Naming the LO lines

A little slow there Chris M ! AndrewPSSP had already posted: districtdavesforum.co.uk/post/525598

Interesting response to why the orange wasn't retained, so they would then only need 5 additional colours. The interviewee says it is so there wasn't bias shown to any one of the listing LO lines, however I'd have thought the obvious contender would be the Windrush line, given its ELL history. The interviewee also said it was good to have six lines change colours in one unified change.

I am glad the justification wasn't merely because of the orange being used to represent the modal brand; this would have been easily counterweighted by the fact the Central line is in Underground red.

The question about "parallel lines" being used for the non-Underground modes on the Tube map (and now the National Rail map too). The justification was these represent longer distances / lower frequencies, but this isn't necessarily true for the tram or DLR. The reality is they're using this technique for all the non-Underground modes, regardless of what type of rail they are, which is is a nod to the former 'Tube' focus of the map, whereby all non-Underground modes are treated as 'other'. However, the consensus these days is the "Tube Map" does not revolve around LU any more than any other mode and why should it when there are a range of TfL services included.

The Metropolitan line has different stopping patterns and also covers a vast difference - could this not have parallel lines? Yes it is an LU line, but the interviewee is claiming the parallel lines help the user differentiate between service type e.g. bigger trains, frequency etc.

The end of the videos debates merits and pitfalls of the DLR being split out in the future, acknowledging that the in-car diagrams already differentiate and maybe one day the full Tube map could be reviewed again.

Personally, I think it's time to rethink the fare zone labelling. I've seen alternative 'tube' maps where the zone is shown after the station name e.g. Dagenham East (5), Leytonstone (3/4). Finding a different solution to this (whatever it may be), will enable the designers to recreate the map with clearer proportions and spacing, rather than being constricted by the current zone bandings.

Now the Orange is freed up maybe they can use it for a future line like Crossrail 2 or the Northern line split.

Re: Labour's pledge to renationalise the railways if they are elected (seems likely) I wonder if this will lead to further devolution of suburban services in South London to TfL.

If so, I wonder are these services likely to end up under the Overground mode and thus require names too? How many can we have before names become to difficult for people to remember/understand I wonder. A dozen more?

We may yet need numbers or letters.

How many different colour shades can the human eye detect? Would this be nearing the limit?

The problems come if they continue to use vitreous enamel signage.

It was impossible to produce the Elizabeth line purple. (The lead architect refused to use vitreous enamel which explains the extensive use of very expensive glass in the core section.)

There are limits so the traditional supplier used to suggest suitable colours.

In answer to FoI Request ID: FOI-1574-2425 published 22 August 2024 about when the next pocket tube map will be produced, the date given was 23 September 2024, which might be a good guide as to when the new colours will be officially launched!

This autumn, for the first time, each of the six London Overground lines will be represented by a new name and colour to make it easier for customers to navigate the network, while also celebrating the city's diverse culture and history.
August TfL press release

I want to agree with you as that's how I used to see things amidst Crossrail 2 being a thing, but unfortunately Crossrail is merely the name of the construction project, not the mode, and hence it is correct to put "Elizabeth line" in the roundel as a distinct service. Perhaps this will be revisited if Crossrail 2 ever opens, but for now they can get away with it. I appreciate we are used to "lines" being sub to / making up a mode, however the Elizabeth line is regarded as a line and 'mode' wrapped into one.

Regarding the Overground, I concluded at the time of the rebranding that the confusion doesn't come in the new names (as dreadful as some of them are), but the mode itself. If I we were to design things from scratch, you would just have one TfL Rail (or equivalent name) of different lines, without the need to differentiate between LU, LO, DLR and Elizabeth line - as the average person probably doesn't care about the mode, they see it as a transit line.

The naming of the LO lines goes live from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th September 2024.

TfL website says by the end of the year.

That did involve a massive war though.

I'm quite happy with Liberty line myself.

True, but the Overground renaming is also affected by extreme external events - cyber crime and financial.

That is just ridiculous not to at least update the car line diagrams on other modes (all you need is a sticker for those stations affected!). That surely cannot cost much at all given the entire rebranding project isn't exactly breaking the bank.

Also, the post just mentions updating the 710s......there's another fleet that forms at least half the network.....