Dear Subscriber,
So it's out! The twentieth tube map of the modern era landed in tube stations across London on Friday, and it's caused quite a stir. Map T2014i builds on its illustrious predecessors with a further evolution of the post-Beck diagram, and aims to transform the way in which we see the capital today.
If you've not yet been able to pick up the new map, say if you've been out of the country or something, please send a stamped addressed envelope to TMCA, PO Box 1863, SW1.
What's new on the map? [By our Topological Director]
There are no new station or line openings, so why the sudden rush from TfL to print a new map? Well, the main reason for the update to the network diagram is to alert the public to temporary station closures in Central London, of which there are several. Gloucester Road joins Embankment on the map in having its interchanges removed, as does Bond Street but in a rather more ambiguous time-dependent way. Meanwhile Covent Garden gains a dagger which masks some rather complicated non-stopping rules that are different on weekdays and weekends.
There's also a less obvious step-free change at Paddington, where the introduction of a lift service means level access from street to platform on the Hammersmith & City line platforms.
If you spot any other differences, please update us via the T2014i forum on our Facebook page.
Readers' letters
Dear TMCA,
I went to my local tube station yesterday and every single paper map in the ticket hall was of the old style. I mean, what is the point of announcing a brand new tube map if you're going to carry on stocking the old ones?
Yours, Gavin453
Dear TMCA,
I went to my local tube station yesterday and every single paper map in the ticket hall was of the new style. I mean, what a waste of money to pulp all the old ones overnight. I hope they recycle them or something.
Yours, TrevorK
Dear TMCA,
I went to my local tube station yesterday and grabbed ten copies of the new tube map for my collection. The member of staff in the ticket hall looked at me like I was some nutter or something. Why are we collectors never taken seriously?
Yours, 1974Nigel
Dear TMCA,
Does anyone have a T1967i I can swap for a T1984ii?
Yours, MikeMcT |
 The map features a brand new cover design created by Turner Prize-winning artist Rachel Whiteread. Her work punctures the front cover with a number of circular holes, allowing for glimpses of the network diagram on the inside, and includes direct hits on Leicester Square, Gospel Oak and Penge West. The work is entitled The Hole of London, which is allegedly a clever pun, but as serious tube map aficionados we shall continue to call the map by its proper serial number.
Exclusive Interview With T2014i Cover Designer Rachel Whiteread
TMCA: Hello Rachel.
Rachel: Thank you. And you are?
TMCA: We're loving the playful trompe l’oeil of your latest design, Rachel. What inspired you?
Rachel: As a sculptor I cast empty spaces, it therefore seemed appropriate to make some holes in London which theoretically could be filled up.
TMCA: That's all very well and good. But what our readers really want to know is, did TfL ask you to deliberately target the engineering works at Bond Street, Covent Garden and Embankment on the front cover, or is that just a useful coincidence?
Rachel: (continued on page 4)
Daggerwatch†
The number of daggers on the tube map has increased by 23% to sixteen due to the imposition of temporary engineering works in Zone 1. The information given at West India Quay has become much sketchier, replacing the specific ("Not served... before 2100 on Mondays to Fridays") with the vague ("Not served... at certain times"). Something similar has happened on the cablecar, with the previous list of precise daily opening times replaced by a woolly request to visit the TfL website for details.
Subscribers please note: Map T2014i completes the first volume of the exclusive leatherbound Tube Map Collectors album. All regular subscribers will automatically receive the next 20-pocket album before the next scheduled map launch in December.
Tube Map Prediction Competition #20
Post your predictions for Tube Map 21 (T2014ii) in the following categories to the usual address by 1st November.
1) Number of daggers (currently 16)
2) Number of additional blue wheelchair symbols (currently zero)
3) Artistic merit of front cover (currently 8/10)
The winner of competition #19 is Diane from Clapham
See inside for...
• A spatial analysis of Rachel's' holes
• West Ham - the evolution of a blobby mess
• Minimum readable font sizes - an optician speaks
• The quest for information accessibility (part four) |
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