New names for London railway lines announced

In a major update to the Tube map, the lines will get new colours and new names, which, according to TfL ‘celebrates the city's culture and history'.

For the first time, Transport for London has announced new names for the London Overground lines.

The orange roundel for London Overground will remain though, however.

The new names are as follows:

• London Euston – Watford Junction will now be known as The Lioness Line and will be coloured yellow on the map.
• Stratford to Richmond / Clapham Junction will be named The Mildmay Line and coloured blue parallel lines.
• Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction / New Cross / Crystal Palace / West Croydon will be the red parallel line and now be known as The Windrush Line
• The green parallel line will be The Suffragette Line which will be the new name for the Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside line
• Liverpool Street to Cheshunt / Enfield Town / Chingford is going to be known as The Weaver Line and will be the maroon parallel line on the map
• Finally, The Romford to Upminster Line will be renamed as The Liberty Line which will become the Grey line on the map.Romford to Upminster Line

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”.