Am I the only one to think that "overground" is a stupid name for a tube line?
The other day on the train I was trying to explain to some tourists that they can't use their "overground train ticket" on the "overground".
They were looking at me as if I was drunk...

I am inclined to agree, although in reality the name makes sense, given who it is operated by.
But ultimately I would have to say an alternative name would have been better.

Yep, I'd rather it was named something else - although maybe not worth the rebranding costs to do so now.

However, in the best British tradition of nicknaming things I hope a common name evolves (the Suburban Line, the Outer Line etc).

Mind you, I'm still referring to it as the ELL (for our bit) and the North London Line for the other bit from Dalston. Friends of mine living outside of FH refer to it simply as the Orange Line...

Why did they not call it the Metro?

And one day it will be called the Orbital!

The other annoying thing is that Journey Planner considers it as the same service as Southern (i.e overground), whereas for the purposes of ticketing, it would be much more useful if it was classified as 'Underground'.

should it not be the 'underground-overground'? if so could it be called the 'wombling free' line? or is that too south west london??

Presumably it gets its name because it does not go underground except to reach the other side of the Thames. But it would be much easier for everybody, Londoners all the way through to foreign visitors, if it was called Underground - after all the Overground is included on the Underground maps.

It comes down to how the ELL extension was funded. The only way money could be secured for it was to get a private company in to run the line after it reopened and become part of the National Rail network. (This is why you see the double arrow sign on Journey Planner)

London Overground while part of TfL is operated by London Overground Rail Operations Limited (LOROL) under a franchise agreement. This is a similar arrangement to how the DLR is operated, which is run by Serco.

The company is a 50:50 joint venture between the Hong Kong metro rail operator MTR Corporation and the German rail operator DB Regio (a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG).

Unlike Southern, the Overground franchise is decided by Transport for London and not the DFT.

They should have called it 'the orange line' and got a phone company to sponsor it. A phone company sponsors the Dome.

That's funny, I also call it the orange line!

should it not be the 'underground-overground'? if so could it be called the 'wombling free' line? or is that too south west london??

Careful, otherwise we may get Ex FH Pat back, did he not live near Wombleland

The Tango line?

What about SELL, the South East London Line?

Not SELL because it also runs to North East London. Perhaps the SELLNELL? Anything so long as it doesn't become so crowded it becomes the line from 'ELL.

What about SNELL, but it will probably run langsam

The only thing I do not like is the seating which all faces inwards.
I like to look out of the window as I am sure others do.

I can understand this sort of seating underground but not on trains that run above ground.

Brian
If the seats were turned round so you could look out of the window, knee room would be rather limited and it would be very difficult to get into the seats! Seriously though, the layout is intended to permit as much standing room as possible for peak periods. The concept is that most journeys are of less than 20 minutes so it is acceptable to have to stand at peak times.

I guess people would rather stand on the trains than stand on the platforms waiting for a train just so a few more people can sit.

eeerrr, sorry, it does what is says on the tin surely..??
ie, goes overground, is a part TfL's network along with london UNDERground, & is separate from national rail providers.. which also go overground but are distinct.
& of course rail tickets can be passed through & recognised by the turnstiles as usual.

I notice that you most of you say "Overground" what does it matter.
You could call it the Overground/underground it wouldnt make any difference it goes from point A to Point B and you recognise it as doing such and you recognise it as the "Overground".So what on earth is the problem?Just something to talk about Eh?