Underground map 1908 (1908-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
First Combined Underground Map
Before 1906, the individual railway companies produced their own maps and there was no combined map of the various lines.
This 1908 map represents the first to feature all lines with equal emphasis.
It's also the first to use the Underground logo!
Metropolitan Railway and Connections 1920 (Back) (1920) by Metropolitan RailwayTfL Corporate Archives
Fiercely Independent
Whilst the other lines were becoming part of the Underground Electric Railways Company, the Metropolitan Railway remained independent, as this map from 1920 makes clear!
In 1933, it was made to join the network and became part of the London Passenger Transport Board.
Showing the River Thames on the tube map gives a quick indication of whether you're north or south of the River. Many early maps showed the river, but when Macdonald Gill produced his calligraphic map in 1921 he removed it. The river wasn't reinstated until Fred Stingemore took on the map design. Harry Beck's initial sketch for his iconic tube map shows the river was considered a key feature. In 2009, the Thames was again removed from the map sparking complaints - within 3 months it reappeared!
In March 1861, a tram ran for the 1st time on London’s streets – it was a 2-horse tram with room for 32 passengers. By 1933, over 167 miles of tramway operated within the London area. In the 1930s trolleybuses began to replace trams, and in turn these were replaced by motor buses. In July 1952, London’s last trams ran. The map on the right is one of the last to be produced for trams and attention switched to removing track and readying the roads for buses, as shown in the other 2 maps above
Underground Map 1965 (1965-06-15) by London Transport BoardTfL Corporate Archives
Bottling It!
In 1962, Paul Garbutt responded to criticism of a then current version of the Underground map by creating a new design, restoring the map's curves in a style more in keeping with Harry Beck's original
Garbutt's map also created the 'bottle' shape of the Circle line
Bus Star Map (1989-06-15) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
Star before Spider
In 1988-1991 a new style of bus map was considered. 20 years before todays Bus Spider Maps, a ‘Star Map’ was developed and trialled
Findings from the trial fed into the modern day spider maps, which appeared in 2002
Fares Fair Leaflet (1981-06-15) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
Creating Zones
In 1981 a zonal system was introduced for bus and tube fares for the first time
Forming the foundation of the present zonal system, there were originally 6 zones – 4 for buses, and 2 for tubes (City and West End)
Map showing Docklands Light Railway Existing, Future and Under Construction Stations (1997-06-15) by London Regional TransportTfL Corporate Archives
To Docklands and Beyond
The Docklands Light Railway opened in 1987. It's the part of our rail network that undergone the most rapid extensive expansion. This map is the best map for seeing that.
Just 4 years after opening, a further 18 stations and 3 extensions were either underway or being considered!
Underground map June 2000 (2000-06-01)TfL Corporate Archives
A Sea Change
This pocket tube index of stations (with map on reverse) may seem standard, but it's actually the first to have been produced by Transport for London!
TfL came into being on 1 July 2000, taking on the responsibilities of all its predecessor companies and gaining even more.
Olympic Route Network and Paralympic Route Network (2012-03-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Olympic and Paralympic Route Network (ORN and PRN)
The (ORN) was a network of existing roads connecting competition and non-competition venues
109 miles of roads in London and the surrounds needed to be mapped and managed to enable road based events to take place safely. This job fell to TfL
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
