Google says it is making walking and rail transport more prominent in the options it provides when people look for driving routes or flights.
"In Maps, we’re launching a feature that shows public transit or walking suggestions next to driving routes, if travel times are comparable and practical," the internet search portal and advertisement seller announced, saying 15 cities, including Amsterdam, Barcelona and London, are to be included in the new feature.
Information on trains and buses is to be offered on Google Flights, an addition that follows their being added to Google Search in 2023. Also since last year, Google also displays train options when a user searches for flights, depending on the route being looked up.
The announcement followed Spain's government saying earlier this year that it would ban short-haul domestic flights if there was a rail alternative. In 2023, France introduced a ban on flights where a rail trip of two-and-a-half hours or less was possible.
Several new or revived overnight rail links between European cities have been announced in recent months, with Deutsche Bahn saying recently it recorded a 20% increase in long-haul or cross-border passengers in 2023.
"In the coming months, you’ll also see these train route suggestions when you’re using Google Flights," Google said, adding that it aimed to offer more "low carbon alternatives" to people looking to book trips, which since 2022 has included sometimes providing estimated emissions for flights.
