Submitted by Elliott, who says: I’ve been a fan of your work for a while now, and thought I’d submit my own work for judgement. I’ve had a crack at designing a map for an as-yet non-existent tram and bus network for Bristol, UK, a city in dire need of reliable, integrated public transport. It would operate as a network of 19 tram lines in and around the urban area of Bristol, with five ‘metrobus’ […]
Back in 2019, Ken showcased an experimental alternative Tube Map based on a diamond motif (read the Transit Maps review here) that had mixed reactions from the community. He went away and absorbed that feedback, and – like a glutton for punishment – he’s back with not one, but two new maps. Like many people, Ken believes the current Tube Map is nearly at the end of its useful life and wants to explore new […]
Submitted by James, who says: Hello there! The last time you reviewed a map of mine was in 2015 [See review here – Cam]. Since then I’ve moved houses, had several new jobs, and been through a pandemic. I’ve recently been reworking a map of the Welsh rail network, based on a 2:1 triangular grid, using Affinity Designer which has continued to improve. You will see there are some clear design factors in the diagram. […]
Submitted by Douglas, who says: I’m sure you would find it interesting, as you have attempted to do the inverse of what Sean is doing. Transit Maps says: This map is indeed the exact inverse of my project from 2019 to show the New York Subway in the style of the London Underground diagram, and arguably more successful as it actually works as intended (mine looks great, but is ultimately flawed as it cannot show […]
Submitted by Paul, who says: Attached is my re-draw of the Southern Electric Map, dated 1934, showing the electrified services (using 3rd rail top-contact 750v DC) serving South London. These were displayed in frames inside carriages, normally printed on heavy-grade card. The temptation to correct some of the ‘issues’ of the original (the station names appearing over lines, odd spacing of lettering that doesn’t appear to be consistent and some rather interesting angles for the […]
Starting the New Year off right with this lovely illustrated map of coach services from London through the Thames Valley to destinations like Oxford, Reading and Worcester. Designed by illustrator Derrick Sayer, the simplified route diagram is presented on the back of a beautiful swan, acting as a symbol of the Thames. Another contemporaneous poster by the same illustrator uses a jumping fish as the backdrop to the diagram, to slightly less visual effect. At […]
Submitted by Paul, who says: A map from the Beamish Museum showing the Newcastle upon Tyne tram, trolleybus and bus network in 1949. The trams and trolleys are long gone, but the bus network is still recognisable. I used to take the number 1 through that janky Heaton route in the 2000s. The choice of sections for the map lookup references seems very of its time too. Transit Maps says: A rather splendid map, with […]
Perhaps because of post-war austerity measures, this map was printed with just two inks – green and black – but still manages to do a lot of really good work. The radial nature of the Green Line network definitely makes things easier for the designer, as only a few of the routes really interact with others as they spread inexorably outwards from the map’s centre. The large route numbers at each terminus are great, as […]
I came across this lovely piece this morning on Twitter, so here’s a review. This is Andy’s second stab at Edinburgh (see also this map showing an “idealised” 1940s network), and I think it’s clear to see that Andy has come along in leaps and bounds as a map designer since then. One thing I always appreciate about Andy’s maps is how tactile they seem: they really do look like old printed maps and that’s […]
On from the “what could have been?” files – a proposed double-decker trolleybus service covering 76 kilometres (just under 50 miles) of routes in West Yorkshire. Between 1980 and 1990, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive repeatedly attempted to gain government funding for this project: this leaflet looks like one of those efforts, extolling the benefits of such a network. Eventually, a private bus operator announced a plan to operate a diesel bus service along […]
