Londoners' fury as Thames disappears from Tube map

(17 September 2009)

The River Thames and fare zones have disappeared from the latest London Tube map.

Transport bosses decided to remove the capital's river and its six zones - which indicate the likely cost of a journey - to "de-clutter" the London Underground map. 

The zoneless map was distributed last weekend at the city's Tube and train stations, although there was no formal announcement of the change.

However, after many Londoners and even the city's mayor, Boris Johnson, expressed their anger and confusion over the changes, Transport for London (TfL) announced it will restore the iconic river to the map when it is next redesigned in December.

A TfL spokeswoman said: "The overwhelming public reaction is that the Tube and Thames should be reunited, so that's exactly what we will do."

Earlier Mr Johnson, who returned from a business visit to New York yesterday, voiced his discontent on networking site Twitter: "Can't believe that the Thames disappeared off the tube map whilst I was out the country! It will be reinstated."

TfL also said it will look again at its decision to erase the zone system.

The current London Underground map is based on the original design created by Harry Beck, a draftsman, in the early 1930s.

See the revised London Tube map and the Tube map before the changes.