ROYAL RAIL
What is the Liberty London Overground line named after?
The railway line features a surprising royal connection
THE Liberty line is just one of six names given to the iconic London Overground as part of a 2024 rebrand.
The railway network has been split into different lines, with names including the Mildmay line and the Weaver line, in a bid to make the transport system easier to navigate.
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What is the Liberty line named after?
The TfL website explains that the Liberty line has been named to "celebrate the freedom that is a defining feature of London".
It is also a reference to the motto of the London Borough of Havering and its historical status as a royal liberty.
These new names and line colours will simplify the maps and routes for our customers
London's Transport Commissioner Andy Lord
Havering, also known as Havering-atte-Bower, was a royal manor and liberty that was in the possession of the Crown from the 11th to the 19th century.
It was also the location of Havering Palace from the 13th to the late 17th century.
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Nowadays, the London Borough of Havering is made up of Romford and Upminster, which are on the Liberty line, as well as Hornchurch, Collier Row and Rainham.
The borough features several references to its royal history, including the Royal Liberty School in Gidea Park and the Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford.
Where is the Liberty line?
The Liberty London Overground line runs from Romford to Upminster.
There is only one intermediate station on the line, which is Emerson Park.
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The Liberty line takes only nine minutes to run from one terminus to the other, with two trains running per hour.
It has been run by London Overground since May 2015, having previously been operated by Greater Anglia.
The newly-named Liberty line is separate from the rest of the London Overground but is connected to the the London Underground's Elizabeth line at Romford.
Customers can also transfer to the Great Eastern Main Line at Romford and the London Underground's District line at Upminster.
The Liberty line is represented by grey parallel markings on the new Overground map.
Why were the London Overground lines renamed?
The new London Overground lines were announced in February 2024.
Sadiq Khan unveiled the network's new map, featuring the new names, during a visit to Highbury and Islington station on February 15.
It marks the first time the Overground has undergone major changes since it launched in 2007.
The Mayor of London spoke about the Overground's £6million rebranding and the meaning behind the names during the unveiling of the new map.
He said: "There are so many fascinating, and often forgotten, stories from our city that should be told and remembered.
"Naming the lines will not only help educate visitors about our amazing city and its incredible history but will also make it easier for people who live, work or visit London to navigate the city."
According to the TfL website, the London Overground lines have been renamed to reflect London's "rich and diverse history".
It is hoped that they will also make the network, previously described by users as a "mass of orange spaghetti", easier to navigate for customers.
Though the new line names were announced in early 2024, they won't be made official until the end of the year.
The other new line names are the Lioness line, the Windrush line, the Weaver line, the Suffragette line and the Mildmay line.
Local historians, academics and transport specialists were consulted about the renaming, per TfL.
The transport network added that the final decisions were made after "a period of engagement" with staff, customers and communities.
The rebrand of the London Overground will not impact any journeys or services.
London's transport commissioner Andy Lord said: "The London Overground is one of the most successful railways in the country and has grown to carry more than three million customers a week.
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"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."
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