Metrorail and Metrobus service disruptions now available via RSS
RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." It is a way for Web sites to distribute their news headlines or other current content listings to other Web sites and individual users. RSS "feeds" are available free from thousands of news organizations, magazines, newsletters, hobbyists' sites and more. See a sample RSS directory for an idea of the range of what is available.
Metro's service disruption feeds are small text files coded
according to the RSS
2.0 specification. Note
that these service alerts available
via RSS are exactly the same
as those sent by e-mail as
eAlerts and
shown in the "crawler" at
the top of each page of this
site. Like other sites, Metro's
site indicates the availability
of content in RSS/XML format
with this logo 
.
RSS for individuals
Individual Web users can "consume" RSS feeds using free or inexpensive RSS news reader software that shows headlines linking to the full text of news available on many different Web sites. This saves the user from checking those sites one at a time.
Before you can use an RSS feed, you must first have one of the following types of RSS-capable news readers:
- Web browser that supports RSS feeds (such as Internet Explorer 7 or Safari for Mac users).
- Web-based/online news reader (such as MyYahoo or Google Reader).
- News reader application that you download and install on your compute. See a list of newsreaders for computers and mobile devices.
Once you have selected an RSS-capable news reader, copy and paste the URL address of the desired RSS feed into your news reader.
- For Metrobus service disruptions, the URL is http://www.wmata.com/wmataRSS20Bus.xml
- For Metrorail service disruptions, the URL is http://www.wmata.com/wmataRSS20.xml
Below are sample screenshots showing how Metro's service disruption RSS feed appears on a computer and on a mobile device with Web access.
Here is the feed as it appears on a desktop computer in Awasu, one of many free RSS news readers. Metrorail status reports appear in reverse chronological order, with date and time stamps on each report.
At
left is a sample screenshot showing how the RSS feed appears
on an Internet-connected Palm-based mobile phone running
Handheld Headlines/RSS. Check with your mobile phone carrier
and/or online for RSS reader options for your particular
phone or other mobile device.
RSS for Web developers
Web developers can add RSS feeds like Metro's "Metrorail Service Disruptions" so that they appear on their own sites' pages and refresh there automatically as the source feed is updated. This can be done using ColdFusion, ASP, PHP, .NET and other Web scripting languages. The necessary scripts and tutorials are widely available on the Internet.
Incorporating RSS feeds can also be done by writing or using javascript pre-written code found on the Internet into an html page and then editing the code to point to the "Metrorail Service Disruptions" feed and/or other RSS feeds.
Terms and conditions of using Metro's RSS feed
Individuals and Web developers are free to access Metro's "Metrorail Service Disruptions" and "Metrobus Service Disruptions" RSS feeds to view in screen readers or display on their own Web sites with the following restrictions:
- Anyone accessing these feeds will hold Metro harmless in the event of Metro's RSS feeds being temporarily unavailable, permanently discontinued, or inaccurate for technical reasons or data-entry error. Please see the eAlert disclaimer for detail.
- Metro will not provide technical support for users to install and configure newsreaders of Web scripts to access Metro's RSS feeds.
- Anyone displaying Metro RSS feeds on a Web site shall not imply endorsement by Metro of any product, service or opinion promoted on that site.
