Transport for London (TfL), Network Rail and Google have launched Google Street View within stations across central London, enabling even easier journey-planning.
From today (5 December), customers can now access Google Street View within 18 stations across the Tube, Elizabeth line and Network Rail stations – including Oxford Circus, London Bridge and Tottenham Court Road, with a further 18 stations live before the end of the year.
The project, which started a year ago, has seen Google capture 360-degree images inside a number of London Underground and Elizabeth line stations across central London, as well as at Network Rail stations where they interconnect with TfL services. Google’s blurring technology was then automatically applied to blur identifiable faces to protect customers’ and staff’s privacy.
Providing a virtual representation of some of London’s busiest stations will help customers get a better sense of the layout of stations when planning journeys or interchanging between train lines at stations. It will also help customers more easily identify key facilities such as lifts, toilets, benches and help points.
Using Google Street View, customers will be able to see the routes through these stations before they travel, meaning they can use it to plan journeys within stations as they would for walking and cycling across London. Early feedback from accessibility stakeholders including TfL’s Independent Disability Advisory Group and the Inclusive Transport Forum has helped inform the project, and indicated that being able to see within stations before visiting them will be beneficial to customers with accessibility needs or people who are unfamiliar with travelling in the capital. The project also supports the delivery of Equity in Motion, TfL’s customer inclusion strategy, as part of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.
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The Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance said: “I’m pleased that Google Street View has arrived at some of London’s busiest stations. Now, customers can plan their routes on the London Underground in the same way they would when walking and cycling, helping us to build a better, fairer London for all.”
Christina Calderato, Director of Strategy at TfL, said: “The London Underground has always been a place of innovation and we’re proud to work with Google and Network Rail to continue this strong tradition of bringing innovative technology to customers. By working with Google to bring Street View to our stations, our customers will now be able to more easily plan their journey through our stations with confidence. This project also supports our wider Equity in Motion ambition to improving signage and wayfinding, helping people to better navigate some of the capital’s busiest stations and help us to build a better, more equitable London.”
