Fantasy Map: Freshwater Railway, Detroit and Southeast Michigan This map has to be part of the most convincing fantasy transit system I have ever seen. As well as this stylish and distinctive map, there’s an entire website, complete with additional bus maps, timetables and more. I’ll also note here that the website design puts most transit agencies to shame… If you weren’t familiar with Detroit, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was real (I kind of wonder how many tourists have been tricked into thinking this system exists). It’s only when you realise that the trains “depart” from the derelict Michigan Central Station (which is also Freshwater Rail’s business address), that the elaborate hoax is revealed. Have we been there? Yes, to visit my father-in-law. He lives in South Lyon and works at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, so he’d still have to drive to work unless the connections were remarkably good… What we like: Attractive and distinctive map, based on 30-degree angles instead of the usual 45. It’s nice to see a map that forges its own identity and is not afraid to look different, even if it’s not real. The pastel route lines with their thick black borders are surprisingly effective, and together with the typeface chosen (Brandon Grotesque), create a lovely Art Deco feel to the whole map. Part of a greater, entirely cohesive whole - this is seriously impressive work. What we don’t like: Not entirely in favour of the type angled up at 60 degrees, as I feel it makes the map harder to read, but acknowledge that it suits the design aesthetic of the map quite well. Our rating: Astounding. 5 stars! (Source: Freshwater Railway website - WARNING: EXTREMELY CONVINCING!)

Fantasy Map: Freshwater Railway, Detroit and Southeast Michigan

This map has to be part of the most convincing fantasy transit system I have ever seen. As well as this stylish and distinctive map, there’s an entire website, complete with additional bus maps, timetables and more. I’ll also note here that the website design puts most transit agencies to shame…

If you weren’t familiar with Detroit, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was real (I kind of wonder how many tourists have been tricked into thinking this system exists). It’s only when you realise that the trains “depart” from the derelict Michigan Central Station (which is also Freshwater Rail’s business address), that the elaborate hoax is revealed.

Have we been there? Yes, to visit my father-in-law. He lives in South Lyon and works at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, so he’d still have to drive to work unless the connections were remarkably good…

What we like: Attractive and distinctive map, based on 30-degree angles instead of the usual 45. It’s nice to see a map that forges its own identity and is not afraid to look different, even if it’s not real. The pastel route lines with their thick black borders are surprisingly effective, and together with the typeface chosen (Brandon Grotesque), create a lovely Art Deco feel to the whole map. Part of a greater, entirely cohesive whole - this is seriously impressive work.

What we don’t like: Not entirely in favour of the type angled up at 60 degrees, as I feel it makes the map harder to read, but acknowledge that it suits the design aesthetic of the map quite well.

Our rating: Astounding. 5 stars!

5 Stars!

(Source: Freshwater Railway website - WARNING: EXTREMELY CONVINCING!)

  1. 23rd May 2012
  2. Notes: 46
    3. #transit map #cartography #fantasy #Detroit #Ann Arbor #Michigan #USA #United States of America #commuter rail #5 stars
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.
Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936 Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to. All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out: The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period. The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach. The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.

Historical Maps: Berlin S- and U-Bahn Maps, 1910-1936

Wow. Just wow. These amazing transit maps of early 20th Century Berlin are just a few samples of the maps that can be found at the BerlinerVerkehr website - an absolute treasure trove that transit geeks like me can easily lose hours to.

All of these maps are of interest, but there’s a few things that really stand out:

  • The “Hoch-und Untergrundbahn” logo used on the 1914 and 1918 maps closely echoes the similar “London Underground” logo of the same time period.
  • The clearly diagrammatic nature of some of the maps, even as early as 1923 (ten years before Beck’s London Underground diagram!). The 1926 U-Bahn map eschews geography completely, while the 1931 S-Bahn map - with its stylised and perfectly circular Ring Line - looks almost modern in its approach.
  • The 1930 Railways and S-Bahn map is actually a historical overview of the history of the network to that date, with colour coding delineating which years certain lines were built in.

5 Stars!

  1. 25th April 2012
  2. Notes: 72
    3. #historical #transit map #subway map #cartography #design #Berlin #Germany #S-Bahn #U-Bahn #5 stars
Unofficial Historical Map: An Animated History of the MBTA This is something you just have to look at: an amazing animated timeline of the Boston MBTA Subway over at Andrew Lynch’s Vanshnookenraggen blog (check out his future MBTA maps while you’re there). To my mind, this work is far superior to the animated history of the New York Subway map that was floating around the interwebs a little while back: it’s clearly dated on the map, it’s fully annotated, and even has a slide show version below the animated GIF so you can flick through the years at your own pace. What’s fascinating to me is the almost complete reinvention of transit in Boston as the original elevated lines get torn down and replaced by subway. An amazing work, and fully worthy of a 5 star rating. I’m not going to steal Andrew’s thunder by posting the full GIF here: click on the image or here to visit his site and watch the years roll by!

