ONE OF London’s Overground lines have been renamed the Windrush Line in honour of the the Windrush Generation who emigrated to Britain between 1948 and 1971.

The new Windrush line runs through areas with strong ties to Caribbean communities today, such as Dalston Junction, Peckham Rye and West Croydon and honours the Windrush generation who continue to shape and enrich London’s cultural and social identity today.

Arthur Torrington CBE, Co-founder and Director of the Windrush Foundation, said: “Windrush Foundation congratulates Transport for London for creating a new interest in travel on the Windrush Line as part of the London Overground line naming project.

“We are reminded of the iconic journey of Empire Windrush and the contributions the Caribbean community have made to the capital over many decades. We are pleased to be recognised this way and look forward to seeing Londoners using the Windrush Line.”

Honoured

Campaign group, Clapham Transport Users Group, have been lobbying for the line to commemorate the mass migration of Caribbean people to Britain on 22 June 1948.

Nick Biskini, a member of the voluntary advocate body, previously said: “Windrush Line captures both a link with communities, who settled in Clapham and Brixton, and the Windrush ship which was both a physical and metaphoric representation of people’s journeys and distance travelled as a society.”

The move was part of a series of changes unveiled earlier today (February 15)  which will see each of London’s six Overground lines represented by a new name and line colour. The changes have been made to London’s world-famous Tube map with the aim of making it easier for customers to navigate London’s transport network while also celebrating the city’s diverse culture and history.

The other names of the London Overground network are:

The Lioness line: Euston to Watford Junction

The Mildmay line: Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction

The Weaver line: Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford

The Suffragette line: Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside

The Liberty line: Romford to Upminster

The new names have been chosen through engagement with customers, stakeholders, historians, industry experts and local communities.

Research by TfL has shown that some customers find the London Overground network confusing and would find it easier to navigate if it wasn’t one single colour and name.

Diverse city

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “This is a hugely exciting moment, transforming how we think about London’s transport network.

“Giving each of the Overground lines distinct colours and identities will make it simpler and easier for passengers to get around. In re-imagining London’s tube map, we are also honouring and celebrating different parts of London’s unique local history and culture.

“The new names and colours have been chosen through engagement with passengers, historians and local communities, reflecting the heritage and diversity of our amazing city.”

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “These new names and line colours will simplify the maps and routes for our customers, and it is hoped it will encourage more people to make the most of our services.  It is also a great way to tell the stories of some important parts of London’s cultural diversity.”

Each route will be represented by a new line name and colour on the Tube map, on train line diagrams, at stations and on digital journey planning tools, such as TfL Go. 

The much-loved orange roundel will continue to be used across the London Overground network.