On Monday, Apple announced iOS 9, the latest version of its popular mobile operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and along with it the return of public transit information to Maps.

In iOS 9, Maps adds support for metropolitan public transit systems and schedules in a host of cities worldwide. In addition, subway station entrances and exits are also mapped to help users every step of the way.

Maps will now let users plan a journey on public transport step-by-step by combining trains, subways, buses, and walking. A new ‘Nearby’ feature lets users see what is around them by searching for food, drinks, shopping and more.

According to Apple, Maps is 3.5 times faster than other mapping apps and offers Siri integration for public transit information.

At launch, public transit information in Maps will be available to users in New York, Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Mexico City, Toronto, London, Paris and Berlin, with more cities and regions coming at a later stage. Maps will also add public transit information in more than 300 cities in China, including Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai.

Public transit information has been absent from iOS Maps since 2012, when Apple dropped Google Maps in favor of its own application.

The iOS 9 beta and SDK are available to iOS Developer Program members immediately, and a public beta program will kick off in July. iOS 9 will be available for iPhone 4s and later, iPod touch fifth generation, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini and later in September.

Other iOS 9 features introduced by Apple at WWDC include intelligent and proactive  search and improved Siri features.

Image via apple.com