How to integrate SNCF MCP with Claude Agent SDK

This guide walks you through connecting SNCF to the Claude Agent SDK using the Composio tool router. By the end, you'll have a working SNCF agent that can plan your journeys, search for stations, check service status, view station boards, and find nearby places through natural language commands. This guide will help you understand how to give your Claude Agent SDK agent real control over a SNCF account through Composio's SNCF MCP server. Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the key ideas and tools involved.

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SNCF is France's national railway service for passenger train journeys, stations, schedules, and live travel information. It gives developers reliable rail data for route planning, station lookup, and service-status checks.

9 Tools

Introduction

This guide walks you through connecting SNCF to the Claude Agent SDK using the Composio tool router. By the end, you'll have a working SNCF agent that can plan your journeys, search for stations, check service status, view station boards, and find nearby places through natural language commands.

This guide will help you understand how to give your Claude Agent SDK agent real control over a SNCF account through Composio's SNCF MCP server.

Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the key ideas and tools involved.

Also integrate SNCF with

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TL;DR

Here's what you'll learn:
  • Get and set up your Claude/Anthropic and Composio API keys
  • Install the necessary dependencies
  • Initialize Composio and create a Tool Router session for SNCF
  • Configure an AI agent that can use SNCF as a tool
  • Run a live chat session where you can ask the agent to perform SNCF operations

What is Claude Agent SDK?

The Claude Agent SDK is Anthropic's official framework for building AI agents powered by Claude. It provides a streamlined interface for creating agents with MCP tool support and conversation management.

Key features include:

  • Native MCP Support: Built-in support for Model Context Protocol servers
  • Permission Modes: Control tool execution permissions
  • Streaming Responses: Real-time response streaming for interactive applications
  • Context Manager: Clean async context management for sessions

What is the SNCF MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The SNCF MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your SNCF account. It provides structured and secure access to SNCF passenger information, so your agent can plan journeys, find stations, check schedules, monitor service disruptions, and explore the transport network on your behalf.

  • Journey planning: Have your agent plan train journeys between stations or locations for a chosen departure or arrival time.
  • Station and place discovery: Let the agent search for stations, addresses, administrative areas, and points of interest by name or find nearby stops from a location.
  • Live station boards: Direct your agent to check upcoming departures or arrivals, including scheduled times, real-time updates, and disruption details.
  • Service status monitoring: Instruct your agent to review current disruptions and identify the affected lines, stations, or train journeys within a selected time window.
  • Transport network exploration: Have your agent browse or search SNCF networks, lines, routes, stations, transport modes, operators, and train journeys, and check the available coverage period.

What is the Composio tool router, and how does it fit here?

What is Composio SDK?

Composio's Composio SDK helps agents find the right tools for a task at runtime. You can plug in multiple toolkits (like Gmail, HubSpot, and GitHub), and the agent will identify the relevant app and action to complete multi-step workflows. This can reduce token usage and improve the reliability of tool calls. Read more here: Getting started with Composio SDK

The tool router generates a secure MCP URL that your agents can access to perform actions.

How the Composio SDK works

The Composio SDK follows a three-phase workflow:

  1. Discovery: Searches for tools matching your task and returns relevant toolkits with their details.
  2. Authentication: Checks for active connections. If missing, creates an auth config and returns a connection URL via Auth Link.
  3. Execution: Executes the action using the authenticated connection.

Step-by-step Guide

Step by step09 STEPS
1

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:
  • Composio API Key and Claude/Anthropic API Key
  • Primary know-how of Claude Agents SDK
  • A SNCF account
  • Some knowledge of Python
2

Getting API Keys for Claude/Anthropic and Composio

Claude/Anthropic API Key
  • Go to the Anthropic Console and create an API key. You'll need credits to use the models.
  • Keep the API key safe.
Composio API Key
  • Log in to the Composio dashboard.
  • Navigate to your API settings and generate a new API key.
  • Store this key securely as you'll need it for authentication.
3

Install dependencies

npm install @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk @composio/core dotenv

Install the Composio SDK and the Claude Agents SDK.

What's happening:

  • @composio/core provides Composio integration for Anthropic
  • @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk is the core agent framework
  • dotenv/config loads environment variables
4

Set up environment variables

bash
COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_composio_api_key_here
USER_ID=your_user_id_here
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_anthropic_api_key_here

Create a .env file in your project root.

