Very interesting article. I am currently working on a project called opentimetable.net, providing tools for the community to collect timetable raw data, something similar to openstreetmap (osm), but for timetable data. Actually, the project is tighly connected to osm as I am pulling static infrastructure data from osm which is already available or is becoming available sooner or later (stops, lines, etc...). Within opentimetable.net, the user can then enrich that data with timetable information. Of course, data will be available to the public. I already cooperating with some german transit agencies.. I hope to get other agencies involved in the future. I have also implemented a route planner for public transit data which I will put online once a minimum of data is available...