Ireland has had its entire public transport system mapped on Google Maps, meaning commuters and tourists can now easily plan trips and journeys anywhere in Ireland, from door-to-door.
Google Maps Transit is now live in Ireland as a result of a partnership between Google and the National Transport Authority. The Authority has provided Google with the route network and timetable data behind their very popular Journey Planner. As a result, all bus services (including commercial operators, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus), Irish Rail (including the Dart), Luas – and even the Dursey Island Cable Car – are now mapped on Google Transit, and readily available to all Google users planning a trip.
The new service was officially launched by Public and Commuter Transport Minister Alan Kelly T.D. today. Speaking at the launch Minister Kelly said, “Commuters and travellers across the Republic of Ireland are now able to use Google Maps on the web, on their Android phones, iPhones or Tablets to plan their public transport journeys. It’s all about making it easier for commuters and visitors to use public transport and the experience in other cities is that providing information on integrated transportation services online through a variety of channels can increase passenger usage.”
Google Maps Transit offers several features to help plan your trip:
•You can specify the desired departure or arrival time
•It will show more than one trip choice, allowing some flexibility with respect to when you start your journey
•It will provide an estimated journey time; the departure times of the next bus or tram and the times the service runs during the day.
•It also provides walking directions for the beginning (i.e. to the nearest transit stop) and end of the trip (to your final destination)
•It puts transit data in the context of other useful information such as business listings and street view images
Gerry Murphy, Chief Executive, National Transport Authority said: “There will be a real consumer benefit from our partnership with Google Maps Transit. Google Maps is a key “go to” place for anyone researching a journey – either at home or abroad. We are delighted that our really useful Journey Planning information will be there – to hand and ready to use – for everyone going to Google Maps. It’s a natural next step for us following the successful launch of our Journey Planner last year”.
David Tattersall, Product Manager, Google Maps Transit said; “We are delighted to have partnered with the National Transport Authority on this ground-breaking project. It is a tribute to the team in the National Transport Authority that we were able to bring this ambitious project to fruition. Today the public transportation systems of over 800 cities are on Google Maps and it is great to add the towns and cities in the Republic of Ireland to this ever-growing list. With over one billion monthly active users of Google Maps services; more than 50% of global Google Maps usage is mobile, demonstrating the popularity of our mapping services to people ‘on the move’.”
Google Transit can be accessed frommaps.google.ie, or by downloading the Google Maps app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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For information:
Céline Crawford / Laurie Mannix, Google Press Office: press-ie@google.com
Jim McGrath, Minister Alan Kelly’s Office 0872558866
Sara Morris, National Transport Authority, 086 385 8431
About the National Transport Authority:
The National Transport Authority is a State body set up under statute in 2009. Its principal functions include the provision and regulation of public transport nationally, regulating taxis, integrating ticketing, fares and information across all transport options, investment in public transport infrastructure and promoting an integrated transport network. This new partnership with Google Transit is an important development in our work to promote transport to users in an integrated manner.
The National Transport Authority, with assistance from MDV Mentz GmbH, has assigned expert data managers to ensure that Google Maps will always provide current, accurate and reliable public transport information for all services operating in and from the Republic of Ireland.
About Google Maps Transit:
Google Maps Transit is a feature of Google Maps, found on your desktop, tablets and Google Maps for Android and iPhone, which helps you quickly and easily plan trips using public transportation.
Google Maps Transit is part of our effort to make Google Maps more comprehensive, accurate and useful for millions of people around the world who take buses, trains, subways or trams to their next destination.
Today, Google Maps has public transportation schedules for more than one million transit stops worldwide, in 800 cities including New York, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Dublin.