The
routes

which
make
up
London
Overground
are
being
given
distinctive
names
and
colours
on
the
Underground
map
for
the
first
time.

The
system
was
launched
by
Mayor
Ken
Livingstone
in
2007
when
Transport
for
London
took
control
of
Silverlink
Metro,
which
had
shabby
trains
and
infrastructure
after
many
years
of
under-investment
which
went
back
to
the
days
of
British
Rail.
Indeed,
in
1963
Dr
Beeching
had
recommended
the
closure
of
the
line
from
Richmond
across
north
London
which
then
served
the
former
terminus
of
Broad
Street
and
now
runs
to
Stratford.

Sixty
years
later
this
line
is
unrecognisable,
with
frequent,
modern
trains
calling
at
refurbished
stations.
Other
parts
of
the
Overground
are
similar.

It
was
originally
given
the
colour
brown,
but
by
the
time
the
launch
took
place
in
2007
the
colour
had
become
orange.

TfL
says
its
research
had
revealed
that
some
passengers
find
the
London
Overground
network
confusing
and
that
they
would
find
it
easier
to
navigate
if
the
routes
could
be
distinguished.

Each
route
will
be
represented
by
a
new
line
name
and
colour
on
the
Underground
map,
at
stations
and
on
digital
journey
planning
apps,
such
as
TfL
Go.

TfL
had
worked
with
passengers,
stakeholders,
historians,
industry
experts
and
local
communities
to
decide
names
representing
the
areas
served
and
also
marking
London’s
history
and
cultural
diversity.

The
six
routes
will
be
the
Lioness
line
from
Euston
to
Watford
Junction
via
Wembley
Central,
to
recognise
the
achievements
of
the
England
women’s
football
team.
On
the
map
it
will
be
marked
with
yellow
parallel
lines.

The
Mildmay
line
will
run
between
Stratford
and
Richmond
or
Clapham
Junction.
It
has
been
named
after
the
small
charitable
hospital
in
Shoreditch,
which
played
an
important
role
during
the
HIV/Aids
crisis
in
the
1980s.
It
will
be
marked
with
blue
parallel
lines.

The
Windrush
line
from
Highbury
&
Islington
to
Clapham
Junction
or
New
Cross,
Crystal
Palace
or
West
Croydon
serves
several
areas
with
strong
ties
to
Caribbean
communities.
It
will
be
marked
with
red
parallel
lines.

The
Weaver
line
will
be
from
Liverpool
Street
to
Cheshunt,
Enfield
Town
or
Chingford.
Some
of
its
stations
serve
areas
of
London
known
for
their
importance
in
the
textile
trade.
It
will
be
marked
with
maroon
parallel
lines.

The
Suffragette
line
will
run
between
Gospel
Oak
and
Barking
Riverside,
and
its
name
celebrates
how
London’s
East
End
working-class
community
fought
for
women
to
have
the
right
to
vote.
It
will
be
marked
with
green
parallel
lines.

Finally,
the
Liberty
line
will
be
the
isolated
stretch
between
Romford
and
Upminster.
Its
name
refers
to
the
freedom
that
is
a
‘defining
feature
of
London’
and
also
refers
to
the
historical
independence
of
the
people
of
Havering,
through
which
it
runs.
The
manor
of
Havering was
given
a
royal
charter
in
1465
by
Edward
IV,
which
conferred
privileges
on
its
people.
This
line
will
be
shown
as
grey
parallel
lines.

The
Mayor
Sadiq
Khan
said:
‘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.

Transport
commissioner
Andy
Lord
added:
‘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
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.’