Tory member Andrew Boff has accused TfL of “Disney-fying” history after the renaming of London’s Overground Lines.
At London Assembly’s transport committee on Tuesday, Tory member Andrew Boff questioned the geographical and historical accuracy of the newly announced Overground Line’s names.
He has “no objection to solving that mass of orange” by giving each of the Overground’s six lines an individual identity, but argued that pre-existing nicknames were ignored, specifically the ‘Goblin Line.’
TfL Commissioner Andy Lord responded saying “I don’t think anything’s wrong with ‘Goblin,’ but it’s not an official name of the railway.”
The ‘Goblin Line’, was renamed the ‘Suffragette Line’ because it “celebrates the working-class movement born in the East End that fought for votes for women”.
The change was made to commemorate Annie Huggett, a prominent suffragette from Barking.
CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Mr Boff raised concerns about usage of PR content to influence the new line, including images of a statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square.
This content has been shared through TfL and the Mayor of London’s social media channels.
He questioned the historical accuracy of this, saying that Millicent Fawcett wasn’t a Suffragette.
CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
He also challenged the option to name the Overground line from Stratford to Richmond and Clapham Junction, “the Mildmay Line.”
“This is more Disneyfication” said Mr. Boff, talking about how TFL’s publicity had affirmed the line was named after the Mildmay Hospital, despite, the route not passing near it.
The Mildmay Mission Hospital is based in Shoreditch and was founded by the representatives of the Mildmay Mission in the late 1800s.
Deputy Mayor of London for Transport Seb Dance said the line was named “in recognition”, despite the institution not being located near the line geographically.
Mr. Boff also suggested TfL should think about incorporating numbers to differentiate the tube and Overground Line.
He said “Is it not time that we considered at least adding a number to our lines, to make it easier for tourists to get around?”
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HeadlineTory Assembly member criticises ‘Disney-fied’ new Overground line names
Short HeadlineAssembly Tories criticise Overground 'Disneyfication'
StandfirstLondon's New Overground Line faces criticism at City Hall.
Tory member Andrew Boff has accused TfL of “Disney-fying” history after the renaming of London’s Overground Lines.
At London Assembly’s transport committee on Tuesday, Tory member Andrew Boff questioned the geographical and historical accuracy of the newly announced Overground Line’s names.
He has “no objection to solving that mass of orange” by giving each of the Overground’s six lines an individual identity, but argued that pre-existing nicknames were ignored, specifically the ‘Goblin Line.’
TfL Commissioner Andy Lord responded saying “I don’t think anything’s wrong with ‘Goblin,’ but it’s not an official name of the railway.”
The ‘Goblin Line’, was renamed the ‘Suffragette Line’ because it “celebrates the working-class movement born in the East End that fought for votes for women”.
The change was made to commemorate Annie Huggett, a prominent suffragette from Barking.
CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Mr Boff raised concerns about usage of PR content to influence the new line, including images of a statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square.
This content has been shared through TfL and the Mayor of London’s social media channels.
He questioned the historical accuracy of this, saying that Millicent Fawcett wasn’t a Suffragette.
CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
He also challenged the option to name the Overground line from Stratford to Richmond and Clapham Junction, “the Mildmay Line.”
“This is more Disneyfication” said Mr. Boff, talking about how TFL’s publicity had affirmed the line was named after the Mildmay Hospital, despite, the route not passing near it.
The Mildmay Mission Hospital is based in Shoreditch and was founded by the representatives of the Mildmay Mission in the late 1800s.
Deputy Mayor of London for Transport Seb Dance said the line was named “in recognition”, despite the institution not being located near the line geographically.
Mr. Boff also suggested TfL should think about incorporating numbers to differentiate the tube and Overground Line.
He said “Is it not time that we considered at least adding a number to our lines, to make it easier for tourists to get around?”
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