For years, Google Flights has been our go-to recommendation to find the cheapest flights. It could just become the best way to find the quickest (and cheapest) train route, too.
Google partnered up with passenger rail provider Amtrak this week to begin displaying up-to-date train routes and fares in Google Flights results. But it goes much further than that: From Brightline train routes running up and down the Florida Coast to the seemingly endless network of rails connecting Europe and even Japanese bullet trains, you can compare your options within seconds in Google Flights.
Depending on which routes you're searching and whether it's served by rail, you'll now see train results below the first few recommended flights. Just as with airlines, you can often book your train fare directly with the operator within a few clicks.
It's all part of a new, train-centric pivot that Google previewed earlier this year, then quietly rolled out and steadily expanded over the summer. As of this week, train routes have become a fixture on Google Flights for many more users.
“Users will see rail options on Google Flights when trains offer a reasonable alternative and where we have sufficient information from rail providers,” a Google spokesperson said.
These train results are not yet available on the handy Google Flights Explore map. Adding many filters like for nonstop or even one-stop journeys will eliminate results by rail altogether.
More importantly: Do we have to call it Google Trains, now? Forgive the misnomer, but this is genuinely exciting … for a few reasons.
Google isn't just not-so-subtly pointing travelers to a more carbon-neutral method to get from point A to point B. In many cases, Google Flights will likely be reminding travelers that taking a train is even an option. For travelers who face that classic question – “train, plane, or automobile?” – Google is now a one-stop shop for at least two of them.
Is it worthwhile? That depends on the route. Most travelers would likely scoff at the option of paying more for a nearly eight-hour ride on Amtrak between Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) rather than a 90-minute flight.
But on the East Coast, it can be a drastically different story. After factoring in the time to get through security, board and deplane, you're likely saving both time and money by hopping on a train rather than flying from New York City (JFK) to Boston (BOS).
The value of this new feature extends far beyond U.S. shores. With how well connected Europe is by rail, you'll see some train results almost anywhere you search now. Personally, I'd much rather spend three hours riding to Milan than braving the Rome (FCO) airport for a one-hour flight.
If Google has you convinced taking a train is the way to go, just click “see more train options” and you'll get taken to a Google Search results page for the route and date you just searched. From there, you should be able to book your train fare within a few clicks.
Trying to make your way up and down Japan? Google Flights will even point you toward its legendary bullet trains!
This is just another instance of Google Flights going green, and we're here for it. A few years back, Google began displaying carbon emissions data for most flights.
That has become a fixture for Google. Now, it appears trains are the next frontier.
I just looked at a flight from Stockholm to Oslo for November 2nd 2024. No train options were listed in my search.
Love the info that you pass on, but wish you’d increase the display size for the examples. They’re wasted in the tiny font! Try as I might, I can rarely make anything out ;-(
This is good news. Over the past few months I’ve taken some 6-8 hour trains in New Zealand and Indonesia which were great. As a slower traveler with no time constraints I’d much rather enjoy a nice leisurely trip by train, especially in a private 1st class compartment similar to airplane first/biz class for $100.