```ts
/**
 * Breaks a route written as stop names joined by greater-than signs into the stops themselves.
 *
 * @param {string} route - The input route string.
 * @returns {string[]} An array of individual stops, or an empty array if the route is blank.
 */
export function routeStops(route: string): string[] {
  return route.trim().split('>');
}

/**
 * Counts the journeys between stops, one fewer than the stops, and none at all for a blank route.
 *
 * @param {string} route - The input route string.
 * @returns {number} The number of journeys in the route.
 */
export function routeHops(route: string): number {
  const stops = routeStops(route);
  return stops.length ? stops.length - 1 : 0;
}
```