Google has incorporated rail information into its UK mapping tools, following a partnership with TheTrainLine.
The new partnership brings 2,500 mainland train stations to the Google Maps desktop and mobile apps, alongside 8,000 bus stops and over 250 tube stations.
Users can plan journeys that combine walking directions, bus timetable information and train routes, as well as picking and choosing the transport options that suit them best.
The update also grants the option to click through to TheTrainLine.com to buy tickets.
The new route-planning tools can be used in all 50-plus languages currently supported by Google Maps.
Using the GPS on mobile devices, Google Maps will also give directions from a user’s current location to any given destination in Britain.
“Google Maps seeks to provide a wide range of relevant local information, and public transport station and schedule information is definitely a part of that,” said Ed Parsons, Google UK’s geospatial technologist.
“It is great to be able to partner with companies like Thetrainline.com and have their schedule information available in Google Maps for the whole of Britain. This means we can reach and help a larger number of people with useful national rail train information.”
Trainline product development director Richard Rowson added: “We’re delighted to be providing train travel information through Google Maps for the first time.
“We want to make sure that consumers are always able to consider rail options when making a journey and this innovation will help train travellers nationwide to do that by planning their route more easily. This is a fantastic partnership and demonstrates what two market leading brands working together can achieve.”
As Google Maps is now available in over 50 languages, VisitBritain chairman Christopher Rodrigues said that the introduction of UK transport information is “exciting news” ahead of the London Olympics this summer.
“We want to encourage visitors to explore the whole of Britain. With the Olympics less than 200 days away Google’s new initiative is exciting news,” said Rodrigues.
“Millions of visitors plan their itinerary using Google maps and this additional information will act as a catalyst and inspire them to discover all that is wonderful about our great country.”
The new rail information has already rolled out to the desktop version of Google Maps , but there’s no word from either company on whether or not we’ll see the info on a dedicated mobile app.
