Madrid metro and bus step by step: how Estela uses EMT live data
“The 27 arrives in 3 minutes” comes from EMT open data. How it works behind the scenes, what's official and what's calculated, and the alert so you don't miss your stop.
“How I Get Around” is the Mi Estela screen for getting around by public transport: you type where you're going (or pick one of your spots, like Home), and it tells you how to get there by metro or bus, with the arrival time, the lines, and the walking segments. In Madrid, it also includes the real-time bus data from EMT. We explain where each piece of data comes from, because on public transport, the difference between “scheduled” and “real time” is the difference between making it and missing it.
Schedules: official
Routes are calculated using the official schedules published by each operator. These can change because of delays, roadworks, or incidents. When the app tells you “you arrive at 7:13 PM,” that's an estimate based on the schedule, not a guarantee.
Real time: EMT's MobilityLabs
The Madrid EMT runs an open data service, MobilityLabs, which publishes in real time how long until each bus reaches each stop. Mi Estela is authorized to use that API, and that's where “the 27 arrives in 3 min” comes from. It's the same data you see on the displays at bus stops. For now, real-time bus arrival data comes from the Madrid EMT; metro and bus routes work in many more cities using official schedules.
“I'm on this one”: the alert before your stop
Once you've chosen a route, tap “I'm on this one,” and the app will alert you one stop before you need to get off. It does this in two ways at once: by the expected time and by GPS, so that if the bus is running early or late, the alert still arrives on time. It's built for people who are reading with earbuds in, or who are half asleep on the ride home.
And your people know how you're getting around
With “I'm on this one,” your people can see which line you're on and what time you'll arrive. It's on by default, and you decide. That's how a mom doesn't have to ask “what time will you get there?”: she can see it. And if you're meeting someone, it links up with the midpoint: first you decide where, then each of you sees how you're getting there.
What we don't do
We don't sell or share with anyone where you travel. Route searches are used to calculate your trip, not to profile you. And there are no ads of any kind on the transport screen.
Everything about the feature, with screenshots: step-by-step metro and bus.
