London Layout

Inconsistent line separation

The official map is inconsistent on how lines are separated. In this example all the lines from London Bridge run along the same track bed. However they are randomly grouped with First Capital Connect services (purple) separated from the others.

Misleading stations

Here Highbury and Islington station is marked by two connected circles suggesting a substantial walk between lines, because in other parts of the official map this symbol is used to represent connections between two different stations. However at Highbury and Islington there is a cross platform connection between the Victoria line (blue) and First Capital Connect services (purple). Thanks to Geoff at stationmasterapp.com for use of his station layout images.

Interchange between stations

Here is an example of two stations joined by the interchange symbol that are distinctly separatated. Bow Church and Bow Road are separated by about 0.2 miles. The use of the regular interchange symbol makes it unclear that there are two different stations. It is most effective to show out of station interchange by a new symbol as seen in the alternative map.

Unnecessary weaving of lines

The official maps follow no rules on the layering of lines passing over each other. The result here is the Overground line (orange) passes over and under a single grouping of lines. On London Layout maps routes which consist of fewer lines always pass over routes with more lines so that it is easier for the eye to follow.

Information Pollution

The track around Lewisham station is complicated and the official tube and rail map has attempted to represent this complexity in its design. The fact that some trains pass around the station is equivalent to some services travelling non-stop through the station. This extra clutter is not useful information as knowledge of surburban services will tell you to check the stations that the service is calling at.

Waterloo and Southwark

This is the worst example of misleading stations using the existing interchange symbol. The current design necessitating that Waterloo and Waterloo East are combined into one messy interchange symbol. To make matters worse when changing from the Jubilee line to Waterloo East it is best to change at Southwark which is shown as a completely separate station, with no indication of a possible link. The use of simplifed stations and the out of station interchange symbol makes it much clearer which line belongs to which station on the alternative map.

West Croydon

This is another example of a poorly used interchange symbol in this case the Overground line (orange) runs to the symbol connector rather than a circle representing the station.

Blackfriars Station

Blackfriars station is now built over the river with entrances on both sides. This means that you can exit north or south of the river and as the river is shown on the map this has necessitated an individual take on the station symbol. On the official map it does not appear that Blackfriars station is even on the river bank. London Layout introduces an extended symbol for the station to show it crossing the river

Tower Hill stations

The stations around Tower Hill have been grouped to a single interchange symbol on the official map when in fact there are three distinct stations. Interchange between these stations is very important and needs to be shown. The introduction of the out of station interchange symbol again offers the advantage of showing three distinct stations.

Stratford

A poorly laid out station on the official London Tube and Rail map. Here is an example of a single station this time spread out over a larger interchange symbol. These nodes offer no relevent information about the layout of Stratford station and so is better represented as a consolidated station as done on the alternative map.