Night Tube to restart next month

Transport for London (TfL) will restart services from the early hours of Saturday 27 November, helping to boost business in London’s “bars, clubs and restaurants” while also providing a safe travel option.

Sadiq Khan, who launched the Night Tube in 2016, said: “I know how important [the Night Tube has] become, not only to the confidence and safety of Londoners travelling home at night, but to London’s thriving night-time economy.

“The Central and Victoria were previously two of the busiest lines on the night-time network and they provide crucial links between large part of the city and central London.”

Economic boost

He continued: “Restoring them next month will help many businesses that have struggled in the pandemic like bars, clubs and restaurants.

“Crucially, these two lines will also provide another safe quick travel option for Londoners travelling home at night after making the most of what our brilliant city has to offer.”

Khan said he would work “tirelessly” to reach a long-term financial deal with the Government and reopen the remaining night-time services as quickly as possible.

TfL said services on the other Night Tube routes – the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines will return “as soon as practicable” but it was unlikely to be this year.

Keeping people safe

The Night Tube network was halted in the first lockdown of March 2020 as staff had to be reallocated to daytime services, said the Mayor.

Khan’s announcement follows a wave of complaints, including a petition signed by almost 140,000 people urging him to reinstate the Night Tube to protect women’s safety.

The Night Tube lines will complement London’s network of taxis, private-hire vehicles, and night-time buses, with more than 100 buses currently running each night.

The chair of National Pubwatch (NPW) Stephen Baker said: “We would welcome any increase in Night Tube services that will provide a safe route home for anyone, but most importantly women, who are working or socialising in the night-time economy.” 

Khan said: “This will make a huge difference to people travelling around our city at night, and has only been made possible by hard work over a number of months by City Hall and TfL.

“It’s another great sign that our city is getting back on its feet after the pandemic.”