Google Just Made It Much Easier to Take a Train Instead of Flying
Trains are much better for the environment and usually a bit less expensive, too.
While we'll probably never be able to convince Taylor Swift to stop taking cross-town private flights, the rest of us have a moral obligation to consider alternatives to flying whenever we can. In fact, taking a train instead of a domestic flight could reduce your personal carbon emissions by an estimated 86%. But even though we know that traveling by train is better for the environment than traveling by plane, it can feel easier to travel by plane. I mean you can just head to Google Flights and search through flights from just about every carrier with ease.
Thankfully, Google is expanding its search features, so that flights won't be the only method of transportation that is easy to search and book. Even though "Google Trains" doesn't exist yet, a new feature from the search engine will shower searchers with train features.
"If you search for something like 'Boston to Philadelphia train,' you can quickly see schedules and ticket prices right on the results page, along with links to complete your booking," a statement from Google explains.
The new search feature is now available in 38 countries. In 15 countries, you'll also be given suggestions for long-distance bus rides, as an alternative. In addition to the train search feature, Google has rolled out a handful of other features that will make it easier for travelers to find sustainable alternatives for future trips.
In the coming weeks on Google Maps you will be able to find lower carbon travel alternatives in Maps. Now when you're searching for driving directions, there will be suggestions for walking or public transportation "if travel times are comparable and practical." The feature will first roll out in 15 cities around the world, including top travel destinations Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Montreal, Paris, Rome, and Sydney.
Even more exciting? In the coming months you'll be able to search for flights and trains simultaneously: When searching on Google Flights, if there is a reasonable rail alternative, you'll see train route suggestions in the flight search results. "This builds on similar suggestions we already show in Google Search for flight queries," the Google announcement explained.
So, the next time you're thinking about jetting off to a new destination, it will be even easier to… train off there instead.
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