diff --git a/amarillo/plugins/enhancer/services/gtfs_export.py b/amarillo/plugins/enhancer/services/gtfs_export.py
index 9d9aea5..d389d2f 100644
--- a/amarillo/plugins/enhancer/services/gtfs_export.py
+++ b/amarillo/plugins/enhancer/services/gtfs_export.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from amarillo.app.utils.utils import assert_folder_exists
 from amarillo.app.models.gtfs import GtfsTimeDelta, GtfsFeedInfo, GtfsAgency, GtfsRoute, GtfsStop, GtfsStopTime, GtfsTrip, GtfsCalendar, GtfsCalendarDate, GtfsShape
 from amarillo.app.services.stops import is_carpooling_stop
 from amarillo.app.services.gtfs_constants import *
+from amarillo.app.utils.utils import geodesic_distance_in_m
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ class GtfsExport:
     
     stops_counter = 0
     trips_counter = 0
-    routes_counter = 0
+    trip_counter = 0
 
     stored_stops = {}
     
@@ -74,19 +75,59 @@ class GtfsExport:
             for stop in stopSet["stops"].itertuples():
                 self._load_stored_stop(stop)
         cloned_trips = dict(ridestore.trips)
+        groups, cloned_trips = self.group_trips_into_routes(cloned_trips)
+        for group in groups:
+            self.convert_route(group)
         for url, trip in cloned_trips.items():
             if self.bbox is None or trip.intersects(self.bbox):
                 self._convert_trip(trip)
+
+    def group_trips_into_routes(self, trips: dict):
+        ungrouped_trips = dict(trips)
+        route_groups = list()
+        current_route_id = 1
+        for trip_id, trip in trips.items():
+            if len(ungrouped_trips) == 0: break
+
+            #find trips whose start and end stops are within a specified distance of the current trip
+            group = {key: value for key, value in ungrouped_trips.items() if self.trips_are_close(trip, value)}
+
+            route_groups.append(group)
+            for key, grouped_trip in group.items():
+                grouped_trip.route_id = str(current_route_id)
+                ungrouped_trips.pop(key)
+
+            current_route_id += 1
+
+        return route_groups, trips
     
+    def trips_are_close(self, trip1, trip2):
+        trip1_start = trip1.path.coordinates[0]
+        trip1_end = trip1.path.coordinates[-1]
+
+        trip2_start = trip2.path.coordinates[0]
+        trip2_end = trip2.path.coordinates[-1]
+
+        return self.within_range(trip1_start, trip2_start) and self.within_range(trip1_end, trip2_end)
+    
+    def within_range(self, stop1, stop2):
+        MERGE_RANGE_M = 500
+        return geodesic_distance_in_m(stop1, stop2) <= MERGE_RANGE_M
+    
+    def convert_route(self, route_group):
+        # TODO receives a group of trips and turns it into a route object,
+        # handling cases where there are multiple agencies' routes grouped together
+        pass
+
     def _convert_trip(self, trip):
-        self.routes_counter += 1
+        self.trip_counter += 1
         self.routes.append(self._create_route(trip))
         self.calendar.append(self._create_calendar(trip))
         if not trip.runs_regularly:
             self.calendar_dates.append(self._create_calendar_date(trip))
-        self.trips.append(self._create_trip(trip, self.routes_counter))
+        self.trips.append(self._create_trip(trip, self.trip_counter))
         self._append_stops_and_stop_times(trip)
-        self._append_shapes(trip, self.routes_counter)
+        self._append_shapes(trip, self.trip_counter)
     
     def _trip_headsign(self, destination):
         destination = destination.replace('(Deutschland)', '')
@@ -133,7 +174,7 @@ class GtfsExport:
         return GtfsCalendarDate(trip.trip_id, self._convert_stop_date(trip.start), CALENDAR_DATES_EXCEPTION_TYPE_ADDED)
     
     def _create_trip(self, trip, shape_id):
-        return GtfsTrip(trip.trip_id, trip.trip_id, trip.trip_id, shape_id, trip.trip_headsign, NO_BIKES_ALLOWED)
+        return GtfsTrip(trip.route_id, trip.trip_id, trip.trip_id, shape_id, trip.trip_headsign, NO_BIKES_ALLOWED)
     
     def _convert_stop(self, stop):
         """