North Londoners are divided over whether Transport for London's new Overground line names are a "waste of time" or a joyful improvement for navigation.

Changes to names and colours of London Overground lines have sparked heated debate on Facebook.

The renaming of the lines and adding of new colours to the Tube map cost £6.3 million from the Greater London Authority budget as part of a drive to simplify and the transport network, as well as celebrating London's cultural heritage.

Readers across north London took to Facebook to share their views on the plans.

Michael Johnson said: "What a complete waste of time," adding that the plans were "wasting millions on pointless stuff".

Many north Londoners also called the changes "a waste of taxpayers' money".

Dave King wrote: "Over £6 million wasted on this while pleading not enough money and putting up fares."

Henry David Allum argued there were already names, saying: "I'll continue to call them what they are. The Watford DC Lines, The Goblin Line, The North London Line, The East London Line, The Lea Valley Lines and the Romford to Upminster Line. The are all operated as London Overground. No need for this silly name change which costs £6.7 million."

Amanda Austin wrote: "Completely stupid and unnecessary. Hardly going to endear those who were going to be sent back to the West Indies who lived, worked and paid taxes all their lives."

John Finlay asked why another group was not represented: "Wouldn't be no overground or underground without Irish ground and tunnel workers. Where are they represented?"

Andrew Davies wrote: "Another Khan vanity project. £6.3 million wasted, there are things like knife crime, Central line shot to pieces."

But Vania Daza was one who saw the positive side, writing: "I think this should have beeen done ages ago. For any tourist was very confusing. Some times people that live in London all their life or most it take things for granted."

Another supporter was Andreas Biermann, who wrote: "Excellent, and a much more comprehensible map at last. Great choice of names too."

Monika Schwartz wrote: "Love it. It’s good to get into the history and culture of London. Like the Elizabeth line, people will find it’s good for navigation."

She added: "I am sure the money was allocated for the purpose. Why can’t we have some joy to promote our capital city?"

The London Overground lines, which have all been represented by the same orange lines on the map since 2007, will adopt their new colours and names in the autumn.

The six lines will be called Lioness, Mildmay, Windrush, Weaver, Suffragette, Liberty.

The Lioness Line, running through Wembley Park, is named after the historic victory of the England women’s football team at the 2022 Euro championship.

The Mildmay Line, which stretches from Richmond and Clapham Junction, through  Camden and to Hackney, was named after an east London hospital first built to care for cholera patients in deprived areas of East London, but which became a pioneering HIV and Aids hospice in the 1980s.

However, some were not fans of the name. 

Gavin DiGavi said: "So our line is to be Mildmay - what a feeble name.

"I'll still call it the North London Line."

Nonetheless, Julietta Cochrane said she would not be adopting the new names and colours: "I will continue calling it the Ginger Line, as do a lot of other local people."

Jamz Donovan was unusual in not taking a strong view either way. He said: "Although I respect the sentiment, I do think it’s a little over the top, but it’s been done now, so no point in moaning about it…"

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan hopes this transformation will make navigating London’s transport network "simpler and easier" by getting rid of the confusing "mass of orange spaghetti" on maps.

He said: "This is a hugely exciting moment, transforming how we think about London’s transport network.

"In reimagining London’s tube map, we are also honouring and celebrating different parts of London’s unique local history and culture."

Most of the overhaul's £6.3 million costs will go towards to updating customer information, redesigning and redisplaying maps, and updating around 6,000 station direction signs.

The changes will be implemented over a week in the autumn.