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Google Maps upgrade introduces train information

by Steven Williamson on 20 January 2012, 09:03

Tags: Google (NASDAQ:GOOG)

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Google Maps has been updated this week with a new feature that gives users of the 'Get Directions' journey planning service all the details they need to get to their destination by train, tube or bus.

In partnership with TheTrainLine.com, Google Maps desktop now features 2,500 mainland train stations, 8,000 bus stops and 250 tube stations. Users can still search for walking and driving directions, but can also coordinate a journey.

As part of the collaboration between Google and TheTrainLine, users are also given the option to purchase tickets from the official website after planning a route.



The upgrade to Google Maps, which is now available in over 50 languages, is also an attempt to encourage visitors of the Olympic Games to use public transport, while hopefully making it easy for them to plan their journey. Indeed, VisitBritain chairman Christopher Rodrigues believes that the introduction of these new services is “exciting news” for the Olympics.

Google has yet to rollout the upgraded service to Google Maps mobile applications.


HEXUS Forums :: 8 Comments

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Posted by kingpotnoodle - Fri 20 Jan 2012 10:28
Errrm it's been doing this for ages? I've been asking Google for TFL routes for a while, it tells me what bus/tube/overground combo. Did it not work outside London before now?
Posted by 3dcandy - Fri 20 Jan 2012 10:53
nope….not until this latest version!
Posted by scaryjim - Fri 20 Jan 2012 11:38
AFAIK it's always had public transport information for well populated areas (I know in manchester you can click on a bus stop and get a link to transport direct which gives you information about the next few buses at that stop, for instance), but I don't think it's had direct access to timetable and journey information, so you couldn't use it to plan an end-to-end public transport route. Be interesting to see how it compares to things like transport direct and the local tfgm journey planner…
Posted by Jonatron - Fri 20 Jan 2012 12:25
Seems to work well. I live roughly the same distance from a tube and train station, so this saves me having to check the journey from both.
Posted by TheAnimus - Fri 20 Jan 2012 12:36
seems to also have added postcode area information.

for example EC2M shows you the area encompassed by that postcode.

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