bus-times-ha

Integration of Real-time Israel Bus Data Retrieval with Home Assistant Assist

This README describes how to use Home Assistant's Assist feature to get information on bus arrival times at specific stations with a few simple steps.

Attached are some example images.

As shown in the images above, you can obtain bus line information by:

1. A reserved keyword: "לעבודה" or "לבית".
2. Providing the station number and the lines: 'תחנה=XXX קווים=nn,nn' or 'ת=XXX ק=nn,nn' or 'תחנה XXX קווים nn,nn' or 'ת XXX ק nn,nn'
3. Providing only the station number: If you only provide the station number, you will receive information about all the lines at the station you provided.

Important: At the time of writing this guide, the core version is 2024.7.1. Note that things may work differently in other versions.

Add A Python Script

1. Create a new folder named python_scripts under the config directory.
2. Create a new file named get_bus_times.py.
3. Copy the code from here into the new file you created.

Use The Shell Command Integration

Using the Shell Command integration, you can run the script you just created. Add the following lines to the configuration.yaml file:

shell_command:
  get_bus_time: "/bin/bash -c '/config/python_scripts/get_bus_times.py {{ station }} {{ lines }}'"

After adding the script and Shell Command integration, restart Home Assistant.

A Quick Check

A quick check to see that everything is working as expected:

1. Navigate to
2. Click on call service

If the response looks like this

stdout: "Usage: ./get_bus_times.py <station_number> <bus_lines>"
stderr: ""
returncode: 1

it's working correctly. if not, something might have been missed.

Create Macros Templates File

Let's create a Macros Templates File. This will allow us to define code that can be used in multiple places. For more information about the Macros Templates File, see here.

1. Create a new folder named custom_templates under the config directory.
2. Create a new file named tools.jinja.
3. Copy the code from here into the new file you created.

Creating Automation

Create the automation that returns information given a station number and buses, or just a station number:

alias: Get bus time
trigger:
  - platform: conversation
    command:
      - תחנה[=][ ]{station} קווים[=][ ]{lines}
      - ת[=][ ]{station} ק[=][ ]{lines}
      - תחנה[=][ ]{station}
      - ת[=][ ]{station}
condition: []
action:
  - service: shell_command.get_bus_time
    response_variable: return_response
    data:
      station: "{{ trigger.slots.station }}"
      lines: "{{ trigger.slots.lines | default('null') }}"
  - set_conversation_response: |
      {% from 'tools.jinja' import format_arrival %}
      {{ format_arrival(return_response['stdout']) }}
mode: single

Automation for reserved words:

alias: Get bus time - Home
trigger:
  - platform: conversation
    command:
      - לבית
      - to home
condition: []
action:
  - service: shell_command.get_bus_time
    response_variable: return_response
    data:
      station: "5200"
      lines: 62,31
  - set_conversation_response: |
      {% from 'tools.jinja' import format_arrival %}  {{
       format_arrival(return_response['stdout']) }}
mode: single

alias: Get bus time - Work
description: ""
trigger:
  - platform: conversation
    command:
      - לעבודה
      - to work
condition: []
action:
  - service: shell_command.get_bus_time
    response_variable: return_response
    data:
      station: "2262"
      lines: 62,72
  - set_conversation_response: |
      {% from 'tools.jinja' import format_arrival %}  {{
       format_arrival(return_response['stdout']) }}
mode: single

Of course, change the values of station and lines as needed.

Let The Games Begin

Now you can access Assist in Home Assistant, enter a station and bus lines, and get information about when those lines are supposed to arrive.