Larry Lard wrote
[...]
The 'it' you can't do without rearranging stations: make such a map
where commuting time is represented by distance;

What you *can* do: make such a map where isochrones are explicitly
overlaid on a geographical map, obviating any need to rearrange
stations.

At some point the 'it' changed and I failed to notice...

Yes. Thank you.

I really didn't do this on purpose.

The OP referred to distorted maps where travel time to a central point
was represented by distance.

John Rowland and others (reference to 'bubbles') were considering
overlays on standard geographical maps.

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20040828/bob8.asp and links
for explanation/discussion of weird maps, based on population and so
forth.

--
Mike D