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• Shows a brand new direct line from Birmingham to Cardiff, that doesn't exist; • Shows Nottingham on the direct Derby-Sheffield main line (when it isn't); • On what appears to be a geographic map - shows Stansted on the south coast alongside Brighton; • Captions poorly positioned, inconsistent relationship between blob size and caption size (ie Crewe is light type with bold blob), odd spikiness at Carstairs when rest of map is curvy.
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I think this was produced by the Department for Transport as part of the franchise development process. It has appeared in many magazines from June 2006 through to December 2007. One of the problems is combining a national network with local services meaning that, for example, Birmingham suburban stations have to be shown, which distorts those areas.
1 Uses 51º instead of the usual 45º, but 54º for the angled captions.
2 Shows Droitwich Spa on the Bristol - Birmingham main line when it is on a loop (although this was corrected on the later version, right). Stoke-Crewe was also added (poorly). The new Bristol-Cardiff also badly added.
3 It's all a bit amateur with poor station spacing and alignment with captions (Cardiff Central, Sheffield), an unnecessary bend between Lancaster and Carlisle, a missing station circle at Whittlesea, abbreviated station names at Attenboro' and Wakefield W'gate, too much leading when station names fall onto two lines (Cheltenham Spa, Bristol Parkway).
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This map is obviously based on Virgins map (the previous franchise holder). This wasn't too bad to start with but when altered by others has inevitably lost some of the original design concept.
1 Uses 32º and 42º rather than the usual 45º.
2 Shows a Birmingham - Cardiff service via Bristol Temple Meads that doesn't reverse.
3 Birmingham New Street is the only station to show lines linking station circles. For the hub of the network this is a bit too delicate. The mind boggles at how you get from the red route to the purple.
5 The loops in Cheshire and Yorkshire disadvantage one route.
6 Bends vary from very sharp (Macclesfield) to very soft (Nottingham).
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