The last week of March saw this topic come into the news. That is not surprising since the Mayor of London,Sadiq Khan, had the naming of the Overground lines in his election manifesto.
I have found only three sites that talk about it. Jago Hazzard runs a regular series on You Tube called "Tales from the Tube", which looks at different aspects of the London Underground/Overground and DLR. With regard to this topic, naming Overground lines, he came up with a report called, "Naming the Overground Lines, and why £4 million actually isn't that much."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKBkb3H3Abk&t=83s
Another site, "Business Traveller", had a news piece called, "TfL to rename six lines on the Overground."
https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2023/03/30/tfl-to-rename-six-lines-on-the-overground/
On the Forum page of that website a topic was introduced called, "Name or number Overground lines?" The point this blogger wants to make is that I am in favour of numbering the lines not naming them
The website, "London Reconnections" provides an extensive and interesting analysis of the question of naming Overground lines. The problem lies in the statement at the very end of the blogg when the author states, "As Mayor Khan stated that the new Overground lines will be named,
not lettered or numbered, we shall not brook any numbering or lettering
suggestions in the comments." This suggests that the rest of the, very good, blogg cannot be taken as seriously as intended.Does it mean that what the Mayor says is unmovable or incontestable? Cannot he make a grave mistake? At least look at the arguments in favour of alternatives.
"The Flowering of Overground lines & colours – How Soon is Now?"
https://www.londonreconnections.com/2023/overground-lines-colours-unbound-how-soon-is-now/
The experiences of metro and surburban lines all over the globe should surely be taken into consideration. There are innumerable cities which use numbers why should London be necessarily different?
With regard to the Underground, we have reached the stage where there are many different lines and colours so any more would need shades of colours, not separate colours and different names. The TfL map is already rather cluttered so more colours and named lines would only make it more cluttered without giving us the benefit of differentiating between Underground and Overground lines. The Overground lines have their informal names, and without doubt some people would continue to use them. However, we have to remember that the greater use of the maps identifying the lines is not made by the regular commuter but the occasional traveller, the tourist, and others who do not know the system, or that part of the system where they wish to go.
Other lines have been earmarked for transference to Overground. Basically what TfL wants are for all above ground rail lines within the London boundary to be converted to Overground lines. This means that these extensions should be taken into consideration.
Examples of this mean that the loop lines, through Hounslow and Kingston out of Waterloo will be incorporated as will the loop lines out of London Bridge through Greenwich, Sidcup and Lewisham. The only part missing is the link from Waterloo to London Bridge, not an extensive distance to tunnel. It also frees up platforms at both termini for other regional or long distance services.
Other South West train services into Waterloo from Shepperton, Hampton Court, and Chessington South could join up with the lines out of Liverpool Street station to Chingford, Enfield Town and Cheshunt. These need a connecting tunnel between the two termini but will free up more platforms at the termini for other services. These would need a cross London tunnel connection. What better than use and substitute the existing "Waterloo and City Line"? This line already runs under Blackfriars before reaching Bank and it is no great effort to extend it to Liverpool Street. A lot could be saved off costs this way and thus make the line more useful.
The Wimbledon / Sutton / Mitcham Junction,loop run by Thameslink at present, is a prime candidate to be passed over to Overground. It is entirely inside the London area so should be passed over.The most likely connection north of the Thames would be that part of the Underground Central Line to the Hinault loop.
The Southern Railway lines out of Victoria and London Bridge that go to Epsom Downs, Tattenham Corner and Caterham would also be incorporated into the Underground.
This is the present Overground map as presented by TfL.
(c)TfL
https://content.tfl.gov.uk/london-overground-network-map.pdf#page=1&zoom=auto,-34,1216
Overground Line Numbers
O1) ......Waterloo - Clapham Junction - Hounslow - Twickenham - Clapham Junction - Waterloo......
O2) ......Waterloo - Clapham Junction - Twickenham - Hounslow - Clapham Junction - Waterloo......
