Useful map of London services unavailable

When I visit London, I always take a copy of the excellent map (produced by National Rail with, I understand, funding from Transport for London) called London’s Rail & Tube Services and London & the South East rail services.

It is updated several times a year and stocked in most National Rail stations, but of late it has not been available in London Underground stations.

Now a RAIL reader has told me that London Overground has ceased having it in racks, despite being part of National Rail. And when he asked for one recently, a member of staff admitted that they did have copies in a cupboard, but were told that they must not display them so that they are visible to passengers.

Our reader says he suspects that boxes of these excellent publications are lying dormant in station cupboards, not seeing the light of day until a new issue arrives, at which point the old ones are simply binned and replaced by the new ones.

He also thinks this is probably connected with the fact that TfL has ceased publishing all its own maps and wants to kill off this one too, to save having to contribute.

How I wish the Mayor of London would take an interest in the pitifully low standards of publicity that lets TfL down so badly.

Meanwhile, a serious incident occurred to another RAIL reader which is under investigation by London TravelWatch, but of which others should be aware.

He was to look after a group of 20 people flying from South Africa into London for a visit to the Diocese of London. Ready for this, he bought 20 Oyster Cards at Wembley Park, putting £10 credit on each, with the help of a member of staff who checked each card was valid. He paid £300 (including the £5 deposit for each card).

As the visitors arrived at Heathrow, he distributed the cards… and every one failed to work. It seems they were blank. Staff at Heathrow said they could do nothing, yet admitted “bulk purchases by credit card always get cancelled”.

He has since had a refund from TfL but no explanation. I shall report back when I hear from TravelWatch.