -  "directionId",
      -  "pickupType",
      -  "status",
      -  "feedId",
      -  "scheduleVersion",
      -  "agencyTimezone",
      -  "tripInstanceRef",
      -  "scheduledTime",
      -  "predictedTime",
      -  "platform",
      -  "scheduleMatch"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "tripRef",
      +  "serviceDate",
      +  "routeRef",
      +  "routeName",
      +  "agencyRef",
      +  "stopRef",
      +  "stopName",
      +  "stopSequence",
      +  "stepFree",
      +  "headsign",
      +  "directionId",
      +  "pickupType",
      +  "status",
      +  "feedId",
      +  "scheduleVersion",
      +  "agencyTimezone",
      +  "tripInstanceRef",
      +  "scheduledTime",
      +  "predictedTime",
      +  "platform",
      +  "scheduleMatch"
      +]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / frequencyWindows / items / properties / stepFree
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Step-free access to this platform per the agency's station data; live elevator outages are in get_service_status.",
      +  "enum": [
      +    "accessible",
      +    "not_accessible",
      +    "unknown"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / properties / frequencyWindows / items / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "tripRef",
      -  "serviceDate",
      -  "routeRef",
      -  "routeName",
      -  "agencyRef",
      -  "stopRef",
      -  "stopName",
      -  "stopSequence",
      -  "headsign",
      -  "directionId",
      -  "pickupType",
      -  "status",
      -  "feedId",
      -  "scheduleVersion",
      -  "agencyTimezone",
      -  "tripTemplateRef",
      -  "startTime",
      -  "endTime",
      -  "overlapStartTime",
      -  "overlapEndTime",
      -  "headwaySeconds",
      -  "exactTimes"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "tripRef",
      +  "serviceDate",
      +  "routeRef",
      +  "routeName",
      +  "agencyRef",
      +  "stopRef",
      +  "stopName",
      +  "stopSequence",
      +  "stepFree",
      +  "headsign",
      +  "directionId",
      +  "pickupType",
      +  "status",
      +  "feedId",
      +  "scheduleVersion",
      +  "agencyTimezone",
      +  "tripTemplateRef",
      +  "startTime",
      +  "endTime",
      +  "overlapStartTime",
      +  "overlapEndTime",
      +  "headwaySeconds",
      +  "exactTimes"
      +]
    • changedOutput schema / properties / reasons / items / enum
      Previous value: -[
      -  "REALTIME_STALE",
      -  "REALTIME_UNAVAILABLE",
      -  "SCHEDULE_EXPIRED",
      -  "SCHEDULE_APPROXIMATE",
      -  "SCHEDULE_REALTIME_MISMATCH",
      -  "TRIP_CANCELED",
      -  "STOP_SKIPPED",
      -  "VALIDATOR_REJECTED",
      -  "COVERAGE_UNAVAILABLE",
      -  "SCOPE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "REALTIME_STALE",
      +  "REALTIME_UNAVAILABLE",
      +  "SCHEDULE_EXPIRED",
      +  "SCHEDULE_APPROXIMATE",
      +  "SCHEDULE_REALTIME_MISMATCH",
      +  "TRIP_CANCELED",
      +  "STOP_SKIPPED",
      +  "VALIDATOR_REJECTED",
      +  "COVERAGE_UNAVAILABLE",
      +  "SCOPE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED",
      +  "ACCESSIBILITY_UNAVAILABLE",
      +  "ENDPOINT_NOT_STEP_FREE"
      +]
    • changedOutput schema / properties / sources / items / properties / kind / enum
      Previous value: -[
      -  "gtfs_schedule",
      -  "trip_updates",
      -  "vehicle_positions",
      -  "alerts",
      -  "native_api"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "gtfs_schedule",
      +  "trip_updates",
      +  "vehicle_positions",
      +  "alerts",
      +  "equipment_outages",
      +  "native_api"
      +]
  5. Changed10 schema fields changed
    • addedInput schema / properties / coverage
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Runtime coverage name or identifier; use find_transit to inspect availability.",
      +  "maxLength": 256,
      +  "minLength": 1,
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / stop
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Stop or station name, with coverage. Give this or stopRef.",
      +  "maxLength": 256,
      +  "minLength": 1,
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedInput schema / properties / stopRef / description
      Added value: +"Exact stop or station reference. Give this or stop."
