Google Maps public transport layer (London)

[A S Leib]

Why does the transit layer on Google Maps show Chiltern between Wembley Stadium and South Ruislip, and c2c between Upminster and Basildon (images attached)? They're not TfL services, as all of the others (tube, Crossrail, Overground, DLR, tram) shown are, and far less likely to be useful than e.g. Waterloo to Kingston. Is the likeliest explanation that Google Maps is just being strange?

 

[The exile]

Why does the transit layer on Google Maps show Chiltern between Wembley Stadium and South Ruislip, and c2c between Upminster and Basildon (images attached)? They're not TfL services, as all of the others (tube, Crossrail, Overground, DLR, tram) shown are, and far less likely to be useful than e.g. Waterloo to Kingston. Is the likeliest explanation that Google Maps is just being strange?

What the “transit layer” shows seems to be completely random.

 

[ScotGG]

Always struck me as a missed opportunity. Perhaps those TOCs asked for it?

I use Google Maps all the time (as do millions of course) and click for stations and lines nearby when out and about but the vast majority of rail lines are a dull grey barely noticable.

 

[Somewhere]

I don't think transit mode in Google is particularly accurate, and will always double check any information from it with an authoritative source.
Google is handy for finding out what bus route goes where and who operates it, but I never rely on timetable data in Google.it is far too unreliable. I just use it to start my research about where to look for proper information

 

[Travelmonkey]

Google is good for basic journey plans, although just because a train is "not TFL" thanks to agreements in place Oyster & contact less is the major player for paying for travel, I know I use my oyster on NR lines in London alot as its just more convenient & with the day cap often cheaper too,

 

[GatwickDepress]

Google Maps only has one small team based in Australia that work on transit, so they rely on organisations uploading GTFS data (General Transit Feed Specification) to generate information, which is why you wind up with a lot of odd quirks like c2c and Chiltern showing in the tube layer.

My guess is that those services are included in the LU data for some reason and so show up with the tube lines?

 

[LUYMun]

Great Western Railway appeared on Google Maps about two years ago but promptly disappeared for reasons unknown. Thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/gwr-on-google-maps.226866/

 

[Recessio]

Occasionally the Underground station roundel symbols will be replaced by a generic Metro "M" symbol. I'm guessing the process is automated and occasionally gets things wrong.

I tend to prefer other apps for public transport in London. Citymapper is pretty good, but admittedly also not entirely free of bugs and problems either.

 

[TUC]

What's the problem with them being shown? It's helpful isn't it?

 

[A S Leib]

What's the problem with them being shown? It's helpful isn't it?

I don't have any problem with it; it's the randomness of showing those bits particularly and no other non-TfL services, not even Wembley Stadium to Marylebone or Upminster to Fenchurch Street, which is odd.

 

[Robski]

AIUI Google uses a third party supplier to get rail data in the UK as there isn't an official GTFS (General Transit Feed Spec) feed for UK rail. As a result, there are some inconsistencies that arise as a result of translating the data from the Darwin XML format to GTFS as the latter really isn't designed with the intricacies of UK rail operations in mind. Google only accepts GTFS feeds for Google Maps (it's their own invention) hence the need for translating it, although I believe they sometimes do some in-house translation too.

The lines are generated by shape files, which form part of GTFS but it is not mandatory. As far as I know, there doesn't exist an official source for route shape files for UK operators so the only reasonable explanation is that the aforementioned third party company somehow created it of their own initiative and supplied it in the feed to Google.

 

[MPW]

Here is a link to a Google maps file with rail lines in bold.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://maps.walkingclub.org.uk/rail/rail_lines_google_map.shtml&ved=2ahUKEwi4gaqE2emHAxUlVkEAHUi-A48QFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ToVvngvLg5owKAP7cK_Kg

 

[roadie]

I'm not in London but this map and the other maps look like they be a useful resource for me,

 

[Horizon22]

Might be because they are stations shared with a TfL service (South Ruislip and Upminster as per the OP's example)?

 

[Trainguy34]

Dp

Might be because they are stations shared with a TfL service (South Ruislip and Upminster as per the OP's example)?

Doubtful considering I had the line from Gillingham to Canterbury East appearing earlier. Also something to Ashford International.

 

[A S Leib]

Dp

Doubtful considering I had the line from Gillingham to Canterbury East appearing earlier. Also something to Ashford International.

Sevenoaks to Ashford and Baldock to Cambridge are two more I've found.

Cleethorpes – Barton-on-Humber's another isolated one I've found.

 

[LUYMun]

Southern’s Arundel-Gatwick Airport route now appears on Google Map’s public transport layer too.