London Lite, one of the free newspapers littering the landscape of the capital, was short of news recently. That is the only reason I can think of for it using its front page to criticise Transport for London (TfL) for leaving the River Thames off its latest underground map.

I have news for London Lite. If they actually used the London Underground, they'd find that there are only two lines from which one can see the river at all - and they are way out in the far west of the capital. All the rest are (surprise!) underground - or under water - when they cross the Thames. So the river is massively irrelevant to users of the underground network - unlike the situation in Paris, New York or Hamburg where you can get spectacular views of the rivers.

If they want a real issue to criticise, try TfL's treatment of First Capital Connect's Thameslink cross-London line, not part of the London underground but certainly a valuable part of the transport network in the city. It is not on the versions of the underground map shown in London Lite, despite the good connections it provides - connections which are especially valuable while Blackfriars underground station is closed for reconstruction.

Moreover, the station staff at Farringdon, warning passengers of the closure of Blackfriars, routinely advise passengers to use the stations either side (Temple or Mansion House) instead - completely ignoring the fact that there are through Thameslink trains to Blackfriars six times an hour direct from Farringdon, which would be quicker and far more convenient than going half-way round the Circle Line to the wrong station!

How about real issues in newspapers, please?