The new names for London’s six Overground lines have been unveiled, bringing significant changes to the iconic Tube map. Last year, Transport for London (TfL) announced its intention to give the routes unique identities to simplify navigation for passengers. The services will now be known as the Lioness line, the Mildmay line, the Windrush line, the Weaver line, the Suffragette line, and the Liberty line, each with its own color.
TfL collaborated with customers, stakeholders, historians, industry experts, and local communities to choose names that represent the areas traversed by the lines and celebrate London’s history and cultural diversity. Critics have argued that the Tube map, created by Harry Beck in 1933, has become too cluttered after the recent introduction of the Thameslink route and Elizabeth line.
The six lines on the Overground, currently marked in one color and affectionately referred to as the Ginger line, will be renamed and recolored as follows:
– The Lioness line: Euston to Watford Junction, marked with yellow parallel lines
– The Mildmay line: Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction, marked with blue parallel lines
– The Windrush line: Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon, marked with red parallel lines
– The Weaver line: Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford, marked with maroon parallel lines
– The Suffragette line: Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside, marked with green parallel lines
– The Liberty line: Romford to Upminster, marked with grey parallel lines
London transport commissioner Andy Lord explained that these changes will simplify the maps and routes for customers. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the new names honor and celebrate different aspects of London’s unique local history and culture. The renaming process is expected to cost about £6.3m ($7.9m).
However, Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall criticized the rebranding as nonsense, arguing that Khan should focus on more pressing issues. The rebranding work will begin immediately, with the main rollout of the new names and colors scheduled for a week in the autumn. TfL aims to complete the revamp by the end of the year.
