Sadiq Khan defends £6.3million revamp of Overground traces

Sadiq Khan at the moment confronted a livid backlash from outraged commuters who branded his £6million revamp of the London Overground, ‘predictable woke liberal nonsense’.

Under the weird venture, community rail traces can be given particular person colors and names together with Lioness, Mildmay, Windrush, Weaver, Suffragette and Liberty.

The Mayor defended his £6.3million venture to rename and recolour all six London Overground rail traces, however admitted: ‘Not everyone goes to be completely happy.’ He recommended the ‘good’ names that can save passengers from ‘nightmare’ journeys – however Tories rapidly slammed the ‘advantage signalling nonsense’.

Susan Hall, Mr Khan’s Conservative opponent in May’s mayoral election, advised MailOnline at the moment: ‘1,000 individuals have been killed below his Mayoralty, and but Sadiq Khan is simply on this advantage signalling nonsense. The solely shock from at the moment’s announcement is that he hasn’t named one in all them the Sadiq line.’

Further critics highlighted the fee given Transport for London (TfL) had been on the verge of chapter earlier than securing last-minute Government funding, and the way Tube crime has soared by 56 per cent fuelled by a surge in thefts and robberies. 

But the Mayor mentioned at the moment that the money was ‘inside the TfL funds already put aside’, and the change would make it ‘very easy’ to get throughout the 113 Overground stations.

He additionally mentioned there had been a lot session and ‘not everyone goes to be completely happy, however we predict we have managed to please most individuals which is absolutely necessary.’

The announcement additionally comes 4 days earlier than a main Overground strike will hit companies from subsequent Monday – and within the context on ongoing Underground chaos on the Central line resulting from extra trains than typical needing repairs on the identical time.

Mr Khan, who’s standing for re-election on May 2, precipitated fury along with his Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) growth final August – and is now battling for votes along with his latest choices to freeze Tube fares and make Fridays off-peak from subsequent month.

But the Conservatives mentioned naming rights given to firms would have earned TfL tens of tens of millions of kilos which may have been invested within the beleaguered Central line – and this was simply ‘a brand new lick of paint over a creaking transport system’. 

Also at the moment, there was no Overground between Barking and Barking Riverside resulting from vandalism, in addition to delays on the Piccadilly line resulting from a sign failure at King’s Cross St Pancras and on the Hammersmith and City line resulting from cancellations.

Overground traces have all been orange because the community was created in 2007 when TfL took management of companies on 4 suburban rail traces.

The community has expanded considerably since then, creating what has been known as a ‘mass of orange spaghetti’ on maps, making it tough for some passengers to work out what prepare they want. TfL hopes the overhaul will now make it simpler to navigate.

Speaking from Highbury and Islington station in North London this morning, Mr Khan advised Sky News: ‘The cash for rebranding these six traces is inside the TfL funds already put aside.

‘We converse to prospects each day who discover it a nightmare getting throughout these 113 stations throughout these six separate traces. They are all known as London Overground, all have the orange color.

‘You’ll recognise from this nice metropolis of ours, we have 12 Tube traces with distinct names, distinct colors, we have the Elizabeth line.

‘But these six specific traces are fairly complicated – how do you get from Liverpool Street to White Hart Lane. How do you get from Croydon to Enfield? It’s the identical color line, 113 stations, and it is a nightmare.

‘So what we have executed is, we have engaged with prospects, with native communities, with business specialists, with historians, and introduced at the moment six good new names for these six distinct traces that can make it a lot simpler for commuters to get throughout our nice metropolis.’

He added that TfL was ‘serving to those that are visually impaired to get themselves round our metropolis’ and described wayfinding as a ‘massive problem’.

Mr Khan continued: ‘The problem is the way you get round our incredible stations and public transport community. We additionally know we’re a metropolis that has the biggest variety of vacationers on this planet. How do vacationers get round our nice metropolis?

‘So it has been an extended course of, we have been participating with prospects, communities, individuals throughout our metropolis. We’ve introduced the six names at the moment. Not everyone goes to be completely happy, however we predict we have managed to please most individuals which is absolutely necessary.’

