Rail and coach ticketing service Trainline will become the first train booking platform to be integrated into the Google Maps app.
The integration is currently only available to Android users in the United Kingdom and there are no plans to develop an iOS version at this time, Trainline says.
In the Google Maps app, users will now be given an option to tap through to buy train tickets via the Trainline website or app.
Additionally, Trainline says it recently made Google Pay available to all its customers, and Android users in the U.K. have the option to save a ticket into Google Pay, giving them more flexibility and choice.“Bringing together Google Maps, Google Pay and Trainline gives users a seamless way to search for, buy and save train tickets using their Android phone,” says Google Pay global product manager Alan Stapelberg.
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“This will save users time and effort, while allowing them to easily store a ticket on their phone. We are excited to bring this experience to Europe for the first time with Trainline in the U.K.”
Adds Milena Nikolic, Trainline chief technology officer: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Google to make train travel even more accessible, seamless and intuitive for people searching how to get from A to B. Working together in this way means we can encourage more travelers to choose rail over other less sustainable forms of transport.”
According to a recent report from Trainline Partner Solutions, nearly 60% of business travelers say they are more likely to consider rail as a form of travel, compared to 20% of business travelers pre-pandemic.
The research goes on to say that 41% of travelers are against the idea of flying due to COVID-related health and safety concerns, while 21% say they are concerned about the environmental impacts of flying.
Furthermore, 81% of business travelers say they would support a ban on short business flights where a train option was available.