Thursday, 8 November 2007

TfL disappoints with maps for the London Overground

Silverlink Metro had London Connections maps displayed in the trains. Admittedly they were dated back in 2001, but it was something. Ready for Sunday's takeover, TfL have put in their own maps. They're attractive and good for establishing the London Overground brand, but there's no sign of a "London Connections map" - neither the TfL version nor the ATOC version.

The map showing the London Overground network is attractive, as I say, but there's no way this is a network. It's too small and there aren't through trains through several of its nodes. No-one would use it exclusively for a rail journey where other rail routes were quicker or cheaper; it doesn't make any sense out of the context of the other rail lines and can't be used for any realistic journey planning.

A line diagram like the ones on the Underground (above train windows) would make sense, but we know, say, that a B&GO train will never go to Richmond, or Watford (at least not on a passenger service). Showing a diagram of those parts of the "network" on trains that never do on it is rather odd. It wouldn't matter if there were plenty of space, but there isn't and a London Connections map (preferably the ATOC type) should be a priority.

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