Today marks a historic moment for Mildmay Hospital, London's transport network and the wider community.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited Dalston Junction station today to officially launch the six new London Overground line names and colours, a major transformation aimed at making London’s transport network easier to navigate while reflecting the diverse communities and rich cultural history of the city. Among these, we are proud that one of these lines has been named in honour of Mildmay Hospital.
At Dalston Junction station, special guests joined the Mayor for the unveiling of the new line names and signage. Geoff Coleman, our CEO at Mildmay, and Teri Milewska, Mildmay's Matron and Registered Manager, represented the Mildmay Line, which runs from Richmond and Clapham Junction to Stratford and will be marked by blue parallel lines on the iconic Tube map.
The recognition of Mildmay - representing many smaller institutions within, and supporting the NHS, is not just a nod to our history but also an acknowledgement of our ongoing work in caring for some of London’s most vulnerable communities, including people living with HIV and those experiencing homelessness.
As Geoff put it during the event: “We are deeply honoured that the London Overground Mildmay line has been named in recognition of our hospital’s long-standing commitment to caring for London’s most vulnerable communities. This tribute reflects the heart of what Mildmay stands for - compassionate, inclusive care for all, especially during the HIV/AIDS crisis, and it carries our legacy of healing and hope into the future. We are proud to be part of this historic change to the capital’s transport network and look forward to continuing our work alongside the diverse communities of this great city.”
Joining Geoff and Teri at the launch were representatives of the other new Overground lines, each chosen for their cultural and historical significance. For example, Levi Roots and Mica Paris represented the Windrush Line, which celebrates the contribution of the Windrush generation; the Lioness line honours the England women’s football team, the Weaver line reflects London’s rich textile history and the Liberty line, which celebrates freedom and the historical independence of the people of Havering, the borough through which it runs.
Over the past nine days, TfL and its partners have undertaken an extraordinary effort to introduce 6,000 new wayfinding signs at stations, update Tube maps, install digital screens, and refresh onboard train information. Both audio and visual announcements have also been updated across London Overground trains and stations. The final updates, including changes to the TfL website, TfL Go app, and the passenger information systems on newer Overground trains, will be completed in the coming months.
The significance of the Mildmay line in this major public transport update is not just about easier navigation - it’s about keeping the spirit of service and care alive in the everyday lives of Londoners. As many thousands travel along the Mildmay Line every day, we hope they will be reminded of the people and stories behind our hospital, and how much we have all worked together to make a difference.
Find out more about the Mildmay line and our history on our dedicated page
Check back later to see more images from the launch here:
Media coverage
For more information, including the new London Overground map, you can visit the dedicated line naming webpage at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/london-overground/overground-line-naming.
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