[PR] Google Transit Launched in Ireland

[Colm Moore]

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/news...er-alan-kelly/

Google Transit Launched in Ireland by Minister Alan Kelly
27/11/13

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.

http://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-c...11-300x210.jpg

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 from maps.google.ie, or by downloading the Google Maps app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

For more information see the Google_Transit_Launched_in_Ireland press release.

[comcor]

Like the NTA App, it reckons that the journey I take to work every day (on Bus Eireann) doesn't exist.

[berneyarms]

Is that because there is a faster alternative?

Did you check that it is actually on the route timetable?

Check the "find a timetable" section on www.a-b.ie

[comcor]

I think from looking at the timetables that the reason is that there is a 400m walk between bus stops that apparently needs to be completed in a minute.

Google Maps doesn't seem to know of the existence of the walking route between Cork City Hall and Anglesey St fire station that brings that walk down to 100m.

Also, the first bus I'm on is regularly early, while the 2nd one is at best on time and usually late (the timetable designer thinks that it's possible to get from Kent Station to Anglesey St in 7 minutes during rush hour while stopping for passengers), so the available time is more than a minute.

It would seem that the timetables explain it though.

On a side note, I love the way that these timetables are nowhere to be found at the stops. I created the route by thinking the second bus would get there about 10 minutes after leaving the station!

[dowlingm]

According to NTA JP, you can get from Dublin to Ennis Stn by 0957 by taking the 0700 ex Heuston. Google Maps doesn't see it and suggests the 0800 service or a bus via Galway to arrive an hour+ later. I think it might be that GMaps fluffed the interchange at the Jct.