O3) ......Waterloo - Clapham Junction - Twickenham - Kingston - Clapham Junction - Waterloo......
O4) ......Waterloo - Clapham Junction - Kingston - Twickenham - Clapham Junction - Waterloo......
O1/O2/O3/O4) ......Waterloo - London Bridge...... (This section would be of new construction. The common part of the route for lines 01 to 04 is in reality from Clapham Junction - Waterloo - London Bridge - New Cross - Lewishham either out or return)
O1) ......London Bridge - Greenwich - Belvedere - Welling - Lewisham - New Cross - London Bridge......
O2)......London Bridge - New Cross - Lewisham - Welling - Belvedere - Greenwich - London Bridge......
O3)......London Bridge - New Cross - Lewisham - Welling - Bexley - Hither Green - Lewisham - New Cross - London Bridge......
O4)......London Bridge - New Cross - Lewisham - Hither Green - Bexley - Welling - Lewisham - New Cross - London Bridge......
O5) Shepperton - Kingston - Raynes Park - Clapham Junction - Waterloo......
O6) Hampton Court - Raynes Park - Clapham Junction - Waterloo......
O7) Chessington South - Raynes Park - Clapham Junction - Waterloo......
O5/O6/O7) ......Waterloo - Blackfriars - Bank - Liverpool Street......(The fully shared track would run from Raynes Park - Clapham Junction - Waterloo - Liverpool St. - Hackney Downs).
O5) ......Liverpool Street - Hackney Downs - Walthamstow Central - Chingford
O6) ......Liverpool Street - Hackney Downs - Edmonton Green - Enfield Town
O7) ......Liverpool Street - Hackney Downs - Edmonton Green - Cheshunt
O8) ...Sutton - Mitcham Junction - Tulse Hill - Elephant & Castle - City Thameslink - Kings Cross - Finsbury Park - Manor House - Stamford Hill - Leyton Midland Road - Leytonstone -Woodford - Roding Valley - Hinault - Newbury Park - Wanstead - Leytonstone - Stamford Hill- Finsbury Park - City Thameslink - Tulse Hill - Tooting - Wimbledon - Sutton ...
O9)...Sutton - Wimbledon - Tooting -Tulse Hill - Elephant & Castle - City Thameslink - Kings Cross - Finsbury Park - Manor House - Stamford Hill - Leyton Midland Road - Leytonstone - Wanstead - Newbury Park - Hinault - Roding Valley - Woodford - Leytonstone - Stamford Hill - Finsbury Park - City Thameslink - Tulse Hill - Mitchum Junction - Sutton ...
O13) Romford - Upminster
O14) Richmond - Willesden Junction - Gospel Oak - Highbury & Islington - Stratford
O15) Clapham Junction - Willesden Junction - Gospel Oak - Highbury & Islington - Stratford
O16) Gospel Oak - Barking Riverside
O17) Watford Junction - South Hampsted - Camden Road - Highbury & Islington - Canada Water - New Cross
O18) Watford Junction - South Hampsted - Camden Road - Highbury & Islington - Canada Water - Sydenham - Crystal Palace
O19) Watford Junction - South Hampsted - Camden Road - Highbury & Islington - Canada Water - Sydenham - West Croydon
O20) Highbury & Islington - Canada Water - Queens Road Peckham - Clapham Junction
While we are looking at the Overground let us also look at the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). It is difficult to make any provision when we do not know any concrete plans for this network. The only thing I have clear is that it will be extended,.....but to where and when I do not know.
This is the present DLR map as presented by TfL.
(c) TfL
https://content.tfl.gov.uk/dlr-route-map.pdf
DLR Line Numbers
DLR1) Bank - Canary Wharf - Lewisham
DLR2) Stratford - Canary Wharf - Lewisham
DLR3) Bank - Canning Town - Woolwich Arsenal
DLR4) Stratford International - Canning Town - Woolwich Arsenal
DLR5) Tower Gateway - Canning Town - Beckton
