Google Maps adds UK train timetables and routes

[whole diary]

[Lee]

From the Daily Mail:

A new update to Google Maps in the UK lets travelers find the quickest route between railway stations in the UK - offering timetables for 170,000 routes, plus bus connections between them.

The update, live now on Maps and in Google's mapping apps on Android, also has information on 8,000 bus stops and 250 London Tube stations.

The update works much like the normal Maps route planner - but offers the option to go via public transport instead of car or foot.

'Searching for travel information across Greater London was already possible but now thanks to the new updates, internet and mobile users have access to timetables and train information for routes across the whole country,' says Google.

The app has details for 2,500 stations in the UK.

The information is provided by TheTrainline - but means that Maps users can access the information without leaving the app or the site.

Visitors can click through and book via the Trainline, but all information is free, and works within Google Maps.

Ed Parsons, Google UK^s geospatial technologist, said: 'Google Maps seeks to provide a wide range of local information, and public transport station and schedule information is definitely a part of that.

'This means we can reach and help a larger number of people with useful national rail train information.'

[EBrown]

It's not actually that "new". It's been in its beta (testing) stage and as such in the public domain for three or so months (for rail anyway).
Anyway, link: http://www.google.co.uk/transit

[JayMac]

Bit unusual for the Daily Mail to use an American English spelling, viz traveler. 

[Rhydgaled]

Had a go with this new Google maps trick. It doesn't seem to have very good bus information for Pembrokeshire, it says First run the route it found (they did a few years ago, not anymore) and when I tried a route from a different point it failed altogether.

It also seemed to have the same problem I have had with traveline Cymru where, if you mark a point on a hail and ride bus route, it makes you drive all the way to the nearest town rather than realising the bus will stop where you specified even though it isn't a marked bus stop.

[paul7575]

You've got to hand it to the people at 'Trainline'.    

Thanks to this link up a whole new set of gullible travellers will find themselves paying for something they can get for free from any of the normal TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) websites. 

Paul

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

its not that amazing to be honest it only shows one route, the shortest which as we all know is not always the fastest

[phile]

Bit unusual for the Daily Mail to use an American English spelling, viz traveler. 

Traveller, however you spell it, sounds better tnan odd, infuriating and patronising word "customer"

[JayMac]

Nothing wrong with 'customer' with regard to railways. It can be argued that you are a customer during the ticket purchase transaction and only become a passenger after purchasing said ticket and entering the rail network. Once onboard you remain a passenger but could become a customer again if you visit the buffet or deign to make a purchase from the trolley.....

Passenger or Customer, when all is said and done, is such a minor issue. There are far bigger fish to fry. I used to worry about such things, being a bit of a pedant, but I've come to realise that, in the great scheme of things, how I see myself, or how the railways see me, is of little import. As long as I'm paying my way and the railways are honouring their side of the contract, it matters little whether I'm seen as (or see myself as) a customer or passenger.

On the flip side, if I ain't paying my way then I'm a 'fare dodging scrote', and if the railways ain't honouring their side of the contract then..... well, there's all sorts of names I could call them. 

[Ollie]

On the flip side, if I ain't paying my way then I'm a 'fare dodging scrote', and if the railways ain't honouring their side of the contract then..... well, there's all sorts of names I could call them. 

Or to put it a nicer way:
A

Traveller
Without
A
Ticket