Skip to main content

Edinburgh launches live transport updates in Google Maps

Passengers of Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams will be the first in Scotland to access real-time service information on Google Maps thanks to a partnership between Transport for Edinburgh and Google. Google Maps on desktop and mobile now uses real-time predictions to deliver more accurate directions between any two places in Edinburgh, taking into account delays and diversions, with live updates from every bus and tram in the fleet. Google Maps has an overview of where all buses and trams are on the
January 11, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Passengers of Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams will be the first in Scotland to access real-time service information on Google Maps thanks to a partnership between Transport for Edinburgh and Google.

Google Maps on desktop and mobile now uses real-time predictions to deliver more accurate directions between any two places in Edinburgh, taking into account delays and diversions, with live updates from every bus and tram in the fleet.

Google Maps has an overview of where all buses and trams are on the network at any one time, and shows expected times of arrival together with relevant service delays. The same information is fully integrated with the Transport for Edinburgh app and the Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams websites.

Transport data specialists ITO World and the City of Edinburgh Council have also supported the initiative. As an agency for Google's public transit data, ITO provides data conversion and quality improvement services to help ensure public transport information in Google Maps is as consistently accurate as possible.

Jim McFarlane, chair of Lothian Buses said: “We appreciate just how important it is for our customers to have timely and accurate information and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with Google on being the first Scottish city to introduce this service. Along with our travel and mobile ticketing apps, and access to free wi-fi across our bus and tram network, this latest innovation underlines our commitment to harness technology that improves our customer service.

Mike Jacklin, commercial and delivery director at ITO World said: “We are excited to have partnered with Lothian Buses, the City of Edinburgh Council and Google to bring Edinburgh's real time information into Google Maps. Providing the travelling public access to accurate, reliable real time information from their mobile phones through applications such as Google Maps increases confidence in using public transport and improves their travel options.”

Related Content

  • Conduent showcases products at annual American Public Transportation Association Expo
    October 6, 2017
    Public transportation and mobility provider Conduent has announced a transportation app, available now to public transit agencies in the US, Canada and Europe, will be on display at the annual American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Expo. The new Transportation Analytics (TA) and Mobile Supervisor Solution (MSS) will also be on display at the event. Called Conduent Seamless (CS), the mobile app offers a ticketless approach to public transit by allowing operators to install near field communica
  • Siemens influences congestion reduction
    March 12, 2021
    When it comes to reducing congestion, even relatively small interventions can have significant and positive knock-on effects, suggests Steve O’Sullivan of Siemens Mobility
  • Kerb your enthusiasm, warns Passport
    March 4, 2019
    Dynamic kerbside management is crucial if urban authorities are to address increasingly chaotic situations caused by the gig economy and mobility innovation, says Adam Warnes at Passport Demand for the kerbside is growing and changing and it’s no surprise when you consider the recent innovations within the mobility industry. For starters, there are new modes of transport, including ride-shares, electric vehicles (EVs), dockless cycles, last-mile consolidations and autonomous vehicles (AVs). Secondly, the
  • Industry-led consortium to develop oneTRANSPORT smart city initiative
    August 18, 2015
    An innovative smart city initiative focused on addressing the challenges in transportation systems with Internet of Things (IoT) technology has been awarded by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK to a consortium of leading European industry, academic and transport authority partners. The project, oneTRANSPORT, is an integrated transport initiative targeted at transport authorities. Totalling approximately US$5.4 million (with co-funding by Innovate UK provided as a result of a successful competition