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London’s night-time economy to boost as full Night Tube service is restored

Posted: 28 July 2022 | | No comments yet

The complete restoration of Night Tube services will allow Londoners and visitors to explore the capital on weekend evenings with shorter journey times, whilst also providing late night travellers with another safe way to return home.

TfL announces return of Jubilee line Night Tube in May 2022

Credit: Transport for London

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that, from 30 July 2022, all Night Tube services will be fully restored for the first time since they were suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Services on the Piccadilly line will return on the evening of 29 July and will run throughout the night on Fridays and Saturdays. The return of this line means a complete restoration of the weekend Night Tube and Night Overground services previously available to customers, providing more options for safe travel around the city.  

Night Tube services across the capital have been steadily returning to support with London’s economic recovery, with the Central and Victoria lines being the first to start operating from November 2021. This was further bolstered this summer with the return of the Jubilee and Northern lines in May and June 2022. In addition, Night Overground services between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate also returned in December 2021.

The complete restoration of Night Tube services on London Underground marks a key moment in London’s recovery. Since the return of the Night Tube service in November 2021, 3.2 million entries and exits have been recorded. In addition, weekday ridership on the Tube network has grown to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and weekend ridership is now regularly above 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

The Night Tube offers a safe, low crime environment. TfL has dedicated British Transport Police officers patrolling stations and trains during Night Tube and Night Overground services to provide support and reassurance to staff and customers. Across the TfL network, there are more than 2,500 police and police community support officers and 500 TfL enforcement officers who patrol London’s transport network, while thousands of frontline transport staff support customers and an extensive CCTV network is in place across the Tube.

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TfL also operates an extensive night bus network along with the Night Overground, to ensure everyone can travel around the capital throughout the night. More than 100 routes currently run through the night and ridership on buses is regularly at 80 per cent. Furthermore, licensed and regulated taxis and private hire vehicles provide door-to-door transport at all times of the day. The Tube continues to operate between approximately 05:30 and 00:30 through central London from Monday to Saturday.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I know this will be welcome news for Londoners and visitors to our city, helping people to make the most of everything on offer in the capital and supporting those working at night. Having all Night Tube lines running again will play a vital role in our city’s recovery from the pandemic, boosting the night-time economy and helping people get around the city overnight at weekends.”

London’s Night Czar, Amy Lamé, said: “The return of all Night Tube services will enable those working throughout the night to travel to and from work safely and cheaply. Importantly, for the city’s night-time businesses, this will also give Londoners and visitors more ways to access and enjoy the capital’s world-leading hospitality and entertainment after dark.”

Nick Dent, TfL’s Director of Customer Operations, said: ”Night Tube provides a safe and quick travel option for all Londoners and visitors looking to make the most of all the capital has to offer in the evenings, and those who need to travel to or from work at night. The summer is the perfect time for Londoners and visitors to enjoy everything in the city and we hope the full return of the Night Tube will be a further boost to the capital’s recovery.”