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.

We were on the Ginger Line as users fondly called it. Now Mildmay, I like it

Of course, London has so few problems that this is obviously a priority. Sadiq fiddling while Rome burns.

It is actually possible for politicians and local governments to do more than one thing at a time.

It is actually possible for politicians and local governments to do more than one thing at a time.

This would be a valid comment if he actually did a decent job. Half of these are total garbage and sound awful.

Re-naming & clarifying the overground is a good idea. As someone who doesn’t live in London but visits fairly frequently, the current map is confusing.

The problem is that these names are risible virtue-signalling nonsense. When Crossrail was re-named the Elizabeth line, it was uncontroversial and widely supported. But Khan & TFL ignored the lessons of this and decided to set a precedent by deliberately politicising the names, and inevitably making them into a political football.

When a conservative mayor is elected in future, it’s likely that re-naming them to something like ‘The Trafalgar Line’ ‘The Spitfire Line’, ‘The Brunel Line’ will be high on their anti- woke agenda.

I really don't understand why this is "virtue signalling nonsense". What issue do you have with each of the names, all of which have historical significance?

Saw these for the first time today. Nice idea.

They're all FAR better than Elizabeth line, which was just Boris sucking up to the establishment.

I really don't understand why this is "virtue signalling nonsense". What issue do you have with each of the names, all of which have historical significance?

The original lines aren't based on historical events so it is weird and very on trend for 2023/4. Some are vaguely relevant to their respective tube lines, others are completely random.

The suffragette line- why? It's just not a good name for this purpose. Not related to the tube location. It's too clunky and sounds like the word suffering. Yet they went ahead. That's virtue signalling. It's shoehorned in.

Lionesses are a sports team. It's not a classic name. Devateavle whether it's a 'historic event'. Again, clunky sounding. And a bit rubbish. But the players are female, so we're rolling with it anyway.

Windrush line might catch on, but given the above two, it's being lumped in as virtue signalling.

Liberty actually has a place meaning, but given the first two, sounds like tacky.

Mildmay, is that really the best choice? It was chosen for the LGBT background. More traditional sounding and will catch on, though.

Nonetheless, is creating a very clear theme. The theme was intentional. It is supposed to be inclusive. One persons progressive/modern is another persons woke/virtue signalling.

The Eluzabeth line I wasn't sure about, but I've warmed to it. The purple theme just works now. And she was a globally significant figure, second longest reigning monarch (ever?)

Jubilee line is based on a historical event, the Queen's silver jubilee in 1977. It was originally going to be called the Fleet line. Waterloo & City and Bakerloo lines are indirectly named after historical events, because Waterloo is named after the battle.

Lioness line is the only one of the new names I don't like. It feels like it'll age very badly.

One persons progressive/modern is another persons woke/virtue signalling.

Well quite, which is what makes the phrase totally meaningless.

(apart from meaning "here's something I dislike")

Woo hoo we got the best name - Windrush! And the best colour - red!.
We were discussing the renaming at work last week and someone said what were they called before and I mentioned the silver link and east London lines. It went quiet and people looked at me as if I had said I fought with Nelson at Trafalgar. I love being old. Also love the new names, ours is the best.

Lioness Line.>> Lion
The Suffragette Line >> Suff
The Windrush Line >> Windy
The Liberty Line >> Lib
The Weaver Line >> weaver
The Mildmay Line >> mildmay

anything more than 2 syllables will be shortened, the others will stay, like the others..
district - district
circle - circle
central - central
piccadilly - picc
Victoria - vic
hammersmith and city - pink
etc..

The Lioness line is named that because it goes through Wembley? I feel it's extremely cringey that they've focused on women's football and excluded the men's game. Why not just the Wembley line? It's an iconic stadium that's known throughout the world.

I don't get how that makes it meaningless, at all. Unless life in general is meaningless. Of course we all have different opinions. Here, I've explained exactly why this comes across as virtue signalling to many.

Windrush is 2 syllables though.

I'm not sure about this. I mean I agree we do shorten things. I say the Vicky line. I don't shorten Bakerloo, Jubilee, Piccadilly though.

Can't see anyone saying the 'suff line'.

@WhereAreWeNow I agree. I don't think I shorten any of the tube lines. Never heard Picc or Vic line. Say Lizzie line sometimes.

Oh ok.. maybe just me and friends! Lived here 24 yrs and always done that.

I really can’t imagine anyone saying “let’s get the suffragette line”

never said ‘Lizzie line’. Crossrail