Transport for London (TfL) is aiming to make traveling on its famous Tube metro system simpler, thereby boosting ridership, by introducing new names for six lines on the network currently referred to collectively only as the London Overground.
At the start of the new Millennium the London Overground lines were still a separate suburban rail service operated by Silverlink Metro. But in 2007 the franchise was awarded to TfL which integrated the lines into its Tube Map and enabled passengers to travel seamlessly between the lines on a single ticket or travel pass, thereby truly bringing them into the integrated London transport network.
In 2010 the rebuilt East London Line, originally part of the London Underground lines, was added to the Overground network.
The Overground has been a successful initiative, increasing ridership on the network, however research by TfL has shown that some customers find the London Overground confusing and would find it easier to navigate if it wasn’t one single colour and name on the map.
All Overground lines are currently represented on the Tube map as parallel orange lines, but to improve understanding TfL has now announced that in autumn 2024 a new map will be published, previewed here, splitting the Overground network into six distinctly different lines, each with its own name and colour.
Each route will be represented by a new line name and colour not only on the Tube map, but also on train line diagrams, at stations and on digital journey planning tools, such as TfL Go. However, the much-loved orange roundel on signage will continue to be used across the London Overground network.
The new names have been chosen through engagement with customers, stakeholders, historians, industry experts and local communities and celebrate London’s diverse communities and histories.
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. Parts of this line were once the East London Line on the Underground network.
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 Mayor Sadiq Khan, 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.
“This is a hugely exciting moment, transforming how we think about London’s transport network,” says Khan. “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 London Overground is one of the most successful railways in the country and has grown to carry more than three million customers a week,” says Andy Lord, London’s transport Commissioner, “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.”
