I suspect the actual number is higher than 11, because the map is a liar. Look closely: the Piccadilly line, the Northern line, and the Jubilee all have branches that split off like a nervous tree. The Northern line alone has two main branches (the Charing Cross and Bank branches), plus the Mill Hill East spur. Should those count as separate lines? If they do, we’re at 15 or 16 real running routes, and the official count suddenly looks like a cover-up.
Then there’s the Night Tube. On Friday and Saturday nights, five lines run all night: the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria. So, do we count the “Night” version as a separate entity? It’s the same tracks, but with drun
