On 2 Jan, 23:04, "Paul Scott" wrote:
"Tim Roll-Pickering" wrote in message

...

Richard J. wrote:

No, I don't think it has. In my experience, people used "railway" or
"British Rail" or "main line" (even when talking about purely suburban
railways) or the name of the BR/NR operator. *People certainly didn't
talk about "London overground" even if they might possibly have used the
word "overground".

Maybe, but if you spoke of the "overground" most peple would think you
meant the "railway". Whilst the term wasn't used that much it was clear
what it meant until now.

I'd agree - its only in the last few years it got into the media - possibly
since the ill fated 'overground network'; would that be about 4 or 5 years?
I must admit to skimming past the earlier suggestion that the term had been
in use a hundred years...

Paul

Last time I departed from Euston (couple of weeks ago) there was an
announcement on the lines of "... the London Nnngground service to
Watford Junction ...". I think they are making it indistinct in order
to avoid confusion.