The new Oyster Rail services map

[swt_passenger]

The London Connections map is no more, it is replaced by the TfL/ATOC 'London Rail and Tube Services' map:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/oyster-rail-services-map.pdf

The folded version is backed by a normal looking London and South East map, with the TOC's lines shown in the traditional solid colours.

The main reason I've posted it here in 'Fares...' is that this map is supposed to help make a consistent statement that Oyster PAYG is ONLY valid at the stations shown. So to this end they don't show any specific stations just beyond the zonal area.

No doubt people will still find it all too difficult and turn up at places like Welwyn GC 'accidentally', like a recent visitor to MikeWh's Oyster site...

 

[bb21]

When does this come live?

I actually quite like the look of it, however it doesn't seem to include the occasional services such as the Wandsworth Road - Kenny O service.

 

[swt_passenger]

When does this come live?

I actually quite like the look of it, however it doesn't seem to include the occasional services such as the Wandsworth Road - Kenny O service.

I picked one up at my local station down in South Hants today, I think they have only been out in the wild a few days though...

 

[bb21]

Ah I suppose that they're already live.

 

[MikeWh]

The Oyster map has been live on the TfL site for some time. I actually prefer it to the old London Connections map because the stupid ATOC watermark made deciphering the zone boundaries very difficult in places. I hope the central box on the London and South East map has been shrunk appropriately, otherwise lines like Watford to St Albans Abbey will have no place on either.

The old maps are still available at the moment on the national rail website.

 

[evil_hippo]

I dislike how this map, unlike previous maps produced by TfL, does not distinguish which stations/lines receive a frequent service. It is somewhat misleading for routes which only operate twice an hour to look just the same on the map as an underground line operating every 2-3 minutes.

 

[[email protected].]

Would anyone know if you can get a map via post?

 

[Barn]

I much preferred the version that was coloured by terminus rather than by TOC. Especially when using Oyster, how many people will care about the company making money from the route?

 

[Aictos]

I like it, much better then the two sided map that used to be used.

 

[swt_passenger]

I like it, much better then the two sided map that used to be used.

It's still two sided with 'London and the SE' if you pick up one of the folded ones at a station, as I said in the first post...

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I dislike how this map, unlike previous maps produced by TfL, does not distinguish which stations/lines receive a frequent service. It is somewhat misleading for routes which only operate twice an hour to look just the same on the map as an underground line operating every 2-3 minutes.

Your point is let down by the fact that the normal tube map also failed to show the limited service at the tube's extremities, such as the 2 tph service to Amersham and Chesham...

 

[AlterEgo]

This map is one of the better ones I've seen them produce. However, I'm not sure why all National Rail lines aren't coloured the usual white (with thin black border) as they used to be....just looked neater and more concise.

 

[swt_passenger]

This map is one of the better ones I've seen them produce. However, I'm not sure why all National Rail lines aren't coloured the usual white (with thin black border) as they used to be....just looked neater and more concise.

Because this map replaces two or three different original 'joint' maps, both the ATOC 'London Connections' as well as TfL's similar maps - used on tube platforms.

On the 'London Connections' map, as used on National Rail through out the SE, lines were shown as thick solid colours by TOC, and the tube as thin coloured lines, and the thick coloured lines go back to well before privatisation, so it isn't just a commercial thing...

 

[All Line Rover]

I like it too.

The TOC specific lines mean that at the very least you've got a better chance of being on the correct train! Particularly so at stations such as London Bridge.

 

[Crispy75]

The old Oyster map had the NR routes coloured by terminus, rather than TOC, which is much more useful IMO. You could tell at a glance which terminus you could get to from any station, and vice versa. The new map makes it look like you can, for example, get a direct train to Victoria from Abbey Wood, which you can't.

I bet the TOCs didn't like seeing their corporate colours used to indicate routes that they didn't run on the old map (eg. Southern green used for Victoria routes run by Southeastern) and lobbied TFL to produce this less useful map

 

[swt_passenger]

I bet the TOCs didn't like seeing their corporate colours used to indicate routes that they didn't run on the old map (eg. Southern green used for Victoria routes run by Southeastern) and lobbied TFL to produce this less useful map

People from all over the former SR must already be used to maps coloured by TOC, shadow TOC, or operating division by now, as they've been in constant use since well before privatisation. So why is the new map any less useful than those?

