Done for the GIS course, Umeå Universitet 2008

1. Madrid’s Metro System Maps

2. KEYFACTS
 Started operating in 1919 (King Alfonso XIII)
 Oldest: London (1863)
 # Lines: 13 (1st NYC with 26)
 # Stations: 231 (5th, 1st NYC with 422)
 Length: 283 Km (3rd, 1st London with 408)
 Total Passengers (2007): 690 millions
(14th , 1st Tokyo with 1916 millions)
 Has grown from 114 Km in 1995 to 283 Km in 2007
(169 New Km in 12 years ~ 14,1 New Km/Year)

3. Table of Comparison
“Old” Map New Map
Respects
Yes No
distances
Sense of reality Good Bad
Ease of use Good ¿Very? Good
Appearence Nice ¿Nicer?

4. Who’s behind the maps?
 “Old” Map:  New Map:
 Comunidad de Madrid
& CTM
Rafael Sañudo
(consejeria de transportes
e infraeestructuras)

5. Questions
 Who is the author?
 What kind of map is it?
 What is the map’s purpose?
 Who is the audience?
 Is it possible to misinterpret the map?
 What may improve the map?

6. QUESTIONS FOR THE CLASS
 What may improve (an underground
network) map?
 What makes a good (underground
network) map?

7. Links & Sources
 http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/224418/0/plano/metro/debate/ (new
map article)
 http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=463947 (survey #1)
 http://www.20minutos.es/minuteca/metro-de-madrid/ (survey #2)
 http://urbanity.blogsome.com/2005/12/30/metro-de-madrid-evolucion-historica/
(evolution of the network)
 http://www.esmuz.net/blog/2005/01/el-plano-de-metro.html (subway’s
maps from the point of view of a graphic designer)
 http://www.20minutos.es/galeria/2347/0/0/ (photogallery)
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Beck_(graphic_designer)
 http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/224865/0/nuevo/mapa/metro/ (Madrid’s
new metro map designer)
 http://www.raro.net/ (Madrid’s new metro map designer’s website)
 http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?
id=517815832&ref=mf#/group.php?gid=25126229252 (Facebook group
agains the new map)