September 2021 Tube map

[Dstock7080]

now appearing online and print versions:

content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf

[class411]

Obviously just a matter of opinion, but I find the way Battersea Power Station dangles of the end of that curve both ugly, and unnecessary.

[Chris M]

All the changes between May and September digital tube maps:
Battersea extension added.
In consequence:
*Major change to Kennington
*Vauxhall moves south east significantly, Vauxhall Pier moves east to remain directly north of the station
*Oval moves north east a short way, presumably to remain equidistant to Kennington and Stockwell
*Zone 1/2 boundary changes. As a consequence the Imperial Wharf label moves from 1 to 2 lines and the "2" zone label moves from north of Clapham Junction to Wandsworth Road to west of Clapham Junction to Imperial Wharf

Step-free changes:
Moorgate SSR becomes step-free to train, in consequence the station moves from a single blob to two blobs - the SSR blob moves west and slightly north onto the diagonal section of line and is joined by a very long connector to the northern line blob which has moved north.
Ealing Broadway gains step-free access: To platform for TfL Rail and Central line, to train for the District line. This means the District and Central lines no longer share a blob, the District line effectively moving south slightly.
Wimbledon Park, West Drayton, Hayes and Harlington, Southall, Ickenham and Whitechapel all become step-free to platform
Tottenham Hale becomes step-free to train.

Other minor changes:
The text "332039-A01" is added right of the copyright date beneath the key
Southfields label moves left very slightly.
Belgrave Walk and Mitcham tram stops move east slightly
Osterley and Boston Manor move north east slightly. Osterley has not yet gained a step-free blob.
Old Street moves south slightly.

[rsdworker]

Tottenham Hale on digtial map dont have step free blob juts normal blob - someone accudently removed it?

[cudsn15]

Tottenham Hale - according to continual announcements for the past couple of weeks - does not have step free access at the moment. Don't know why not or when it will be introduced.

[Deleted]

The lift at TH is being replaced, due to be back in service early next year.

[rincew1nd]

A friend of mine has just noticed King's Cross St Pancras has gained an ampersand.

[class411]

I find the entirely superfluous 'International' far more annoying, especially given that it make the name look cramped.

[Dstock7080]

Sept 19, 2021 9:20:37 GMT rincew1nd said:

A friend of mine has just noticed King's Cross St Pancras has gained an ampersand.

was actually on the December 2020 map also.

[Dstock7080]

pocket map September 2021, differences December 2020 (June 2021 update)-September 2021
- new cover design: "sit alongside and feel me breathe". Helen Cammock 2021.

- Northern Line extension added; new stations Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms.
- Ealing Broadway (District); Moorgate (SSR) now step-free to train
- Acton Main Line; Ealing Broadway (Central/TfL Rail); Ickenham; Southall; West Drayton; Whitechapel; Wimbledon Park; now step-free to platform
- Tottenham Hale; step-free to train removed


oddly, comparing Chris M notes above,
- Tottenham Hale; step-free to train removed (was on December 2020 map)
- Hayes & Harlington; not yet step-free

[quex]

I can't imagine how difficult someone new to London would find it to try and plan a journey using that monstrosity.

Out of interest, I know both Dstock7080 and Chris M often do breakdowns of what's changed when a new map comes out. Do you each have a "clever" way of doing the comparison (digitally overlaying the two maps as if they were printed on transparencies?), or is it "just" a case of hard effort and going over everything with a meticulous eye?

Either way, I do appreciate the change summaries.

[Tom]

I don't know about anyone else, but this map feels like it has far too much on it - a far cry from Beck's original diagram which was supposed to be easy to read.

[Chris L]

Sept 21, 2021 18:37:52 GMT Tom said:

I don't know about anyone else, but this map feels like it has far too much on it - a far cry from Beck's original diagram which was supposed to be easy to read.

It shows a total lack of understanding of what the end user requires.

It needs to be simple and easy to read.

The zone tints are far too heavy.

[bigvern]

Just to say the December 2020 map was reissued in June 2021 with the same cover date, Kennington was Zone 1/2 with the date on the map and in the back text as being correct to June 2021.

haven't compared other Changes, but these June 2021 update maps are now hard to find with the new September 2021 maps now out.

[Chris M]

quex for the digital maps I add the old and new maps as layers in gimp and set it to show the difference between the layers. I then zoom in to the area where a difference is and flip back and forwards between the two until I work out what has changed if it isn't obvious from the difference. For example when a station moves slightly it can be clear from the diff there has been movement e.g. up/down but not whether it is higher or lower on the new map.

Click to see the difference view between the May and September 2021 maps

The yellow mark in the lower right in example of a spurious change a ~1 pixel change in the position of the letter "m" in the label for Beckenham Road tram stop. I presume this is an artefact of the process of importing the PDF to gimp.