Unofficial Historical Map: An Animated History of the MBTA

This is something you just have to look at: an amazing animated timeline of the Boston MBTA Subway over at Andrew Lynch’s Vanshnookenraggen blog (check out his future MBTA maps while you’re there).

To my mind, this work is far superior to the animated history of the New York Subway map that was floating around the interwebs a little while back: it’s clearly dated on the map, it’s fully annotated, and even has a slide show version below the animated GIF so you can flick through the years at your own pace. What’s fascinating to me is the almost complete reinvention of transit in Boston as the original elevated lines get torn down and replaced by subway.

An amazing work, and fully worthy of a 5 star rating. I’m not going to steal Andrew’s thunder by posting the full GIF here: click on the image or here to visit his site and watch the years roll by!

5 Stars!

  1. 5th April 2012
  2. Notes: 34
    3. #transit map #subway map #cartography #subway #animation #Boston #MBTA #massachusetts #USA #United States of America #5 stars #unofficial #historical
Historical Map: Harry Beck’s 1961 Victoria Line Tube Map Proposal Having a London Underground kind of week… When people ask me what my favourite version of the London Tube Map is, I always show them this. By 1961, Harry Beck was no longer responsible for producing the Tube map, it having been forcibly passed on to Harold Hutchison. However, more out of hope than anything else, he continued to produce new mockups of the map which he passed on to London Transport for consideration, including this beautiful one from 1961. It was returned to Beck with a curt letter in December 1961, making it obvious that London Transport had no intention of rehiring him to work on future maps. Have we been there? Yes. What we like: A simply gorgeous hand rendering of the Tube Map. The stand out element to me is Beck’s masterful treatment of the proposed Victoria Line, which runs at a perfect 45-degree diagonal from end-to-end. He had to rebuild the entire map to achieve this, but the end result is worth the effort. Compare this treatment to today’s Tube Map, where the Victoria Line runs at unconvincing angles to fit into the existing layout. What we don’t like: Strangely, the Piccadilly Line spur to Aldwych runs inside and then across the main line, when it would be simpler to run it straight down on the right. An unusually complicated detail from a man so normally driven to simplify and clarify. Our rating: The apotheosis of the Beck style. Almost everything is reduced to its simplest form. His ability to take apart his own work and put it back together in a more compelling form has never been better shown. 5 stars. (Source: Scanned from my personal copy of “Mr. Beck’s Diagram” by Ken Garland, Capital Transport Publishing, 1994)

Historical Map: Harry Beck’s 1961 Victoria Line Tube Map Proposal

Having a London Underground kind of week…

When people ask me what my favourite version of the London Tube Map is, I always show them this. By 1961, Harry Beck was no longer responsible for producing the Tube map, it having been forcibly passed on to Harold Hutchison. However, more out of hope than anything else, he continued to produce new mockups of the map which he passed on to London Transport for consideration, including this beautiful one from 1961. It was returned to Beck with a curt letter in December 1961, making it obvious that London Transport had no intention of rehiring him to work on future maps.

Have we been there? Yes.

What we like: A simply gorgeous hand rendering of the Tube Map. The stand out element to me is Beck’s masterful treatment of the proposed Victoria Line, which runs at a perfect 45-degree diagonal from end-to-end. He had to rebuild the entire map to achieve this, but the end result is worth the effort. Compare this treatment to today’s Tube Map, where the Victoria Line runs at unconvincing angles to fit into the existing layout.

What we don’t like: Strangely, the Piccadilly Line spur to Aldwych runs inside and then across the main line, when it would be simpler to run it straight down on the right. An unusually complicated detail from a man so normally driven to simplify and clarify.

Our rating: The apotheosis of the Beck style. Almost everything is reduced to its simplest form. His ability to take apart his own work and put it back together in a more compelling form has never been better shown. 5 stars.

