The London Overground network was launched in 2007, when TfL took over four underused suburban rail lines, and has grown to cover 100 miles of rail, serving 113 stations and all nine London fare zones.
TfL admitted the current configuration had been “represented by orange spaghetti on tube maps”, and research shows some customers find the network confusing.
The rebranding process is expected to be completed by the end of the year, including an updated tube map and an updated London Overground network map. The existing orange circle will continue to be used to indicate the Overground network as a whole.
The move follows the creation of a new Superloop bus network last year, which aims to add more than four million additional kilometers to the bus network outside London.
TfL proposes Superloop bus network
Andy Lord, London's transport commissioner, commented on the news:
“The London Overground is one of the most successful railways in the country and has grown to carry more than three million passengers a week.
“The network, which has grown considerably since 2007, currently appears on route maps as a complicated orange network.
“This can be confusing for customers less familiar with the network and could be a barrier for some wanting to use London Overground.
“These new names and line colors will simplify maps and routes for our customers and we hope they will encourage more people to make the most of our services. “It’s also a great way to tell the stories of some important parts of London’s cultural diversity.”
tfl.gov.uk
