The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, officially launched the six new line names and colours for the London Overground on 28 November 2024. The launch, held at Dalston Junction station, marks a historic change to London’s transport network, with the updated Tube map now reflecting these changes. The initiative aims to make the network easier to navigate while celebrating London’s diverse communities and their contributions to the city.
Harrow’s line, the Lioness line, includes Hatch End, Headstone Lane, Harrow & Wealdstone, and Kenton stations. The line’s new colour is yellow, and it honours the achievements of the England women’s football team, inspiring the next generation of women and girls in sport.
Sadiq Khan said: “These distinct colours and identities will not only make our fantastic London Overground network easier for customers to navigate, they also celebrate the best of London.”
Entrepreneur Levi Roots and singer Mica Paris joined the event, representing the Windrush line, which serves Dalston Junction and commemorates the Windrush generation. The Windrush Foundation hosted an exhibition at the station to highlight the experiences of African and Caribbean people in the UK.
Geoff Coleman, CEO of Mildmay Hospital, represented the Mildmay line. The line, coloured blue, acknowledges the work of the hospital during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Rebecca Ridley of the Worshipful Company of Weavers represented the maroon-coloured Weaver line, which celebrates London’s textile trade history. Alesha De-Freitas of the Fawcett Society represented the Suffragette line, coloured green, honouring the women’s suffrage movement. Julie Frost of Romford BID represented the Liberty line, coloured grey, celebrating Havering’s history of independence.
Over 6,000 new signs, maps, and digital updates have been installed across the network as part of the project. Audio and visual announcements on trains and at stations are also being updated. TfL plans to finalise updates to its website and app in the coming months.
Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted to officially launch the six new line names and colours of the London Overground, in an historic change to the capital’s transport network.
“The London Overground is now a reminder that we wouldn’t be the city we are today without the energy and diverse experiences of everyone who lives here.”
Arthur Torrington CBE, Co-founder and Director of the Windrush Foundation, said: “Big congratulations to Transport for London for this historic moment as the Windrush line become a reality. Its service to Londoners will generate more public interest in the history of African and Caribbean people. The line will celebrate London’s diversity and the continuous contribution this makes to the best city in the world.”
Mica Paris MBE said: “I feel incredibly moved that the Windrush generation’s legacy is being recognised, especially as my grandparents were proud Jamaicans who came over on HMT Empire Windrush. It’s very special that Brockley, my local station while I was growing up, is now part of the Windrush line.”
Levi Roots said: “The renaming of the Windrush line is special to me being a child of the Windrush generation, and I’m inspired by this most amazing honour to be part of the unveiling.”
Kay Cossington, The FA’s Women’s Technical Director, said: “It’s fantastic for the team’s achievements on 31st July 2022 to be acknowledged by TfL in this way. The naming of the Lioness line is just another example of how the historic EURO success continues to live on across so many aspects of our society. Hopefully any girl travelling on the Lioness line feels inspired to strengthen their relationship with the sport and the legacy lives on for years and years to come.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
For news tips, press releases or enquiries, contact Chris at info@harrowonline.org.
