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New London Train Line Names

143 replies

ScoldsBridal · 15/02/2024 10:34

Just announced. Definitely a Feminist vibe to them. Love that the line that goes through Wembley has been named the Lioness Line. There’s also:
The Suffragette Line
The Windrush Line
The Liberty Line
The Weaver Line
The Mildmay Line

I laughed as Twitter are making out the Weaver Line is named after Jackie Weaver 😂 It’s actually honouring the textile industries it passes through in areas like Spitalfields and Hackney.

Windrush is fantastic too. Serving areas with people that have strong connections to the Caribbean. Symbolically powerful.

The Mildmay Line - is such a lovely word and honouring a small, charitable hospital that was at the forefront of AIDS/HIV treatment. Also had a tradition for treating Jewish immigrants in the East End.

The Liberty Line - again just a great name - it goes to Havering which was historically a ‘Liberty’ town.

And finally The Suffragette Line which goes to Barking were Annie Huggett lived - the longest surviving Suffragette who lived to 103. And also the spirit of the East End working classes who fought for Women’s Rights.

I know people will moan about it being ‘woke’ (yawn) but I think they’ve balanced out honouring London’s varied communities with some strong branding. I like how they haven’t chosen named people - but have emphasised social history, achievement and recognition of real contribution to the Metropolis of London.

I’m sure there will be some imaginative re-naming by passengers - suffering on the Suffragette line - Stuck in the ‘rush’ hour on the Windrush etc…

But I like them.

OP posts:
arlequin · 15/02/2024 16:41

cardboardbox24 · 15/02/2024 12:06

The Stratford to Richmond line used to be called the Silverlink- anyone else old enough to remember that?!

Yes the Silverlink metro, remember it well!

PrimitivePerson · 15/02/2024 16:07

LakeTiticaca · 15/02/2024 15:54

Six million quid. Just think how many potholes could be repaired for that amount of money.
Or even build a few new properties to ease the housing crisis.
Nah that would be too easy. Just give names to the train lines instead. Will it improve the rail service? Doubtful.
OK then what about some more ULEZ cameras or some new LTNs to make the work of emergency services, deliveries etc even harder 🤔

The money for those things all comes out of separate budgets.

Snowypeaks · 15/02/2024 15:58

But this is a good and helpful use of money. And spending £6m on this doesn't stop them doing other good things. It's a lack of political will, but that's another story!

LakeTiticaca · 15/02/2024 15:54

Six million quid. Just think how many potholes could be repaired for that amount of money.
Or even build a few new properties to ease the housing crisis.
Nah that would be too easy. Just give names to the train lines instead. Will it improve the rail service? Doubtful.
OK then what about some more ULEZ cameras or some new LTNs to make the work of emergency services, deliveries etc even harder 🤔

Needmorelego · 15/02/2024 15:19

@TinyTear the Suffragette Line is green - which is one of their colours.
Green, White and Purple (Violet)
I read once it was because of
Give (Green,)
Women (White)
(the)
Vote (Violet)
I don't know if that's actually true though.

TinyTear · 15/02/2024 15:09

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 15/02/2024 11:59

I do like the Suffragette line name amd the link to the history, but I'm afraid that that line will always be known as the Goblin line to me!

I've seen references to the Goblin Line left right and centre, can anyone explain?

Thanks!

(EDITED TO ADD: Just RTFT and got it, thanks to whoever explained)

I am not sure i will call it Mildmay TBH... it will always be overground to me

BTW why isn't Suffragette Purple?

Snowypeaks · 15/02/2024 14:50

Chersfrozenface · 15/02/2024 14:38

And, to be fair, TfL sells its cast-offs to collectors for hundreds of pounds.

https://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/vintage-shop/underground-signs

Show quote history

And we know changing signage is cheap - that's why women's toilets get re-named rather than making any actual changes to the men's or installing third spaces!

Chersfrozenface · 15/02/2024 14:38

PrimitivePerson · 15/02/2024 14:33

But TfL has to replace signage on a regular basis anyway, as services change and old stuff wears out.

Show quote history

And, to be fair, TfL sells its cast-offs to collectors for hundreds of pounds.

https://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/vintage-shop/underground-signs

Original London Underground Signs

Your chance to own one of Transport for London's original vitreous enamel Underground signs.

https://www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk/vintage-shop/underground-signs

PrimitivePerson · 15/02/2024 14:33

allii03 · 15/02/2024 14:32

Six million quid. Yes, it's not much in the grand scheme of things, considering the overall TFL budget.

A few million here, a few million there – but actually, it turns out there's an awful lot of spending on this sort of pointless crap, across the entire public sector. It adds up.

