Google adds real-time service alerts for the London Underground to Google Maps

Continuing to update its Maps service ahead of the 2012 London Olympics, Google has today rolled out real-time service alerts for the London Underground, keeping commuters and travellers notified of any potential disruptions to their journeys.

Providing service alerts via the UK Google Maps website and on Android devices, Google has also included planned engineering works for weekends in its journey planner, delivering alerts as part of its directions results. All the user has to do is hit the ‘Get directions’ tab and Google will provide the relevant data should there be a planned closure or delays.

To view service alerts at any time, users can click on a station in a timetable or in the public transport directions results and they will be displayed.

Google already provides updates on national train routes, timetables and directions across England, Scotland and Wales, partnering with UK rail travel company Trainline to make over 170,000 routes available to Google Maps users. This meant Google’s map data grew to include 2,500 stations, 8,000 bus stops and 250 London Underground routes.

Earlier in March, we reported that Virgin Media had been awarded the contract to roll out WiFi to 80 tube stations in the London Underground by the time of the Olympic Games, and 120 stations in total by the end of the year.

Google has made the information available on maps.google.co.uk for desktop and mobile, but also on Google Maps for Android. With millions of travellers expected to hit the London Underground to attend Olympic events, they will be able to plan their journey at home or on the move via Google’s powerful map service.