London Overground: New names for its six lines revealed

[6Foot2]

NOTE: Not a political post: No political replies are expected, nor are they invited.

 

Link: London Overground: New names for its six lines revealed - BBC News

 

 

The new names of London's six Overground lines have been revealed, significantly changing the look of the famous Tube map.

 

Last August, Transport for London (TfL) announced it wanted to give the routes distinct identities to make it easier for passengers to navigate the network.

 

The services will become known as the Lioness line; the Mildmay line; the Windrush line; the Weaver line; the Suffragette line; and the Liberty line.

 

Each will also have its own colour.

 

TfL said it had worked with customers, stakeholders, historians, industry experts and local communities, with the names representing the areas the lines travel through, while marking London's history and cultural diversity.

 

The Tube map, created by Harry Beck in 1933, has become a London and global icon with a simple and easy design.

 

But, critics say the map is getting too busy - after the Thameslink route and Elizabeth line were recently introduced.

 

While the London Overground's orange suburban spaghetti line which orbited the capital was not the easiest to work out, TfL's designers hope the new design improves the travel experience for commuters.

 

The six lines on the Overground - which is currently only marked with one colour, and is fondly nicknamed by some as the Ginger line - are to be given the following names and colours:

 

• The Lioness line: Euston to Watford Junction - Running through Wembley, the name is to honour the achievements of the England women's football team. On the map it will be marked with yellow parallel lines
  
• The Mildmay line: Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction - It has been named after the small charitable hospital in Shoreditch, which played an important role during the HIV/Aids crisis in the 1980s. On the map it will be marked with blue parallel lines
  
• The Windrush line: Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon - Running through several areas with strong ties to Caribbean communities, including Dalston Junction, Peckham Rye and West Croydon, it has been named to honour the Windrush community. On the map it will be marked with red parallel lines
  
• The Weaver line: Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford - With stops including Liverpool Street, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Hackney, the route travels through several areas of London known for their importance in the textile trade. On the map it will be marked with maroon parallel lines
  
• The Suffragette line: Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside - Named to celebrate how London's East End working-class community fought for women's rights, the line also runs to Barking, home of the longest-surviving suffragette, Annie Huggett, who died aged 103. On the map it will be marked with green parallel lines
  
• The Liberty line: Romford to Upminster - According to TfL, it is named "to reference the historical independence of the people of the borough of Havering", through which it runs, as well as the celebrating "a defining feature of London". On the map it will be marked with grey parallel lines
  

Explaining the changes, London transport commissioner Andy Lord said on route maps the Overground "is currently shown as a complicated network of orange", which could be "confusing for customers less familiar with the network".

 

"These new names and line colours will simplify the maps and routes for our customers, and it is hoped it will encourage more people to make the most of our services." ...

 

Before renaming the lines were (alphabetically)

 

East London line

Gospel Oak to Barking line

North London line

South London line

Watford DC line

West London line

Edited February 15, 2024 by 6Foot2
Formatting. :(

[Zoom7000]

Before renaming the lines were (alphabetically)

 

East London line

Gospel Oak to Barking line

North London line

South London line

Watford DC line

West London line

 

I never knew the lines had old names! I'd always just called them the London Overground!

[Norphy]

I never knew the lines had old names! I'd always just called them the London Overground!

 

I suppose that's the point of the exercise! Having a massive splodge of orange on the TFL map makes you think that things are more interconnected than they actually are. Hopefully this will clarify things a little.

 

Come to think of it, they could probably do the same to the DLR as well...

[FN-GM]

East London line

Gospel Oak to Barking line

North London line

South London line

Watford DC line

West London line

 

The new names are certainly a little more interesting and creative!

 

Liberty Line sounds very American to me. Not something I associate with London.

Edited February 15, 2024 by 6Foot2

[HarryMonkey]

 

Sorry, couldn't resist

[SimplyJade]

I never knew the lines had old names! I'd always just called them the London Overground!

Aha same!

 

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