The Google Assistant can now tell you when your next NYC metro will arrive

Prior to the launch of Google Pay and Apple Pay on New York City's MTA Transit system on May 31, Google will incorporate new information about public transportation into Google City Assistant. Starting today, Google will be able to inform you of the arrival of your next train and will also show you directions to the train station. You can either request the next train as a whole, or specify a particular line. The feature will work on Android phones, smart speakers and smart screens.

The new Google Pay feature of the MTA Transit System will see the light of day with OMNY, a contactless payment system that will also support Apple Pay Cards and contactless NFC cards when it launches next week. At launch, it will be available on Staten Island buses and subway lines 4, 5 and 6 between Grand Central / 42nd Street and Atlantic Ave / Barclays Center. The complete system should be rolled out next year.

However, the new features of Google Assistant are only worth the data provided by the MTA and, if the existing Google Maps integration is no longer a solution, it can sometimes be unreliable if delays occur.

To promote the new payment method, Google will update Google Maps "in the coming weeks" to indicate routes that accept Google Pay. With New York, this label feature also arrives in London and Melbourne. In total, Google claims to work with more than 30 cities around the world to allow Google Pay to be accepted on public transport.