What's happening:

  • COMPOSIO_API_KEY authenticates with Composio
  • USER_ID identifies the user for session management
  • ANTHROPIC_API_KEY authenticates with Anthropic/Claude
5

Import dependencies

import 'dotenv/config';
import readline from 'node:readline';
import { Composio } from '@composio/core';
import { query, type Options } from "@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk";

dotenv.config();
What's happening:
  • We're importing all necessary libraries including the Claude Agent SDK and Composio
  • The dotenv.config() function loads environment variables from your .env file
  • This setup prepares the foundation for connecting Claude with SNCF functionality
6

Create a Composio instance and Tool Router session

async function chat() {
  const { COMPOSIO_API_KEY, USER_ID } = process.env;
  if (!COMPOSIO_API_KEY || !USER_ID) {
    throw new Error('COMPOSIO_API_KEY and USER_ID required in .env');
  }

  const composio = new Composio({ apiKey: COMPOSIO_API_KEY });

  // Create Tool Router session for SNCF
  const session = await composio.create(USER_ID, {
    toolkits: ['sncf'],
  });
  const mcpUrl = session?.mcp.url;
What's happening:
  • The function checks for the required COMPOSIO_API_KEY environment variable
  • We're creating a Composio instance using our API key
  • The create method creates a Tool Router session for SNCF
  • The returned url is the MCP server URL that your agent will use
7

Configure Claude Agent with MCP

const options: Options = {
  permissionMode: 'bypassPermissions',
  mcpServers: {
    composio: {
      type: 'http',
      url: mcpUrl,
      headers: { 'x-api-key': COMPOSIO_API_KEY }
    }
  },
  systemPrompt: 'You are a helpful assistant with access to SNCF tools via Composio.',
  maxTurns: 10,
};
What's happening:
  • We're configuring the Claude Agent options with the MCP server URL
  • permissionMode: 'bypassPermissions' allows the agent to execute operations without asking for permission each time
  • The system prompt instructs the agent that it has access to SNCF
  • maxTurns: 10 limits the conversation length to prevent excessive API usage
8

Create client and start chat loop

const rl = readline.createInterface({
    input: process.stdin,
    output: process.stdout,
    prompt: 'You: '
  });

  console.log('\nChat started. Type "exit" to quit.\n');

  let isProcessing = false;

  async function ask(prompt: string) {
    isProcessing = true;
    rl.pause();

    process.stdout.write('Claude is thinking...');
    const stream = query({ prompt, options });

    let firstChunk = true;
    for await (const msg of stream) {
      const content = (msg as any).message?.content || (msg as any).content;
      if (Array.isArray(content)) {
        for (const block of content) {
          if (block.type === 'text' && block.text) {
            if (firstChunk) {
              process.stdout.write('\r\x1b[K');
              process.stdout.write('Claude: ');
              firstChunk = false;
            }
            process.stdout.write(block.text);
          }
        }
      }
    }
    process.stdout.write('\n\n');

    isProcessing = false;
    rl.resume();
    rl.prompt();
  }

  rl.on('line', async (line) => {
    if (isProcessing) return;

    const input = line.trim();
    if (input === 'exit') {
      rl.close();
      process.exit(0);
    }
    if (input) await ask(input);
    else rl.prompt();
  });

  await ask('What can you help me with?');
}
What's happening:
  • The readline interface is created to handle user input and output
  • The query function is used to send the user's input to the agent
  • The chat loop continues until the user types 'exit' or 'quit'
9

Run the application

try {
  await chat();
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error);
  process.exit(1);
}
What's happening:
  • The chat function is the entry point for the application
  • The try-catch block is used to handle any errors that occur

Complete Code

Here's the complete code to get you started with SNCF and Claude Agent SDK:

import 'dotenv/config';
import readline from 'node:readline';
import { Composio } from '@composio/core';
import { query, type Options } from "@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk";

async function chat() {
  const { COMPOSIO_API_KEY, USER_ID } = process.env;
  if (!COMPOSIO_API_KEY || !USER_ID) {
    throw new Error('COMPOSIO_API_KEY and USER_ID required in .env');
  }

  const composio = new Composio({ apiKey: COMPOSIO_API_KEY });
  const session = await composio.create(USER_ID, {
    toolkits: ['sncf']
  });
  const mcp_url = session?.mcp.url;

