Transport for London’s list of six new names for overground routes, announced on February 14, has received mixed reactions.
The rebranding effort breaks with the underground’s 19th-century tradition by establishing a geographic theme. It cost £6.3 million and wiped out many familiar tags.
For example, the old ‘Euston-Watford ‘DC’ or ‘Silverlink’ service is now the Lionesses line, named after the England women’s football team.
And the familiar Highbury & Islington-West Croydon East London line became the Windrush line in honor of the area’s first settlers.
Critics argue that some labels are superficial or politically motivated, that the events they commemorate will be meaningless to future generations, and that further identities are needed to reflect future events. He says changes may be necessary.
But opponents turned out to be in the minority, with most welcoming its relevance and clarity.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan made a manifesto pledge in April 2021 to make the Overground (previously shown in orange everywhere on maps) more visible, especially as services are rolled out in all directions. Ta. The public was asked to provide suggestions, but no final decisions were made.
The line is now divided into distinct colors and identities, but only one orange circular section remains at the station.
Full disclosure of individual names is expected to occur all at once by the end of the year. Directional signs and loudspeaker announcements at approximately 6,000 stations will need to be changed.
TfL said it consulted with groups concerned with visually impaired people before choosing the colors to be applied to London’s increasingly complex route maps.
The six new names were explained as follows:
Lioness line: yellow
Euston – Watford Junction
This is the LNWR/LMS/BR London Midland Euston – Watford ‘DC’ third railway line which passes through Wembley. The short-lived Silverlink label was widely popular. It celebrates the historic achievements and legacy of the England women’s football team.
Mild Mayline: Blue
Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction
It was formerly part of the North London Line, serving Broad Street station until it was discontinued in 1986. It was upgraded to become the West London Line, running from Stratford via Willesden to Richmond/Clapham Junction. The new name refers to the small charity hospital in Shoreditch that played a central role in the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s.
Windrush line: red
Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon
Always known as the East London Line, the line passes through areas that today have strong links with the Caribbean, including Dalston Junction, Peckham Rye and West Croydon.
Weaver line: Maroon
Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford
It passes through Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Hackney – an area once famous for its textile trade. In the days of steam locomotives it was known as the ‘Jazz’ service and later as the Lee Valley Line.
Suffragette line: green
Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside
It celebrates how the East End working class movement fought for women’s votes and women’s rights. Barking was the home of Annie Huggett, the longest living women’s suffragist, who died in 1996 at the age of 103. Nearby Holloway Prison was where many women were imprisoned.
Liberty line: gray
Romford to Upminster
This three-mile former Greater Anglia Line, known locally as the ‘Romford Push and Pull’, was proposed for abolition by Beeching in 1964 and again in 1970. It was later electrified and is now open for business. The new name celebrates freedom and represents the historic independence of the Havering people.