Each route can be represented on Tube maps as parallel traces in numerous colors – which would require one of many greatest adjustments within the historical past of the well-known diagram.

But Susan Hall, Mr Khan’s Conservative opponent in May’s mayoral election, advised MailOnline at the moment: ‘1,000 individuals have been killed below his Mayoralty, and but Sadiq Khan is simply on this advantage signalling nonsense. The solely shock from at the moment’s announcement is that he hasn’t named one in all them the Sadiq line.

‘The Central line is in a horrible state, TfL is losing cash left, proper and centre, crime on the Tube is hovering, and Sadiq Khan is ignoring all of this to deal with his personal PR. I’ll take heed to Londoners, repair the issues with TfL and get a grip of crime.’

Paul Scully, Conservative MP for Sutton and Cheam in South London, advised MailOnline: ‘Londoners simply desire a Mayor who can get them from A to B on time, at affordable price and in a level of consolation, not simply spraying a phrase cloud of advantage signalling at a price of £6million of taxpayers’ cash.

‘If he insists on renaming traces, he may have checked out sponsorship which might inject much-needed funding.

‘But both method, at a time that we’re listening to about TfL’s delays to changing previous prepare inventory, he is simply placing a brand new lick of paint over a creaking transport system moderately than doing the job Londoners count on.’

Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow East, additionally advised MailOnline: ‘Another woke thought from a mayor who turns into extra ridiculous each day.’ 

And the City Hall Conservatives transport spokesman Keith Prince mentioned: ‘This is a wasted alternative. Sadiq Khan and TfL may have earned tens of tens of millions of kilos by providing naming rights to Overground prepare traces. 

‘This cash may have been invested in a lot wanted upgrades to Central Line trains and different infrastructure.

‘Sadiq Khan’s priorities as Chairman of TfL are all flawed. Londoners are extra involved in regards to the every day chaos throughout the Tube community together with lengthy delays on the Central Line and disruption on the Elizabeth Line. 

‘They are very involved about how they may get to and from work subsequent week when the RMT strikes for 4 days – a report a hundred and fortieth TfL strike below Sadiq Khan’s watch. 

‘This Mayor prefers to make shiny bulletins moderately than do the laborious yards. Londoners should vote Sadiq Khan out on May 2 and elect Susan Hall as Mayor.’

The most up-to-date main naming of a rail line in London was the Elizabeth line after Queen Elizabeth II, which opened in May 2022 earlier than her demise that September.

The names and colors for London Overground traces can be:

• The Lioness line between Euston and Watford Junction (yellow): This honours the England girls’s soccer workforce successful Euro 2022 at Wembley, which is on the road.
• The Mildmay line between Stratford and Richmond/Clapham Junction (blue): The Mildmay Mission Hospital in Shoreditch specialises in treating sufferers with HIV-related sicknesses.
• The Windrush line between Highbury & Islington and Clapham Junction/New Cross/Crystal Palace/West Croydon (pink): The identify honours the Windrush era, who got here to the UK from the Caribbean to fill labour shortages after the Second World War. The line runs by areas with communities linked to the Caribbean.
• The Weaver line between Liverpool Street and Cheshunt/Enfield Town/Chingford (maroon): The line runs by areas recognized for the textile commerce.
• The Suffragette line between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside (inexperienced): This is in tribute to the motion that fought for votes for girls. Barking was house to suffragette Annie Huggett, who lived to 103.
• The Liberty line between Romford and Upminster (gray): This celebrates how Havering, which the road runs by, traditionally had extra self-governance by being a royal liberty.

The adjustments are estimated to price £6.3 million, which can be paid for out of Mr Khan’s Greater London Authority funds.

The majority of this may go in the direction of updating buyer data similar to redesigning and redisplaying maps throughout all Tube and London Overground stations, and issuing new variations in print and on-line.

Public tackle bulletins can be re-recorded and round 6,000 station route indicators can be up to date.

The rebranding can be rolled out over per week within the autumn.

It comes a yr after reviews that TfL had ring fenced £4million for the venture in its funds for the newest monetary yr. 

