Posted 21 hours ago

London Overground line rename

Just received the following email from TfL. Thoughts on the rename?



We're naming the London Overground lines to make the network easier to navigate and reflect the Capital's diverse history. We aim to make the changes by the end of 2024.

Each of the 6 routes that make up the London Overground will be given a new name and its own colour. Giving each of the 6 London Overground routes an individual line colour lets us improve the way our customers experience our network. It also gives each line their own name and identity.
  • Euston to Watford Junction line – will be called the Lioness line – and will be yellow
  • Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction line - will be called the Mildmay line – and will be blue
  • Highbury & Islington to New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon/Clapham Junction line – will be called the Windrush line - and will be red
  • Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford line – will be called the Weaver line – and will be maroon
  • Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside line – will be called the Suffragette line – and will be green
  • Romford to Upminster line – will be called the Liberty line – and will be grey

To find out more information, please click here.

In addition, specific improvements will also include:
• Greater customer confidence  
• Clearer wayfinding
• Clearer service disruption information 

London Overground will remain as the umbrella brand, keeping the iconic orange roundel. Click here to see the new Overground map. These changes will not affect London Overground services, and customers will still be able to make the same journeys.

Yours sincerely,

Rory O'Neill
General Manager, London Overground
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  1. abigsmurf's avatar
    The Suffragettes bombed a train, killing the driver, a bit ironic then naming a line after them.

    The Liberty line... Clearly the best way to celebrate London is to make people think they're in the US

    These lines stand a good chance of being around for over 100 years, are the people of the future really going to feel it noteworthy the Lionesses won the European cup 100 years ago? Doesn't exactly rank next to the Battle of Trafalgar in historical importance.

    Just name them after the locations they run through, if you can't decide on a location, just name it after the current monarch. It's been a pretty reliable tactic so far.
  2. Feargal's avatar
    I worked for over 8 years on the tube. Very sad to hear this nonsense today. Complete waste of money and now makes things a lot more confusing. Khan has an ego that knows no bounds, once again trying to stamp his "legacy" in the dying months of his reign.
    Tuta's avatar
    I don't think the names are particularly catchy or brilliant choices but in what way is Khan using this to stamp his legacy? They are all somewhat relevant to the areas they serve.

    I would agree if it were something as gauche of "Boris Bikes".
  3. airbus330's avatar
    6-7 million quid? I'd have thought a start to sorting out a the Metropolitan police who have been a better use of the money.
    Tuta's avatar
    Are you familiar with budgets?
  4. SaturdayGigs's avatar
    More gibberish
    SADIQ Khan sparked fury today as he splurged £6m of taxpayer's cash wokifying the London overground.

    The Mayor of London was accused of "virtue signalling nonsense" as he announced new names and colours for six lines.

    "Giving each of the Overground lines distinct colours and identities will make it simpler and easier for passengers to get around.

    "In re-imagining London’s tube map, we are also honouring and celebrating different parts of London’s unique local history and culture."

    But Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall blasted the renaming as a waste of money.

    She said: "The Central line is in a terrible state, TfL is wasting money left, right and centre, crime on the Tube is soaring, and Sadiq Khan is ignoring all of this to focus on his own PR.

    Former cabinet minister Lord Frost said: "The London tradition is that public transport lines are given a name either with a royal connection or one related to the line's geography.

    "Giving them political names is, whether one agrees with the politics or not, a break with that tradition.

    "It's part of the general forced politicisation of so many aspects of our daily life nowadays. Of course one would expect nothing better from Sadiq Khan and his appallingly poor management of TfL and of London."
    (edited)
  5. ApolloCreedXXX's avatar
    7 million pounds and a waste of money.
  6. TristanDeCoonha's avatar
    What was wrong with naming by route number, or after the colour. You would only need one bit of info then. You still need to follow the colour to find your station using the name method.
    Using a line number would mean easier signage, so those who are colourblind could easily find their way. The historical references will be lost on many
    jon81uk's avatar
    Colourblind people can still read so doesn't make a difference between numbers or names for lines.

    I think names are more memorable, someone is more likely to know they need the Weaver line, not just line 3.
  7. bozo007's avatar
    For all the rage about the money being wasted, I think this makes the Overground easier to understand for those who visit London or are not familiar with the public transport options. It also integrates it with the rest of the system which has names.

    As for the cost, it is not even 0.1% of the TfL annual budget of around £9-10B compared to the billions spent on HS2.
  9. VeganPolice's avatar
    Why are they all in English if they're trying to celebrate its diverse history?

    We have one with Latin signage. 52207574-Oif1Q.jpg
    52207574-InUPF.jpg
  10. Satchmo's avatar
    Is this a wind-up !!!
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