TfL sets date for London Overground new lines' names and colours roll-out

The long-awaited new London Overground line names and colours will be rolled out this month. Transport for London (TfL) has finally set a date for the update. A small number of stations will be fitted with the new names and colours tomorrow (Wednesday, November 20) with the majority being added from Monday, November 25.

The new names and lines are meant to make navigating the Overground easier which currently has no separate line names across its 113 stations. Around 6,000 station wayfinding signs, Tube maps, station digital screens, onboard train information, Journey Planner and TfL Go information will have to be updated as well as audio and visual announcements on trains.

A phased approach is necessary for the update due to the size of the change. The final phase will end in January 2025, TfL said.

READ MORE: Map shows where cold weather payments triggered as widespread snow hits UK

READ MORE: New police rules for visiting Primrose Hill on New Year's Eve - closing time set

How will the Overground rebrand rollout happen?

The rollout is taking place as follows (TfL has not provided exact dates for each phase):

• Signage unveiled over nine days across the 113 stations that London Overground serves

• Updates to in-train maps and line diagrams across the London Overground fleet, and an upgrade to the audiovisual passenger information system on the Class 378 trains, which run on the Lioness, Mildmay and Windrush lines (see where these relate to below)

• New Tube maps at all stations

• Online versions of maps live on the TfL website

• Updates to customer information screens and PA announcements at London Overground stations

• Digital channel updates, including the TfL website and TfL Go, will be updated in two phases which will be fully completed by mid-December

• The audiovisual passenger information system on the Class 710 trains will follow by January 2025

Due to financial constraints, TfL is unable to update maps and audio announcements on other TfL services, such as London Underground, for the initial launch. They are looking into updates for the future, however.

What are the new Overground line names and where do they go?

The new names and colours are:

• Lioness (running from Watford Junction to Euston) – yellow

• Mildmay (running from Richmond and Clapham Junction to Stratford) - blue

• Windrush (running from Highbury & Islington to New Cross, Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace and West Croydon) – red

• Weaver (running from Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford) – maroon

• Suffragette (running from Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside) – green

• Liberty (running from Romford to Upminster) - grey

Stakeholders, customers, staff, historians, industry experts and communities were involved in choosing the names which were designed to celebrate the city’s diverse culture and history, TfL said. Their ‘Mind the Gap' podcast delved into the history of each line name in some of its most popular episodes. TfL has also teamed up with Go Jauntly, launching six self guided walks to delve into the story behind each line name by visiting points of interest.

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “This is an exciting step as millions of customer journeys on the London Overground will be transformed by making it simpler to navigate. Individual line colours and names have helped customers navigate the Tube for more than a hundred years, so we wanted to take a similar approach on the London Overground. These changes will help improve customer confidence when travelling and encourage more to use our services.”

Get the top stories from across London directly to your inbox. Sign up for MyLondon's The 12 HERE to get the biggest stories every day.