But TfL has to replace signage on a regular basis anyway, as services change and old stuff wears out.

allii03 · 15/02/2024 14:32

Six million quid. Yes, it's not much in the grand scheme of things, considering the overall TFL budget.

A few million here, a few million there – but actually, it turns out there's an awful lot of spending on this sort of pointless crap, across the entire public sector. It adds up.

PrimitivePerson · 15/02/2024 14:32

MalewhoisLaffinalltheway · 15/02/2024 14:29

Is that what used to be the line that went to Broad Street (just around the corner from Liverpool St station)?

I remember going from Wembley Central to Willesden Junction, then going going upstairs at WJ and getting a train to Broad Street to visit my Dad.

Is Broad Street station still in existence?

Show quote history

No, it's not. It was always a separate line.

Broad Street station was demolished in 1986, the last few trains serving it were diverted to Liverpool Street.

MalewhoisLaffinalltheway · 15/02/2024 14:29

PrimitivePerson · 15/02/2024 12:07

"Goblin" is an abbreviation of Gospel Oak to Barking Line.

Is that what used to be the line that went to Broad Street (just around the corner from Liverpool St station)?

I remember going from Wembley Central to Willesden Junction, then going going upstairs at WJ and getting a train to Broad Street to visit my Dad.

Is Broad Street station still in existence?

crumpet · 15/02/2024 14:29

Nice thought but I’d query the need to spend £6m on it, rather than on anything more substantial.

I’m not sure there is data showing people being unable to get from a to b without it being called the Weaver line.

Chersfrozenface · 15/02/2024 14:23

Metallicant · 15/02/2024 14:19

I assumed that the Weaver line was named after Jackie Weaver and thought that was brilliant!

I guessed it was to do with the textile trade before even reading the explanations.

But I've read a bit about and my husband has ancestors involved in the trade, so that was easy for me

spanishviola · 15/02/2024 14:19

PaperWalkAndTalk · 15/02/2024 11:30

£6m spent so far on this.

And this is woke virtue signalling. Why? Because you name a line Suffragette, yet public transport is much worse for women now, and the LTNs are making a lot of streets very unsafe.

Don't know why they couldn't have just gone back to the original names which told you very clearly the from and to.

What are you talking about? Public transport isn’t much worse in London. In fact it has never been better. I’ve lived here since the 70s and can attest to that.

I like the new names. There are some interchanges that are confusing when you have two or more overground lines running into them. It will be much easier to know which line you need rather than looking at the destination, which can change as we all know.

Metallicant · 15/02/2024 14:19

I assumed that the Weaver line was named after Jackie Weaver and thought that was brilliant!

Sweetleftfood · 15/02/2024 14:16

cardboardbox24 · 15/02/2024 12:06

The Stratford to Richmond line used to be called the Silverlink- anyone else old enough to remember that?!

Yes and a very much ruder "nickname" for it!

MittensForKittens123 · 15/02/2024 14:10

@PaperWalkAndTalk I’d like to know the (supposed) facts behind LTNs making streets less safe for women??? I live in an LTN by the way.

@Needmorelego Goblin is Gospel Oak to Barking LINe

PrimitivePerson · 15/02/2024 13:57

PaperWalkAndTalk · 15/02/2024 13:13

So the point is that because it's too expensive to sort out it's much easier to change a train line name instead?

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No. They're not mutually exclusive.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 15/02/2024 13:47

The principle is fine and in the grand scheme of things £6m is not a huge sum of money. But I’m not over keen on the name choices, in particular the lioness line and Mildmay line sound a bit clunky.

Chersfrozenface · 15/02/2024 13:43

I like the ‘Liney Line’ but it could also be the ‘Nessy Line’ too?

People do love reduplication, though. See Boaty McBoatface.

Mildew probably rolls off the tongue better!

They are also very fond indeed of diminutives ending in -y.

ScribblingPixie · 15/02/2024 13:42

names are great for tourism

This is how it feels to me, though, that these names are for tourists. Like the city's now always being themed for visitors rather than being a living city for us.

VoltTyphoon · 15/02/2024 13:41

Lisbeth50 · 15/02/2024 13:00

I like the Elizabeth Line because it is also my name. 🙂

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"I know it's my train, because it's got my name on it."

E11Mummy · 15/02/2024 13:37

It’ll always be the GOBLIN line around here!

zaxxon · 15/02/2024 13:35

DaBlackCatsAreDaBestCats · 15/02/2024 12:08

Is this how he’s spending the ULEZ fines money? He’s run London into the ground with all the bike lanes, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, cameras, fines for being half an inch into a box junction and flooding the capital with Uber mini cabs

Hurray! All good things, in my book.

The new names are great too, and it will be handy having the lines marked out in different colours on the map.