You need to think about the maps that were already on display at mainline stations in all these areas, not the map coloured by terminus, which wasn't widely displayed.

 

[Crispy75]

People from all over the former SR must already be used to maps coloured by TOC, shadow TOC, or operating division by now, as they've been in constant use since well before privatisation. So why is the new map any less useful than those?

It's not any less useful, but then those maps aren't exactly a high benchmark!

You need to think about the maps that were already on display at mainline stations in all these areas, not the map coloured by terminus, which wasn't widely displayed.

A shame that it wasn't. The whole point of extending Oyster onto the NR network was to encourage people to use it for trips that they wouldn't have considered before. In that context, the map should tell me "where can I get to from here?" The old one was unambiguous in showing that and even told you which stations were more regularly served, and thus could be treated like the tube. The new map conveys less information and is ambiguous about the actual services. Not good design.

There's a similar problem with the DLR on this map (and the regular tube map) as it implies you can reach Tower Gateway from Beckton without changing.

For an example of how these things should be done, note the NLL/ELL overlap. The lines don't merge, so you can tell that you have to change to continue your journey.

 

[bb21]

There's a similar problem with the DLR on this map (and the regular tube map) as it implies you can reach Tower Gateway from Beckton without changing.

For an example of how these things should be done, note the NLL/ELL overlap. The lines don't merge, so you can tell that you have to change to continue your journey.

It would be useful if service patterns are included, however I wonder if the map, especially in the SE, would get too cramped if that was done.

Both designs have their strengths and weaknesses and it is difficult to please all if only one map is produced.

 

[MikeWh]

They've changed the online version on the TfL site today. The NR lines are no longer white with coloured border, they're now coloured filmstrip. I'm not convinced that this is an improvement. It does now show Canning Town to Stratford International though.

 

[swt_passenger]

I see there's a bit of a schoolboy error at Horsham, they have the wrong route extending down the Arun Valley...

 

[Cletus]

Would anyone know if you can get a map via post?

Was there an answer to this question?

A couple of weeks ago I looked around Kings Cross, Euston & Liverpool Street and didn't see the leaflet. Or are they 'under the counter!?

 

[bb21]

Was there an answer to this question?

A couple of weeks ago I looked around Kings Cross, Euston & Liverpool Street and didn't see the leaflet. Or are they 'under the counter!?

You should be able to obtain them from NR ticket offices. I always get mine from Victoria or Waterloo, who seem to be well-stocked.

 

[Ivo]

A new one must be due out about now I would have thought, which may account for any non-presence of the map?

 

[Cletus]

Ok thanks.

 

[calc7]

There's a similar problem with the DLR on this map (and the regular tube map) as it implies you can reach Tower Gateway from Beckton without changing.

But aren't the Beckton services to/from Tower Gateway and the Woolwich and Lewisham services to/from Bank (off-peak)?

 

[dvboy]

I wish they'd extend PAYG to Shepperton.

 

[34D]

I wish they'd extend PAYG to Shepperton.

Was mentioned in another thread on here recently that that is indeed the plan.

 

[tsr]

I wish they'd extend PAYG to Shepperton.

Trust me, you have no idea how annoying it is that it doesn't extend to Redhill, Reigate and Merstham when all northbound services (as far as I am aware) travel into central and south London Oyster zones.

Ideally, I'd like these stations to be in Zone 7. Perhaps Earlswood, Salfords and Horley could be in Zone 8 and maybe even Gatwick Airport in Zone 9.

That said, ITSO systems should be up and running within the next decade or so and we'll see if that is a reasonable system.

 

[Deerfold]

Trust me, you have no idea how annoying it is that it doesn't extend to Redhill, Reigate and Merstham when all northbound services (as far as I am aware) travel into central and south London Oyster zones.

Ideally, I'd like these stations to be in Zone 7. Perhaps Earlswood, Salfords and Horley could be in Zone 8 and maybe even Gatwick Airport in Zone 9.

That said, ITSO systems should be up and running within the next decade or so and we'll see if that is a reasonable system.

I doubt your TOC(s) would (especially Gatwick) - as the fares would have to be the same as the existing Zones 7-9.

 

[Clip]

There's a similar problem with the DLR on this map (and the regular tube map) as it implies you can reach Tower Gateway from Beckton without changing.

You can though. During peak periods the service is Beckton To Tower Gateway - off peak the service alternates between Beckton to Tower Gateway or Stratford International.