TfL beforehand commissioned analysis, carried out by company DNCO at a price of £115,000, which established prospects discovered the Overground community complicated and would discover it simpler to navigate if it was not a single color and identify, reported the Evening Standard. 

John Bull, editor of transport web site London Reconnections, mentioned giving the traces names and colors is ‘an overdue change’.

He added: ‘One of the actual advantages that the Overground has introduced is the flexibility to drive visitors that is not native to attention-grabbing locations in Zone 2, Zone 3 and past.

‘But if it is not a well-known journey you possibly can’t simply say ‘I’m going to get on the orange line’. You need to understand how they interconnect.’

Mr Bull predicted that ‘individuals will grumble and moan in regards to the names’ however that has occurred for ‘each single line that has been given a reputation through the years’.

He added: ‘Frankly, it is good to have some stuff that represents issues which have modified the lives of Londoners, among the many references to queens which have tended to accrue up till now.’

Mr Khan described the adjustments as a ‘massively thrilling second, remodeling how we take into consideration London’s transport community’.

He continued: ‘Giving every of the Overground traces distinct colors and identities will make it easier and simpler for passengers to get round.

‘In reimagining London’s tube map, we’re additionally honouring and celebrating completely different elements of London’s distinctive native historical past and tradition.

‘The new names and colors have been chosen by engagement with passengers, historians and native communities, reflecting the heritage and variety of our wonderful metropolis.’

Andy Lord, London’s transport commissioner, mentioned: ‘The London Overground is among the most profitable railways within the nation and has grown to hold greater than three million prospects per week.

‘The community – which has grown fairly significantly since 2007 – is presently proven as an advanced community of orange on maps.

‘This might be complicated for patrons much less aware of the community and might be a barrier for some wanting to make use of the London Overground.

‘These new names and line colors will simplify the maps and routes for our prospects, and it’s hoped it’s going to encourage extra individuals to profit from our companies.

‘It can be an effective way to inform the tales of some necessary elements of London’s cultural variety.’

It comes forward of an Overground strike on Monday and Tuesday subsequent week by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union.

RMT members, who’re employed by Arriva Rail London and function the Overground on TfL’s behalf, plan to strike on each days.

All Overground routes will run, however some can have decreased working hours.

No service is anticipated earlier than 8am or after 6pm on the routes of Gospel Oak to Barking (the brand new Suffragette line); Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction (the brand new Mildmay line); and Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/West Croydon/Crystal Palace/New Cross (the brand new Windrush line). 

TfL mentioned prospects travelling on these routes are suggested to contemplate various routes, enable further time for his or her journey and to examine earlier than they journey.

A lot of stations can be closed and Overground companies won’t cease there – these being Haggerston, Hoxton, Rotherhithe, Shadwell, Shoreditch High Street and Wapping.

Trish Ashton, TfL’s director of rail and sponsored companies, mentioned: ‘Strikes are by no means excellent news for our prospects, and we urge the RMT and Arriva Rail London to work collectively to attempt to come to a decision.

‘Customers planning to make use of London Overground companies are urged to examine earlier than they journey, enable further time for his or her journeys, and examine the TfL web site or the TfL Go app for the newest journey data.’

This would be the first of two 48-hour strikes by the RMT union over pay. Further strike motion can be deliberate on Monday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 5.

RMT basic secretary Mick Lynch mentioned: ‘London Overground staff do an necessary job delivering companies for Transport for London and supporting passengers on journeys all through London.

‘Our members are livid that they’ve been given a under inflation pay supply and need to see an enchancment that represents the worth they create to the corporate.

‘If this dispute can’t be resolved then RMT is greater than ready for a sustained interval of commercial motion to get London Overground staff the pay rise they deserve.’

Meanwhile prepare drivers at 5 operators have voted to proceed strike motion for six months within the long-running dispute over pay and situations.

Aslef introduced that its members on Chiltern, c2c, East Midlands, Northern and TransPennine railways had backed carrying on with motion.

Aslef has additionally introduced a separate one-day strike on March 1 and three-day additional time ban from February 29 for Northern and LNER drivers.

Just one week in the past, UK rail companies returned to regular on February 7 after a wave of strikes and different types of industrial motion by Aslef prepare drivers of their dispute.