    • removedInput schema / required
      Removed value: -[
      -  "stopRef"
      -]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / routeName
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Public route name, e.g. \"1\", \"A\" or \"Red\".",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / stopName
      Added value: +{
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "tripRef",
      -  "serviceDate",
      -  "routeRef",
      -  "agencyRef",
      -  "stopRef",
      -  "stopSequence",
      -  "headsign",
      -  "directionId",
      -  "pickupType",
      -  "status",
      -  "feedId",
      -  "scheduleVersion",
      -  "agencyTimezone",
      -  "tripInstanceRef",
      -  "scheduledTime",
      -  "predictedTime",
      -  "platform",
      -  "scheduleMatch"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "tripRef",
      +  "serviceDate",
      +  "routeRef",
      +  "routeName",
      +  "agencyRef",
      +  "stopRef",
      +  "stopName",
      +  "stopSequence",
      +  "headsign",
      +  "directionId",
      +  "pickupType",
      +  "status",
      +  "feedId",
      +  "scheduleVersion",
      +  "agencyTimezone",
      +  "tripInstanceRef",
      +  "scheduledTime",
      +  "predictedTime",
      +  "platform",
      +  "scheduleMatch"
      +]
    • addedOutput schema / properties / frequencyWindows / items / properties / routeName
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Public route name, e.g. \"1\", \"A\" or \"Red\".",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / frequencyWindows / items / properties / stopName
      Added value: +{
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • changedOutput schema / properties / frequencyWindows / items / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "tripRef",
      -  "serviceDate",
      -  "routeRef",
      -  "agencyRef",
      -  "stopRef",
      -  "stopSequence",
      -  "headsign",
      -  "directionId",
      -  "pickupType",
      -  "status",
      -  "feedId",
      -  "scheduleVersion",
      -  "agencyTimezone",
      -  "tripTemplateRef",
      -  "startTime",
      -  "endTime",
      -  "overlapStartTime",
      -  "overlapEndTime",
      -  "headwaySeconds",
      -  "exactTimes"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "tripRef",
      +  "serviceDate",
      +  "routeRef",
      +  "routeName",
      +  "agencyRef",
      +  "stopRef",
      +  "stopName",
      +  "stopSequence",
      +  "headsign",
      +  "directionId",
      +  "pickupType",
      +  "status",
      +  "feedId",
      +  "scheduleVersion",
      +  "agencyTimezone",
      +  "tripTemplateRef",
      +  "startTime",
      +  "endTime",
      +  "overlapStartTime",
      +  "overlapEndTime",
      +  "headwaySeconds",
      +  "exactTimes"
      +]
  6. Changed10 schema fields changed
    • addedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / scheduleMatch
      Added value: +{
      +  "enum": [
      +    "matched",
      +    "unscheduled_call",
      +    "unmatched_trip"
      +  ],
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
    • addedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / scheduledTime / anyOf
      Added value: +[
      +  {
      +    "format": "date-time",
      +    "pattern": "^(?:(?:\\d\\d[2468][048]|\\d\\d[13579][26]|\\d\\d0[48]|[02468][048]00|[13579][26]00)-02-29|\\d{4}-(?:(?:0[13578]|1[02])-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\\d|3[01])|(?:0[469]|11)-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\\d|30)|(?:02)-(?:0[1-9]|1\\d|2[0-8])))T(?:(?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d(?::[0-5]\\d(?:\\.\\d+)?)?(?:Z|([+-](?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d)))$",
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "type": "null"
      +  }
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / scheduledTime / format
      Removed value: -"date-time"
    • removedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / scheduledTime / pattern
      Removed value: -"^(?:(?:\\d\\d[2468][048]|\\d\\d[13579][26]|\\d\\d0[48]|[02468][048]00|[13579][26]00)-02-29|\\d{4}-(?:(?:0[13578]|1[02])-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\\d|3[01])|(?:0[469]|11)-(?:0[1-9]|[12]\\d|30)|(?:02)-(?:0[1-9]|1\\d|2[0-8])))T(?:(?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d(?::[0-5]\\d(?:\\.\\d+)?)?(?:Z|([+-](?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d)))$"
    • removedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / scheduledTime / type
      Removed value: -"string"
    • addedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / stopSequence / anyOf
      Added value: +[
      +  {
      +    "maximum": 9007199254740991,
      +    "minimum": -9007199254740991,
      +    "type": "integer"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "type": "null"
      +  }
      +]
    • removedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / stopSequence / maximum
      Removed value: -9007199254740991
    • removedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / stopSequence / minimum
      Removed value: --9007199254740991
    • removedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / properties / stopSequence / type
      Removed value: -"integer"
    • changedOutput schema / properties / departures / items / required
      Previous value: -[
      -  "tripRef",
      -  "serviceDate",
      -  "routeRef",
      -  "agencyRef",
      -  "stopRef",
      -  "stopSequence",
      -  "headsign",
      -  "directionId",
      -  "pickupType",
      -  "status",
      -  "feedId",
      -  "scheduleVersion",
      -  "agencyTimezone",
      -  "tripInstanceRef",
      -  "scheduledTime",
      -  "predictedTime",
      -  "platform"
      -]New value: +[
      +  "tripRef",
      +  "serviceDate",
      +  "routeRef",
      +  "agencyRef",
      +  "stopRef",
      +  "stopSequence",
      +  "headsign",
      +  "directionId",
      +  "pickupType",
      +  "status",
      +  "feedId",
      +  "scheduleVersion",
      +  "agencyTimezone",
      +  "tripInstanceRef",
      +  "scheduledTime",
      +  "predictedTime",
      +  "platform",
      +  "scheduleMatch"
      +]
  7. Added

TDQS

A4.6/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Goes well beyond the readOnly/openWorld annotations by disclosing non-obvious behavior: an ambiguous name 'returns a question to ask, with candidates', station refs expand to a whole complex while platform refs do not, and results are dated trip references consumable by get_vehicle_status. Only pagination/limit behavior and the role of the `at` anchor are left unstated.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Front-loaded with the core action and the primary reference-source hint, then rules, then the sibling redirect. Dense but every clause carries a decision-relevant constraint; the nested parenthetical about Penn Station/LIRR is the only mildly costly digression.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For an 11-parameter, zero-required, open-world lookup with an output schema, the description covers the ambiguity cases, reference sourcing, coverage scope, destination filtering, and the down-stream tool handoff. Nothing an agent needs to call it correctly is missing.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

At 55% schema coverage the description must compensate, and it does for the hardest parameters: `stop` vs `stopRef`, `coverage` naming/otherStations semantics, `toStop`/`toStopRef` (destination filtering with arrival times). Several parameters (`at`, `routeRefs`, `agencyRefs`, `limit`) get no description beyond their schema text, keeping it short of a 5.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb and resource ('Find what leaves a stop next') plus the variant scope ('first service or last service in a bounded window'). It also distinguishes itself from siblings by name ('use plan_trip', 'stopRef from find_transit', 'get_vehicle_status'), so an agent can route correctly without opening schemas.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines5/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicit about when to use and when not to: 'Pass a stopRef from find_transit', 'For a journey with a change use plan_trip', and the exclusion 'departures alone cannot prove a connection'. Alternatives and their selection conditions are named, not implied.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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