New London Train Line Names

[ScoldsBridal]

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.

@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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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?

@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.

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 🤔

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!

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

Yes the Silverlink metro, remember it well!

Also the North London line (which is what I still call it). Was that pre Silverlink?

I can practically guarantee that whatever the new names are, people will use the the names they're used to.

Sorry no time to read thread, but this was discussed at the time it was announced https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4839119-has-anyone-seen-that-tfl-are-wanting-to-name-the-london-overground-lines

Interesting, or more likely typical BBC, on the WATO the challenged TfL over the Suffragette Line as it impley they were supporting terrorists. And shouldn't it have been Suffragist. And the woman speaking on behalf of TfL said Suffragette was easier to say or something banal (sounds like tokenism). Fawcett are thrilled.

Although this BBC article explains which line are which quite well. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68296483

And in case it hasn't been answered the Goblin Line was the nickname for the Gospel Oak to Barking line. ie from Goblin to Suffragette.

Agree, so smooth.

There were lots of things I was impressed with in London during my first visit there recently and the Elizabeth line was one of them.

Agree! Love the Liz line!

So many mad ideas on this thread.

"Naming things to honour people is woke."

"I refuse to use anything named after a monarch."

"Low traffic neighbourhoods are killing people."

"What a waste of money but at least the government isn't spending it on stopping pollution!"

I've already pointed out I was referring to the name. I do travel on it.

Needless to say there's plenty of mick-takes circulating already!