What do the new London Overground line names mean?
London Overground rail lines will be given new names and colours to make them easier to navigate in a £6.3 million overhaul, Sadiq Khan has announced.
The six names - Lioness, Mildmay, Windrush, Weaver, Suffragette and Liberty - were chosen to honour and celebrate “different parts of London’s unique local history and culture”, mayor Khan said. The upgrade, which will begin in the autumn, will require one of the biggest changes in the history of the capital’s Tube map.
London Overground lines have all been coloured orange on the map since the network was created in 2007 when Transport for London (TfL) took control of services on four suburban rail lines. The network has expanded significantly since then, creating what has been described as a “mass of orange spaghetti” on maps, making it difficult for some passengers to work out what train they need.
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Lioness (yellow)
The Lioness line is between Euston and Watford Junction. This honours the England women’s football team winning Euro 2022 at Wembley, which is on the line.
Mildmay (blue)
The Mildmay line is between Stratford and Richmond/Clapham Junction. The Mildmay Mission Hospital in Shoreditch specialises in treating patients with HIV-related illnesses.
Windrush (red)
The Windrush line is between Highbury & Islington and Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon. The name honours the Windrush generation, who came to the UK from the Caribbean to fill labour shortages after the Second World War. The line runs through areas with communities linked to the Caribbean.
Weaver (maroon)
The Weaver line is between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford. The line runs through areas known for the textile trade.
Suffragette (green)
The Suffragette line is between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside. This is in tribute to the movement that fought for votes for women. Barking was home to suffragette Annie Huggett, who lived to 103.
Liberty (grey)
The Liberty line is between Romford and Upminster. This celebrates how Havering, which the line runs through, historically had more self-governance through being a royal liberty.
What has been the reaction to the new line names?
John Bull, editor of transport website London Reconnections, said giving the lines names and colours was “an overdue change”. He said: “One of the real benefits that the Overground has brought is the ability to drive traffic that isn’t local to interesting places in Zone 2, Zone 3 and beyond.
“But if it’s not a familiar journey you can’t just say ‘I’m going to get on the orange line’. You have to know how they interconnect.”
Andy Lord, London’s transport commissioner, suggested the current line could be difficult to understand, adding: “The network – which has grown quite considerably since 2007 – is currently shown as a complicated network of orange on maps. This can be confusing for customers less familiar with the network and could be a barrier for some wanting to use the London Overground.”
However, Conservative London mayoral candidate Susan Hall criticised the decision to spend money on the changes, saying: "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. I will listen to Londoners, fix the problems with TfL and get a grip of crime."
Keith Prince, transport spokesman for the Conservatives in City Hall, claimed the upgrades were “a wasted opportunity”, adding: “Sadiq Khan and TfL could have earned tens of millions of pounds by offering naming rights to Overground train lines. This money could have been invested in much needed upgrades to Central line trains and other infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, Mark Bullingham, chief executive officer for the Football Association (FA), was happy the England Women's team were being honoured. He said: "We’re so pleased to see the Mayor of London and Transport for London recognise the historic achievements of our England women’s team with the newly named Lioness line.
"The line honours the incredible victory in the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022 at Wembley Stadium connected by EE, and the lasting legacy this team is creating in inspiring the next generation."
