New names for the six lines that make up the Overground have been revealed as Transport for London (TfL) begins a major revamp.
They are being introduced to help make the network easier to navigate and is one of the biggest changes in the history of the capital’s iconic Tube map.
Mayor ofLondonSadiq Khan said the specific names were chosen to honour and celebrate ‘different parts of the London’s unique local history and culture’.
London Overground lines have all been coloured orange on the map since 2007, when 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 which can make it difficult for some passengers to work out what train they need.
The changes are estimated to cost £6.3 million, which will be paid using Mr Khan’s Greater London Authority budget.
Here’s everything you need to know about the changes…
What are the new names for the London Overground lines?
The six names will be Lioness, Mildmay,Windrush, Weaver, Suffragette and Liberty and will be fully rolled out in the autumn – although work on the rebrand has already begun at some stations.
Each name has been chosen to celebrate the unique history and culture of the areas served by the six lines.
Why have they been named?
TfL said they renamed the lines to make it easier for passengers to navigate the network.
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They worked with customers, stakeholders, historians, industry experts and local communities to come up with names representing the areas the lines travel through.
The revamp was promised by the Mayor of LondonSadiq Khanin his 2021 re-election manifesto, who said he wanted the lines to reflect the capital’s diversity.
The meaning behind each new Overground name
The Lioness Line (Yellow parallel lines)
The line honours the England women’s football team – nicknamed the Lionesses – who won Euro 2022 at Wembley Stadium, which is served by the line.
The Mildmay line (Blue parallel lines)
The line is named after Mildmay Mission Hospital in Shoreditch, which specialises in HIV-related illnesses. In 1988, its predecessor on the site served as Europe’s first AIDS hospice, and it reopened as a specialist HIV hospital in 2014.
The Windrush line (Red parallel lines)
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 several communities with strong links to the Caribbean, such as Dalston Junction, Peckham Rye and West Croydon.
The Weaver line (Maroon parallel lines)
This line is named as it runs through areas known historically for the textile trade, including Bethnal Green, Liverpool Street and Spitalfields.
The Suffragette line (Green parallel lines)
This is in tribute to the movement that fought for votes for women in the early 20th century. Barking, at the eastern end of the line, was home to suffragette Annie Huggett, who died in 1996 aged 103. It also passes near Holloway Prison, where more than 300 suffrage activists were incarcerated.
The Liberty line (Grey parallel lines)
This short line, with just three stops, operates separately to the rest of the network. Its new name celebrates that ‘independence’, and links to the history of Havering, which the line runs through, as a self-governing ‘royal liberty’.
What does the new Tube map look like?
The new map follows the same path as the old one, but is much more clearly labeled thanks to the new line names and colours.
Mr 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 reimagining 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.’
What other TfL changes are on the way?
Beginning in spring 2024, trains on the DLR will be ‘more spacious’, ‘walk-through’ and air-conditioned.
The Piccadilly Line will also see new air-conditioned walk-through trains beginning in 2025.
A new signalling system will be introduced for the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines in an effort to speed up future journeys.
And for those who prefer travel on four wheels, new buses have 100% low or zero emissions at the tailpipe.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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