I know this is a conditionally optional field — if you’ve specified route_short_name then you aren’t required to specify route_long_name — according to the GTFS reference. However, it would make a huge difference to include it. It would massively help anyone to create apps or tools that run off this data. It would expect it to be straightforward to add it in.
What would you expect to be in the field?
An example could be:
12 - White Rose Centre - Chpl Allerton Hosp (First Leeds)
The convention would be: number - Start - Via(optional) - End (agency_name) or similar.
Basically, a human-readable descriptive name of the route.
In the Netherlands, the GTFS timetables contain route_long_name: Line <route_number> (<Agency Name>) <Start> - <End>
e.g. Lijn 24 (DuinGo) Station Poort - Duin
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