A new tube map has been released ahead of the official launch of TfL Rail services out to Reading in a couple of weeks time. As befits a map famous for its stretched attention to geographical accuracy, Reading is shown as being close to North-West London, when in fact it’s a considerable distance from it.

But those contortions do mean that they can fit the long line stretching out to Berkshire onto the standard map.

As previously warned, the new extension is however outside the Oyster card zones, so you’ll need to buy an actually goodness paper ticket to use the new stations.

Between 15 December 2019 and 2 January 2020, existing national rail fares will apply. Children under 11 who are accompanied by an adult, as well as customers who are eligible for the Freedom Pass, will be able to travel for free to Reading on the TfL service.

Customers will be able to use contactless pay as you go (but not Oyster) between London Paddington and Reading from 2 January 2020. From this date, TfL Rail fares will be aligned with the National Rail fares to Reading, which have now been confirmed as £24.40 for a peak adult pay as you go journey between Reading and London Paddington (with the off-peak fare of £10.60). Daily and weekly capping are expected to be introduced in spring 2020.

The other major change to the “tube” map is that it’s added in connections for the river services. These have long been shown on the map, with a small boat next to the tube station name, but now show up as a proper interchange with the railway services.

Although Canary Wharf doesn’t as it’s more than a 10 minute walk from the tube station.

Whether this new change a good way of showing off additional travel options, or just confusing casual users that they can use their tube ticket on a boat will be keenly watched. It’s certainly a change though to highlight river services, for those who remember those dark few hours when to much horror, the river was removed from the tube map entirely.

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13 comments
  1. Duncan Hawkins says:

    It doesn’t show on the map the new Meridian Water Station north of Tottenham Hale that is now open.

  2. Gordon jackson says:

    Does anyone know if the acceptance of Freedom passes to Reading includes 60+ Oyster Photocards?

  3. Freddie says:

    Ooh, Reading for free on freedom card, and just a week after I paid to go there albeit on a fast train from Paddington….
    As ever, Ian, great information.

  4. timbo says:

    Last time I looked, Reading, Twyford and Maidenhead were south of the Thames!

  5. Kevin Roche says:

    It’s a bit annoying that I can’t use my Senior Bus pass to get to reading from Basingstoke easily as there are no buses any more, but Londoners using Freedom passes can go there for free.

    The direct bus service was cancelled some time ago. I think it was when stagecoach were running both buses and trains.

    • ianvisits says:

      Londoners pay taxes to the GLA to fund the service for Londoners, so if you are willing for Basingstoke council to raise your council tax, I am sure you could lobby for the same benefits as well.

    • MilesT says:

      Traveline Southeast website shows that you can get between Basingtoke and Reading by bus, at least on weekdays. Needs 2-3 buses, taking 2-3 hours

  6. Dave says:

    Tube Map; ok for tourists, but I never use one. Living ‘sarf of da rivah’ I always have with me the larger, London’s Rail and Tube Services map. And when folded in half it easily slips into the pocket. It shows Southern, Southeastern, Southwestern suburban services and vitally Thameslinks N/S connection. And to a lesser extent for me suburban services out of Moorgate and Liverpool Street and the main line routes.
    So, I’ll be updating mine for Reading and again when the Elizabeth line eventually opens.

  7. MilesT says:

    What’s not immediately clear to me is

    1/ Will TfL Rail sell/accept a off peak return ticket with network card discount from Paddington to Reading
    2/ Will TfL Rail be applying a “single leg” pricing structure (i.e. returns 2 x single price, allowing for peak/off peak)
    3/ Will a journey from Paddington to Reading between 18:00-19:00 weekday evenings would count as peak for contactless.

    And how this changes over next 3 months. Relevant to me as am planning an evening round trip next week, with repeats in the new year

    Answering my own questions through the national rail website (for late Dec and mid Jan)
    1/ Network railcard discount for off peak (paper ticket) seems to be yes
    2/ TfL not moving to single leg pricing (in the way that e.g. LNER is piloting for some routes), can still buy a paper ticket return which is cheaper than 2 singles
    3/ PAD-RDG from 1800-1900 counts as peak for contactless on TfL rail, but not for paper tickets.

    Upshot on this route is that contactless is not same/sometimes cheaper, which is contrary to the general message TfL gives out of contactless vs oyster vs paper ticket (on Tube). For off peak and many return trips, paper ticket is cheaper. Which is a bit poor

  8. Alistair Twiname says:

    looks like they have graphically cleared the way for the central section as well

    I guess this is the route it’ll take
    https://imgur.com/O5EUTuI

    though barbican and farringdon will need to shuffle around a but. I wonder if they will do dotted lines to oxford circus?

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