James Saunders
Guest Reporter
Sadiq Khan's "woke" London Overground rebrand is in the firing line once again after Transport for London (TfL) labelled it one of its "top moments" of 2024.
TfL had shared an article just days ago celebrating a range of progressive "standout moments" through the year - with the renaming handed the number one spot.
The transport body also hailed viral videos, celebrity endorsements, TV show appearances and brand partnerships in its 2024 highlights - but snubbed any mention of service improvements in the face of stagnating passenger satisfaction.
In its article, TfL talked up how the new names reflect "London's rich history and diverse communities" - but the multi-million pound rebrand had seen fierce criticism when it was rolled out in November.
Khan, who is expected to be handed a knighthood tomorrow, had been subjected to a volley of attacks from his London Assembly opponents throughout the rebranding drive.
City Hall Tories leader Neil Garratt told GB News last month the £6.3million rebrand "looks like a spectacular waste of money" and the Mayor was "wasting it on a vanity project".
He added: "It's another wrong choice from a Mayor who's wasted eight years in office - and is now desperately seeking a legacy."
While the TaxPayers' Alliance's William Yarwood told The People's Channel that "commuters in the capital just want their trains to be clean and run on time rather than being subjected to virtue-signalling nonsense".
LATEST ON SADIQ KHAN'S LONDON:
His remarks follow data from Statista warning that passenger satisfaction with the Tube tailed off from around 85 per cent in the months prior to the pandemic to around 75 per cent in the months following the first lockdowns in 2020.
That level has since remained roughly the same - and further disruption is expected to plague TfL's busiest lines until into the new year.
The Piccadilly line is set to be part-suspended until the middle of January over "damage caused by leaf fall" on the tracks.
Londoners on social media have also voiced their fury - one wrote: "Spending so much money on virtue-signalling you forgot your job was to provide a safe, clean, reliable service."
And another jabbed: "All this stuff is great and all that, but you have been incapable of running even a half-decent service for the past few weeks, especially on the Piccadilly line.
"Maybe more focus on the essentials is required."
A spokesman for the Mayor of London told GB News: "Customer research showed that renaming the lines would help passengers navigate the Overground and to encourage more people to confidently use public transport.
"The Mayor is proud of these new names that honour and reflect London's diverse communities and histories."
Find Out More...
TfL had shared an article just days ago celebrating a range of progressive "standout moments" through the year - with the renaming handed the number one spot.
The transport body also hailed viral videos, celebrity endorsements, TV show appearances and brand partnerships in its 2024 highlights - but snubbed any mention of service improvements in the face of stagnating passenger satisfaction.
In its article, TfL talked up how the new names reflect "London's rich history and diverse communities" - but the multi-million pound rebrand had seen fierce criticism when it was rolled out in November.
Khan, who is expected to be handed a knighthood tomorrow, had been subjected to a volley of attacks from his London Assembly opponents throughout the rebranding drive.
City Hall Tories leader Neil Garratt told GB News last month the £6.3million rebrand "looks like a spectacular waste of money" and the Mayor was "wasting it on a vanity project".
He added: "It's another wrong choice from a Mayor who's wasted eight years in office - and is now desperately seeking a legacy."
While the TaxPayers' Alliance's William Yarwood told The People's Channel that "commuters in the capital just want their trains to be clean and run on time rather than being subjected to virtue-signalling nonsense".
LATEST ON SADIQ KHAN'S LONDON:
- Man charged with attempted murder after four pedestrians hit by car in London’s West End
- Terrifying moment man is nearly dragged to his death by train pulling into railway station
- Outrage as Labour London council promotes social housing to 'migrants who can't even speak English'
His remarks follow data from Statista warning that passenger satisfaction with the Tube tailed off from around 85 per cent in the months prior to the pandemic to around 75 per cent in the months following the first lockdowns in 2020.
That level has since remained roughly the same - and further disruption is expected to plague TfL's busiest lines until into the new year.
The Piccadilly line is set to be part-suspended until the middle of January over "damage caused by leaf fall" on the tracks.
Londoners on social media have also voiced their fury - one wrote: "Spending so much money on virtue-signalling you forgot your job was to provide a safe, clean, reliable service."
And another jabbed: "All this stuff is great and all that, but you have been incapable of running even a half-decent service for the past few weeks, especially on the Piccadilly line.
"Maybe more focus on the essentials is required."
A spokesman for the Mayor of London told GB News: "Customer research showed that renaming the lines would help passengers navigate the Overground and to encourage more people to confidently use public transport.
"The Mayor is proud of these new names that honour and reflect London's diverse communities and histories."
Find Out More...