12306 Train Tickets vs CTS
If you need a Transportation API that's easy to integrate, go with CTS.
12306 Train Tickets
China Railway 12306 — train ticket availability, pricing, and schedule queries
12306 Train Tickets
- No authentication required
- HTTPS supported
- Currently flagged as inactive
CTS
- Simple API key authentication
- HTTPS supported
- CORS enabled for frontend use
| Feature | 12306 Train Tickets | CTS |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | None | apiKey |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes |
| CORS | Unknown | Yes |
When to use which?
12306 Train Tickets is the better choice for quick prototypes and hackathons since it requires no authentication. CTS works directly from the browser with CORS enabled, making it better for frontend-only apps.