Mayor Sadiq Khan revealed new names and colours for the London Overground’s six lines today, prompting a social media outcry from furious Londoners.
The Overground – once known fondly as the ‘Ginger line’ – has seen its iconic monotone orange branding turfed out in favour of six new colours in a multi-million-pound makeover officially released today.
The six lines were chosen to “celebrate the city’s diverse culture and history” and see stretches of the network changed to honour migrant communities, Suffragettes, the England women’s football team and more.
The £6.3 million rebrand of the lines was sanctioned after previous criticism that route maps – “shown as a complicated network of orange” – were too confusing for customers to understand.
Sadiq Khan's @MayorofLondon social media account turned off replies, seemingly in fear of backlash
PA/TfL
London transport commissioner Andy Lord said: “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.”
Though the official separation of the lines was praised for improving clarity, the change sees familiar names thrown out for new, “woke” branding.
The yellow Lioness line, from Euston to Watford Junction, runs through Wembley and is named after England women’s ‘Lionesses’ to honour their achievements and legacy to “inspire and empower the next generation of women and girls in sport”.
The red Windrush line, from Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon, “honours the Windrush generation who continue to shape and enrich London’s cultural and social identity today”.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The new Overground lines “celebrate the city’s diverse culture and history”, TfL said
TfL
The blue Mildmay line, from Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction, honours the Mildmay Mission Hospital which took “a pivotal role in the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s” and is a “valued and respected place” for today’s “LGBTQ+ community”.
The maroon Weaver line, from Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford, honours the “textile trade, shaped over the centuries by diverse migrant communities”.
The green Suffragette line, from Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside, honours the votes for women movement – a departure from its colloquial ‘Goblin ([Go]spel Oak to [B]arking Riverside [Lin]e)’ moniker.
The grey Liberty line, from Romford to Upminster, “references the historical independence of the people of Havering”.
The new map sees the once monotone orange Overground line scrapped for six new colours
TfL
But London authorities appeared to brace for a negative reaction – Sadiq Khan silenced residents by turning off replies to his announcement on @MayorofLondon, while TfL’s post was swiftly taken down.
But replies to Khan’s personal account slammed the mayor, with commenters accusing him of “trolling”, questioning the cost and lack of public consultation for the project, and calling the “woke rebranding” “an absolute joke”.
Though some praised the move, saying the previous Overground branding was a “confusing mess” and “notoriously difficult to navigate”.
The mayor said the move, slated to be rolled out between now and August, was a “hugely exciting moment” and would “transform how we think about London’s transport network”.