5 Stars!

(Source: Scanned from my personal copy of “Mr. Beck’s Diagram” by Ken Garland, Capital Transport Publishing, 1994)

  1. 8th January 2012
  2. Notes: 28
    3. #transit map #subway map #Tube Map #London Underground #Harry Beck #subway #Underground #unofficial #historical #5 stars
Fantasy Map: Vignelli-Style New York Subway Ampersand It’s NYC day here at Transit Maps! This impressive work by Pentagram’s Luke Hayman for Amsterdam-based interior design magazine Eigen Huis & Interieur combines their masthead ampersand with Massimo Vignelli’s subway map. Created for the magazine’s New York issue, the map’s “stations” represent New York design icons, people and institutions. Visit Pentagram’s page about the work for more details: you can even download a poster-sized PDF of the map. Our rating: Awesome! Five stars!

Fantasy Map: Vignelli-Style New York Subway Ampersand

It’s NYC day here at Transit Maps! This impressive work by Pentagram’s Luke Hayman for Amsterdam-based interior design magazine Eigen Huis & Interieur combines their masthead ampersand with Massimo Vignelli’s subway map. Created for the magazine’s New York issue, the map’s “stations” represent New York design icons, people and institutions. Visit Pentagram’s page about the work for more details: you can even download a poster-sized PDF of the map.

Our rating: Awesome! Five stars!

5 Stars!

  1. 30th November 2011
  2. Notes: 52
    3. #transit map #fantasy #cartography #Massimo Vignelli #New York #subway #USA #United States of America #5 stars
Unofficial Map: The Accessible Underground, 2007 Older transit systems like the London Underground face huge problems with access for disabled users. Originally constructed at a time when such things were not thought about, retrofitting is expensive and difficult. Sometimes, even stations that rely on elevators for platform access - like Russell Square on the Piccadilly Line - are still not wheelchair-accessible, because there’s still a flight of stairs between the elevator and the platform. So what does the London Underground look like for a disabled user? That’s what this intelligent and disarmingly simple diagram attempts to show. By simply deleting non-accessible stations from the famous Tube map, a stark picture is presented. Only on the newer Jubilee and Docklands Light Rail lines are there a decent amount of accessible stations. The original author counts just 82 out of a total 275 stations (33 percent) as having access in 2007. Matters have improved somewhat in the last few years, with the current Tube Map (PDF), showing quite a few more stations with access, as well as differentiating between step-free platform access and step-free train access - an important distinction that takes “Mind The Gap” to its logical extreme. Our rating: Thought-provoking. 5 stars. (Source: Just Urbanism website)

Unofficial Map: The Accessible Underground, 2007

Older transit systems like the London Underground face huge problems with access for disabled users. Originally constructed at a time when such things were not thought about, retrofitting is expensive and difficult. Sometimes, even stations that rely on elevators for platform access - like Russell Square on the Piccadilly Line - are still not wheelchair-accessible, because there’s still a flight of stairs between the elevator and the platform.

So what does the London Underground look like for a disabled user? That’s what this intelligent and disarmingly simple diagram attempts to show. By simply deleting non-accessible stations from the famous Tube map, a stark picture is presented. Only on the newer Jubilee and Docklands Light Rail lines are there a decent amount of accessible stations. The original author counts just 82 out of a total 275 stations (33 percent) as having access in 2007.

Matters have improved somewhat in the last few years, with the current Tube Map (PDF), showing quite a few more stations with access, as well as differentiating between step-free platform access and step-free train access - an important distinction that takes “Mind The Gap” to its logical extreme.

Our rating: Thought-provoking. 5 stars.

5 Stars!

(Source: Just Urbanism website)

  1. 2nd November 2011
  2. Notes: 68
    3. #unofficial #London Underground #Tube #London #England #United Kingdom #Europe #transit map #cartography #subway #disabled #disabilities #5 stars
Historical Map: Stuttgart VVS Map, circa 2000 Without a doubt, this has to be one of my favourite transit maps ever. As far as I know, this isometric approach is unique and it is staggeringly effective. Everything is beautifully labelled, and lovely icons highlight important sites like the zoo, museums and sports stadiums. Unfortunately, this stunning map has since been replaced by a far more conventional diagram - a great loss in my opinion. Have we been there? I’ve changed trains at the Hauptbahnhof, but have never ventured into the city itself. What we like: The clever three-dimensional representation of the Hauptbahnhof, complete with corner tower, does a lot to complete the illusion of dimensionality. The isometric layout is a clever way of allowing all the type to be set horizontally without hitting route lines. Subtly different line weights for the S-Bahn and U-Bahn work really well. What we don’t like: The isometric effect is so effective and convincing that the one and only horizontal line - the R31 across the top of the diagram - looks strangely out of place. Our rating: Undeniably brilliant. 5 stars. (Source: Stuttgart City Information Site)

Historical Map: Stuttgart VVS Map, circa 2000

Without a doubt, this has to be one of my favourite transit maps ever. As far as I know, this isometric approach is unique and it is staggeringly effective. Everything is beautifully labelled, and lovely icons highlight important sites like the zoo, museums and sports stadiums. Unfortunately, this stunning map has since been replaced by a far more conventional diagram - a great loss in my opinion.

