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Thursday, 15 February 2024

TfL Finally Launches Line Names For The London Overground Services To Make Wayfinding Easier!

Map of the Overground with line names
This has been long overdue, and it has finally been unveiled to make wayfinding easier for people navigating the public transport system in London. This is a follow up to my previous article, published in May 2022.

TfL Press release:

London’s Overground lines to be given new names and colours in historic change to capital’s transport network

• For the first time ever, each of London’s six Overground lines will be represented by a new name and line colour
• The new names have been chosen through engagement with customers, stakeholders, historians, industry experts and local communities
• New names, line colours and maps will make it easier for customers to navigate the London Overground and further build ridership, while celebrating London’s diverse communities and histories

In a historic re-imagining of London’s public transport network, each of London’s six overground lines will for the first time ever be given a unique name and line colour. This significant change, which will include a major update to London’s world-famous Tube map, will make it easier for customers to navigate London’s transport network while also celebrating the city’s diverse culture and history.

Research by Transport for London (TfL) has shown that some customers find the London Overground network confusing and would find it easier to navigate if it wasn’t one single colour and name.

Each route will be represented by a new line name and colour on the Tube map, on train line diagrams, at stations and on digital journey planning tools, such as TfL Go.  The much-loved orange roundel will continue to be used across the London Overground network.

The new line names are:

• The Lioness line: Euston to Watford Junction. The Lioness line, which runs through Wembley, honours the historic achievements and lasting legacy created by the England women’s football team that continues to inspire and empower the next generation of women and girls in sport. It will be yellow parallel lines on the map.
• The Mildmay line: Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction. The Mildmay line, which runs through Dalston, honours the small charitable hospital in Shoreditch that has cared for Londoners over many years, notably its pivotal role in the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, which made it the valued and respected place it is for the LGBTQ+ community today. It will be blue parallel lines on the map.
• The Windrush line: Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon. The Windrush line runs through areas with strong ties to Caribbean communities today, such as Dalston Junction, Peckham Rye and West Croydon and honours the Windrush generation who continue to shape and enrich London’s cultural and social identity today. It will be red parallel lines on the map.
• The Weaver line: Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford. The Weaver line runs through Liverpool Street, Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Hackney - areas of London known for their textile trade, shaped over the centuries by diverse migrant communities and individuals. It will be maroon parallel lines on the map.   
• The Suffragette line: Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside. The Suffragette line celebrates how the working-class movement in the East End, fought for votes for woman and paved the way for women’s rights. The line runs to Barking, home of the longest surviving Suffragette Annie Huggett, who died at 103. It will be green parallel lines on the map.  
• The Liberty line: Romford to Upminster. The Liberty line celebrates the freedom that is a defining feature of London and references the historical independence of the people of Havering, through which it runs. It will be grey parallel lines on the map.

Stakeholders, customers, historians, industry experts and communities have played a key role in suggesting the new names through independent engagement, which took place ahead of the decision for the final six names. This was key for the Mayor, as London’s diverse history and culture have always played a significant role in shaping the city and it was important for the line names, which will be used for years to come, to reflect this.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “This is a hugely exciting moment, transforming how we think about London’s transport network.

“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.

“The new names and colours have been chosen through engagement with passengers, historians and local communities, reflecting the heritage and diversity of our amazing city.” 

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “The London Overground is one of the most successful railways in the country and has grown to carry more than three million customers a week. The network, which has grown quite considerably since 2007, is currently shown as a complicated network of orange on route 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. 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.  It is also a great way to tell the stories of some important parts of London’s cultural diversity.”

Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive Officer for The Football Association, 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.”

Geoff Coleman, Chief Executive Officer for Mildmay Mission Hospital, said: “We are deeply honoured that the Mildmay line was chosen as one of the new London Overground lines names in recognition of the work of the dedicated doctors, nurses and support staff at the Mildmay Hospital.  From its humble origins in the 1860s - serving the poorest people of the East End - to its pivotal role during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s, Mildmay has evolved into an internationally renowned rehab centre, and our dedicated team continues to serve people from across London. More than just tracks and stations, the Mildmay line symbolises a journey of acceptance, love, and belonging – a vibrant thread connecting our collective past, present, and future.”

Arthur Torrington CBE, Co-founder and Director of the Windrush Foundation, said: “Windrush Foundation congratulates Transport for London for creating a new interest in travel on the Windrush line as part of the London Overground line naming project. We are reminded of the iconic journey of Empire Windrush and the contributions the Caribbean community have made to the capital over many decades. We are pleased to be recognised this way and look forward to seeing Londoners using the Windrush line.”

James Gaselee, Clerk for Worshipful Company of Weavers, said: “We are delighted that one of the newly named London Overground lines will be called the Weaver line in recognition of the silk weaving trade that was centred on Spitalfields; this is not however purely historic as the name of the line will also shine a light on the silk weaving, textile and fashion industries that continue to flourish in London and across the country”.

Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said: "We owe so much to the courageous suffragettes and suffragists who campaigned hard and at significant personal cost for women to have the vote and we at Fawcett are delighted that their activism is being recognised by TfL. We hope that commuters on the Suffragette line will pause to think about these amazing women and the work they did to build our democracy. The Fawcett Society, founded by Millicent Fawcett in 1866, and strengthened by our members today is proud to continue this legacy of feminist campaigning for a more equal society. The naming of the Suffragette line is a wonderful way to pay tribute to the women who have gone before us and to inspire the next generation of feminist campaigners, as our work isn’t yet done!"

Julie Frost, BID Director for Romford BID, said: "The Romford BID welcome the announcement that the Romford to Upminster branch line now has a new name; the Liberty line. This is a very fitting name as it speaks to our Borough's centuries old status as a Royal Liberty. Back then, this shared status helped to bound our different communities together. What better way to keep alive the spirit of this association than by renaming a key piece of our local transport infrastructure.  We hope passengers will be further encouraged to use the new Liberty line to come and see all the many things we have on offer in Romford".

London Overground first began in 2007 when TfL took over four under-used suburban railway lines. The network has since grown, meaning it has now become represented by a spaghetti of orange on the Tube maps. The Mayor was committed to help simplify this for customers with a new line name and colour for each line, and with names chosen to showcases London’s rich history, heritage and diversity.
Tube Map with Overground line names


Notes to editors

• Further information about the London Overground line naming programme is available here - https://tfl.gov.uk/naming-overground
• London Overground is today one of the top performing railways carrying more than three million customers a week, with more than 100 miles of railway, serving 113 stations and all nine London fare zones. Since its formation, it has expanded, improved connectivity for millions of people and supported new jobs, homes and economic growth.
• TfL will now start the process of rebranding the line names across London’s transport network with the full roll out expected to be completed in one go by the end of the year. This includes an updated Tube map, a refreshed London Overground network map and a number of on-network assets including way finding signage at all 113 stations. Additional map will also be updated including the step-free Tube map, Rail & Tube map, large print and black and white Tube map for those with visual impairments.
• Careful validation and testing were undertaken to ensure the line colour selection was as inclusive as possible. This included active consideration of those with visual impairments, for example those with colour blindness.  Engagement also took place with TfL's Independent Disability Advisory Group (IDAG), as well as accessibility and inclusion stakeholders through TfL’s Inclusive Transport Forum.
• Throughout this summer, TfL will engage with Londoners and local communities about the new line names and how they can help tell some of the important stories of London’s rich cultural diversity behind the line names.
• The independent research and naming process was undertaken by DNCO, a creative agency specialising in place branding and naming. They led a programme of engagement and co-creation, working with customers, creative and community groups, TfL stakeholders and their partners, and industry professionals and staff: providing invaluable insight into London’s diverse histories and untold stories. DNCO then used insights and conclusions drawn from this research phase to generate names for each of the lines, which were then taken forward to stakeholder decision making. 

This is good news. Now I'd like to see line names proposed and added to National Rail services to make wayfinding for these services easier. Transport for Wales and Merseyrail already featured line names on their maps.

I researched and found something from the Mayor's Question Time back in 2011, when a London Assembly member asked the Mayor Boris Johnson, about naming the London Overground lines. Unfortunately, he ruled out adding line names to the Overground during his term as Mayor of London.

Meeting: MQT on 23 February 2011
Reference: 2011/0517
Question by: Murad Qureshi
Organisation: Labour Group

Question
Re-name London Overground

Will you consider renaming the London Overground line? The line runs through the Brunel tunnel between Rotherhithe & Wapping, which was the first tunnel in the world to be built with a tunnelling shield under a navigable river. When it first opened in 1843 it was described as the Eighth Wonder of the World. To complete this line's integration with the Underground and to pay tribute to the engineers who first tunnelled under the Thames, would it not be fitting to call this the Brunel Line?

Answer - Mayor Boris Johnson
Date: Monday 28 February 2011

The London Overground network is made up of five routes: Dalston Junction to West Croydon/Crystal Palace/New Cross; Stratford to Richmond; Gospel Oak to Barking; Watford to Euston; and Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction. All passenger information follows this line naming approach.

While your suggestion would indeed highlight that the line runs through the Brunel Tunnel, it would not assist passengers when planning their journey. It would also be very expensive to make such a change as a vast amount of passenger facing material, including maps and station signage, would need to be updated. Given these factors it is not that something that I would consider.

A user on Twitter/X tweeted the proposed line names for the London Overground and TfL Rail services prior to the launch of TfL Rail, which occurred in May 2015. Unfortunately, TfL did not proceed to launch the line names at the time.

A proposed 2015 Tube Map with line names for the Overground

2015 proposed line names for the Overground

Back in November 2023, I had tweeted various papers released by a Freedom of Information request by TfL's Disability Advisory Group (IDAG) about the line names for the London Overground.

Line names for London's Transport services aren't new. I show you the clippings from London Transport news back in 1990 where London Underground gave line names for two branches of the Metropolitan line, which are East London and the Hammersmith & City lines.

London Regional Transport news, No. 382 - May 18 1990
London Transport news, No. 385 - August 17 1990

If anyone has comments about the new London Overground line names, you can submit your feedback directly to TfL on their website.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter/X by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my Twitter/X page here. I'm also on BlueSky and Mastodon.

Further reading
Suggestion: I Believe It’s Time for a New Regional Transport Body for the South East of England?

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