Beneath the bustling streets of London, the iconic Underground rail network operates, a daily routine for many in the capital.
Any seasoned commuter will tell you that standing to the left on an escalator is a no-no and striking up a conversation with fellow passengers is simply not done.
The release of an innovative Tube map design has caused quite a stir among commuters.
The man behind this masterpiece is Martin Bangratz. The original idea was born back in 2018 when he saw an all-encompassing aerial photo of the capital shared on Reddit.
Keen to bring his creative vision to life, Martin quickly sought permission from the photographer, @djsantero, to use the image as a backdrop for plotting the Tube’s labyrinthine routes.
Martin gave us an unparalleled bird’s eye view of how our beloved London transport map would look if viewed from the sky. He meticulously colour-coded each line to provide a clear visual representation of how these arteries bring life to every corner of the city.
Not one to leave any stone unturned, Martin then included the Overground, DLR and Waterloo and City lines into his grand cartography. It was made before the Elizabeth line opened, in case you’re wondering why it’s absent.
Eagle-eyed Redditors were swift in spotting a major issue – the insufficient number of Tube stations peppered around South London. A concerned user remarked: “South London tube really needs expanding.”
In agreement, another weighed in: “Yeah, no wonder the Northern and Victoria lines are always rammed.”
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Delving into geological reasons behind this inequality, a Redditor shared their knowledge: “I discovered a few days ago that the main reason is due to the geology of South London. North of the Thames is a thick layer of clay, which is ‘easy’ to tunnel through, or at least not dangerous. However the south is a very thin layer of clay and below that is waterlogged gravel and that makes it very hard and dangerous to tunnel through.”
Adding historical context to the discussion, someone mentioned: “Also South London was well-served by an extensive tram network during the time tube construction was fashionable.”
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