The Netherlands has become the first country in the world where Google is providing up-to-date public transport information via its Google Maps service.

It has been possible to request arrival and departure times via Google Maps since 2010 but only now is the information being updated to include delays and breakdowns, website nu.nl reports.

Google says all public transport providers in the Netherlands have agreed to join the service, which has nationwide coverage. Current public transport apps 9292ov and OpenOV have also joined the project.

Google told nu.nl the new service has been prompted by the large number of searches for public transport information in the Netherlands.