db-timetables-mcp

MCP server for live Deutsche Bahn station boards. Ask Claude (or any MCP client) things like:

• "When does the next train leave Dresden Hbf?"

• "Is the ICE to Berlin from Leipzig delayed?"

• "Any platform changes or cancellations at Köln Hbf in the next 2 hours?"

It uses the official DB Timetables API and merges the planned timetable with the live changes feed. It is read-only.

Tools

departures and arrivals accept a station name or an EVA number, an optional start time (local Berlin time in ISO format, default now), hours (1–6) and limit.

Related MCP server: irail-mcp

Setup

1. Create a free account at developers.deutschebahn.com, create an application and subscribe it to the Timetables API (the free plan allows 60 calls/min).

2. Copy your Client ID and Client Secret (API Key).

3. Add the server to your MCP client.

Claude Code

git clone https://github.com/kukshaus/db-timetables-mcp.git
claude mcp add db-timetables -s user \
  -e DB_CLIENT_ID=your-client-id -e DB_API_KEY=your-api-key \
  -- uv --directory /path/to/db-timetables-mcp run db-timetables-mcp

Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "db-timetables": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["--directory", "/path/to/db-timetables-mcp", "run", "db-timetables-mcp"],
      "env": { "DB_CLIENT_ID": "your-client-id", "DB_API_KEY": "your-api-key" }
    }
  }
}

On macOS you can keep the keys out of config files and store them in the Keychain instead. The server reads them when the env vars are missing:

security add-generic-password -s db-api-client-id -a "$USER" -w 'your-client-id'
security add-generic-password -s db-api-key -a "$USER" -w 'your-api-key'

Example output

22:12  RE 50     → Leipzig Hbf        platform 9
22:18  S 2       → Dresden Flughafen  platform 14
22:22  TLX 76537 → Görlitz            platform 14

Development

uv sync
uv run pytest

Limits

• Covers stations operated by DB Station&Service (all major German stations).

• No journey planning (A → B with transfers). The Timetables API is per station.

• The free plan allows 60 requests/min. One board for 1 hour costs 2 requests.

License

MIT. Not affiliated with Deutsche Bahn AG. Data © DB Station&Service AG via the DB API Marketplace.