Have we been there? I’ve changed trains at the Hauptbahnhof, but have never ventured into the city itself.

What we like: The clever three-dimensional representation of the Hauptbahnhof, complete with corner tower, does a lot to complete the illusion of dimensionality. The isometric layout is a clever way of allowing all the type to be set horizontally without hitting route lines. Subtly different line weights for the S-Bahn and U-Bahn work really well.

What we don’t like: The isometric effect is so effective and convincing that the one and only horizontal line - the R31 across the top of the diagram - looks strangely out of place.

Our rating: Undeniably brilliant. 5 stars.

5 Stars!

(Source: Stuttgart City Information Site)

  1. 28th October 2011
  2. Notes: 48
    3. #5 stars #Europe #Germany #Stuttgart #cartography #commuter rail #historical #isometric #official #subway #tram #transit map #aerial lift
Historical Map: San Francisco Market Street Railway Company Routes, 1931 An absolutely stunning overhead perspective drawing of San Francisco in this old cable car company map of services. The Golden Gate bridge does not exist yet, and fares to any part of the city (including transfers) are just five cents. Have we been there? Yes, but the remaining cable cars are now just a sad, touristy reminder of what there once was. What we like: Just about everything. The draftsmanship, and detailing is extraordinary - this is all drawn by hand! The unusual aerial perspective of the city is both effective and eye-catching. Nice use of limited colours: this looks like a three-colour print job (black, red, green). What we don’t like: Perhaps a little difficult to decipher individual services, but it seems this map is part of a booklet that provides greater detail on other pages, so even this is not much of a fault. Our rating: 5 stars! (Source: Eric Fischer/Flickr - visit to see a high-res version!)

Historical Map: San Francisco Market Street Railway Company Routes, 1931

An absolutely stunning overhead perspective drawing of San Francisco in this old cable car company map of services. The Golden Gate bridge does not exist yet, and fares to any part of the city (including transfers) are just five cents.

Have we been there? Yes, but the remaining cable cars are now just a sad, touristy reminder of what there once was.

What we like: Just about everything. The draftsmanship, and detailing is extraordinary - this is all drawn by hand! The unusual aerial perspective of the city is both effective and eye-catching. Nice use of limited colours: this looks like a three-colour print job (black, red, green).

What we don’t like: Perhaps a little difficult to decipher individual services, but it seems this map is part of a booklet that provides greater detail on other pages, so even this is not much of a fault.

Our rating: 5 stars!

5 Stars!

(Source: Eric Fischer/Flickr - visit to see a high-res version!)

  1. 24th October 2011
  2. Notes: 51
    3. #California #San Francisco #USA #United States of America #bus #cable car #cartography #historical #transit map #5 stars
Unofficial Map: MBTA Commuter Rail System This is possibly the best transit diagram I have seen submitted to Wikipedia. Lovely, minimalistic design with bright, eye-catching colours and good typography. No geography at all, which is actually appropriate for a heavy rail system like this - used most by commuters who travel the length of their line from their home station (on a spoke) to the city (hub). Have We Been There? I’ve been to Boston, but haven’t travelled on the commuter rail system. What We Like: Clean design, bright colours, easy-to-read all-horizontal type. What We Don’t Like: Not a lot to dislike about this. Some people may want an indication of connections to Boston’s subway lines, but that would ruin the simplicity. Our rating: 5 stars! (Source: Robert McConnell/Wikipedia)

Unofficial Map: MBTA Commuter Rail System

This is possibly the best transit diagram I have seen submitted to Wikipedia. Lovely, minimalistic design with bright, eye-catching colours and good typography. No geography at all, which is actually appropriate for a heavy rail system like this - used most by commuters who travel the length of their line from their home station (on a spoke) to the city (hub).

Have We Been There? I’ve been to Boston, but haven’t travelled on the commuter rail system.

What We Like: Clean design, bright colours, easy-to-read all-horizontal type.

What We Don’t Like: Not a lot to dislike about this. Some people may want an indication of connections to Boston’s subway lines, but that would ruin the simplicity.

Our rating: 5 stars!

5 Stars!

(Source: Robert McConnell/Wikipedia)

  1. 20th October 2011
  2. Notes: 53
    3. #Boston #MBTA #Massachusetts #USA #United States of America #cartography #commuter rail #diagram #transit map #unofficial #5 stars