  const options: Options = {
    permissionMode: 'bypassPermissions',
    mcpServers: {
      composio: {
        type: 'http',
        url: mcp_url,
        headers: { 'x-api-key': COMPOSIO_API_KEY }
      }
    },
    systemPrompt: 'You are a helpful assistant with access to SNCF tools via Composio.',
    maxTurns: 10,
  };

  const rl = readline.createInterface({
    input: process.stdin,
    output: process.stdout,
    prompt: 'You: '
  });

  console.log('\nChat started. Type "exit" to quit.\n');

  let isProcessing = false;

  async function ask(prompt: string) {
    isProcessing = true;
    rl.pause();

    process.stdout.write('Claude is thinking...');
    const stream = query({ prompt, options });

    let firstChunk = true;
    for await (const msg of stream) {
      const content = (msg as any).message?.content || (msg as any).content;
      if (Array.isArray(content)) {
        for (const block of content) {
          if (block.type === 'text' && block.text) {
            if (firstChunk) {
              process.stdout.write('\r\x1b[K');
              process.stdout.write('Claude: ');
              firstChunk = false;
            }
            process.stdout.write(block.text);
          }
        }
      }
    }
    process.stdout.write('\n\n');

    isProcessing = false;
    rl.resume();
    rl.prompt();
  }

  rl.on('line', async (line) => {
    if (isProcessing) return;

    const input = line.trim();
    if (input === 'exit') {
      rl.close();
      process.exit(0);
    }
    if (input) await ask(input);
    else rl.prompt();
  });

  await ask('What can you help me with?');
}

try {
  await chat();
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error);
  process.exit(1);
}

Conclusion

You've successfully built a Claude Agent SDK agent that can interact with SNCF through Composio's Tool Router.

Key features:

  • Native MCP support through Claude's agent framework
  • Streaming responses for real-time interaction
  • Permission bypass for smooth automated workflows
You can extend this by adding more toolkits, implementing custom business logic, or building a web interface around the agent.
TOOLS

Supported Tools

Every SNCF action and event your agent gets out of the box.

Find Nearby Places

Find SNCF stations, stops, or points of interest near a geographic coordinate.

Get Service Status

Get SNCF network service disruptions and affected lines, stations, or vehicle journeys for a time window.

Get Station Board

Get upcoming departures or arrivals for an SNCF station, including scheduled and realtime times and disruption context.

Get Transport Object

Get details for one SNCF network, line, route, station, stop, mode, company, or vehicle journey by canonical ID.

Get SNCF Coverage

Get the SNCF transport-data coverage region and its current production horizon.

List Transport Objects

Browse one supported SNCF transport-object collection, such as lines, networks, routes, stations, or vehicle journeys.

Plan Journey

Plan SNCF train journeys between two station/place IDs or coordinates for a requested departure or arrival time.

Search Places

Find SNCF stations, addresses, administrative areas, or points of interest by name and return IDs usable for journeys and station boards.

Search Transport Objects

Search SNCF networks, modes, lines, routes, stations, or stop points by name and return canonical transport-object IDs.

FRAMEWORKS

How to build SNCF MCP Agent with another framework

OpenAI Agents SDK logo

OpenAI Agents SDK

Use SNCF MCP with OpenAI Agents SDK

Claude Code logo

Claude Code

Use SNCF MCP with Claude Code

Claude Cowork logo

Claude Cowork

Use SNCF MCP with Claude Cowork

Codex logo

Codex

Use SNCF MCP with Codex

OpenClaw logo

OpenClaw

Use SNCF MCP with OpenClaw

Hermes logo

Hermes

Use SNCF MCP with Hermes

CLI logo

CLI

Use SNCF MCP with CLI

Google ADK logo

Google ADK

Use SNCF MCP with Google ADK

LangChain logo

LangChain

Use SNCF MCP with LangChain

Vercel AI SDK logo

Vercel AI SDK

Use SNCF MCP with Vercel AI SDK

Mastra AI logo

Mastra AI

Use SNCF MCP with Mastra AI

LlamaIndex logo

LlamaIndex

Use SNCF MCP with LlamaIndex

CrewAI logo

CrewAI

Use SNCF MCP with CrewAI

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

With a standalone SNCF MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of SNCF tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from SNCF and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

Yes, you can. Claude Agent SDK fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right SNCF tools.

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which SNCF scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your SNCF data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

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As a solo builder, shipping fast is life or death. The only way I can outcompete incumbents is by outmanoeuvring them. Getting bogged down managing agent auth would have been a death sentence.

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