[Dstock7080]

Sept 21, 2021 23:08:07 GMT bigvern said:

Just to say the December 2020 map was reissued in June 2021 with the same cover date, Kennington was Zone 1/2 with the date on the map and in the back text as being correct to June 2021.

haven't compared other Changes, but these June 2021 update maps are now hard to find with the new September 2021 maps now out.

Thanks for that
This had passed me by but having looked at some recent acquisitions I can confirm.

I’ll update the December 2020 map thread later.

[steeevooo]

Sept 21, 2021 18:37:52 GMT Tom said:

I don't know about anyone else, but this map feels like it has far too much on it - a far cry from Beck's original diagram which was supposed to be easy to read.

I agree - this map is just a monstrosity. We surely have reached the point now where the pocket tube map has outlived its usefulness in its current form? Beck created the simplistic design to make life easier for the user - I doubt anyone can honestly say that the current incarnation is easy to use.

[vincenture]

Based on my foreigner experience, it only fascinates kids that love trains and maps. Adults find it horribly unreadable. The 2012 map was already feeling congested

[Dstock7080]

September 2021 poster version:

[North End]

Sept 22, 2021 15:22:02 GMT vincenture said:

Based on my foreigner experience, it only fascinates kids that love trains and maps. Adults find it horribly unreadable. The 2012 map was already feeling congested

Absolutely true. The map is absolutely full of abominations nowadays which make it very difficult to use.

Stuff like Thameslink and Overground really is unhelpful for visitors, the illusion of Reading being a stone's throw from Ruislip is unhelpful to anyone, whilst Londoners are quite capable of working out what rail services exist in their local area, TFL operated or otherwise.

At some point there will have to be a push to return to LU and central London only.

[johnlinford]

Sept 22, 2021 16:34:20 GMT North End said:

At some point there will have to be a push to return to LU and central London only.

So what then for the tourists wanting to get to a meal in Shoreditch, visit Maritime Greenwich and check out Crystal Palace (all examples friends of mine from outside London have asked me the best way to get to)? The LU-only map, and indeed the fare zones, for historical and geological reasons are heavily north and west biased.

[Tom]

That's what the old 'London Connections' map was for - is it even produced these days?

[johnlinford]

Sept 22, 2021 21:11:34 GMT Tom said:

That's what the old 'London Connections' map was for - is it even produced these days?

I believe so - it shows the suburban rail out of Waterloo, Victoria, Canon Street and Charring Cross, as well as connections in the north.  LU only would to my mind include the overground and DLR - the trams maybe?  What would be excluded?  I think it's a difficult judgement - excluding the DLR makes the east of London look inaccessible, for example.

[Chris L]

Sept 22, 2021 21:11:34 GMT Tom said:

That's what the old 'London Connections' map was for - is it even produced these days?

Now called London's Railways.

Poster version at stations and on line.

[class411]

Sept 22, 2021 19:36:01 GMT johnlinford said:

Sept 22, 2021 16:34:20 GMT North End said:

At some point there will have to be a push to return to LU and central London only.

So what then for the tourists wanting to get to a meal in Shoreditch, visit Maritime Greenwich and check out Crystal Palace (all examples friends of mine from outside London have asked me the best way to get to)? The LU-only map, and indeed the fare zones, for historical and geological reasons are heavily north and west biased.

Let them eat cake.

[North End]

Sept 22, 2021 19:36:01 GMT johnlinford said:

Sept 22, 2021 16:34:20 GMT North End said:

At some point there will have to be a push to return to LU and central London only.

So what then for the tourists wanting to get to a meal in Shoreditch, visit Maritime Greenwich and check out Crystal Palace (all examples friends of mine from outside London have asked me the best way to get to)? The LU-only map, and indeed the fare zones, for historical and geological reasons are heavily north and west biased.

There’s no issue with DLR going on there. It’s mainline rail services which is one of the things causing excess clutter. So in the case of Crystal Palace, your tourist will have to manage in the same way as someone wanting to visit Alexandra Palace has done - just one of those facts of life unfortunately.

The simple reality is there’s only so much room on the piece of paper, and we’re pretty much at the point where the page is full. There is no way something like SE or SW suburban would be able to fit if they ever go Overground.

[North End]

Sept 22, 2021 21:11:34 GMT Tom said:

That's what the old 'London Connections' map was for - is it even produced these days?

Exactly. This was the sensible way of doing it before the politicians stuck their nose in.

[londoner]

What is the meaning of the phrase on the front cover?

[vincenture]

Perhaps a better alternative would be to take out London Overground and tramlink only from the current map, whilst creating a separate map to have both of these? In the same new map, there can be useful truncated tube lines based on passenger usage data on the interchanges. (only the most used interchanges will be shown)

[class411]

The diagram, as shown above, would be immeasurably improved, simply by toning down the grey of the fare zones.

I have tried this.

It looks much better, even with the added clutter.