The lack of public transport information on Google Maps for Australia’s major cities is a sore point we frequently return to, so it’s good to hear that the Victorian government is finally moving forward with plans to make its timetable information available to Google.
The Public Transport Users Association reports that the Victorian Department of Transport has met with Google and that work on adding data for trains, trams and buses is underway. Google Maps already includes basic tram and train stop information, but not detailed timetable data to let you plan journeys.
The reported arrangement doesn’t sound ideal, as Google is apparently getting the data as part of a special deal. Ideally, public transport data would be shared in an open format so other providers and app developers could use it. There’s also no set launch date. But it’s a start.
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