Some Londoners told the Standard they were eager for Night Tube to be rolled out across other lines with Transport for London expected to announce the third Night Tube service – either on the Jubilee, Northern or Piccadilly – within a few weeks.
Advertisement
On the high street the first tentative economic ripples from the service were in evidence on Friday with an announcement by Tesco that several of its stores would be opening for 24 hours on a trial basis along the Victoria and Central lines.
The London Underground started running all-night rides on two lines, the Victoria and Central, coming into line with mass-transit practices in NY and Paris and other party-down towns. He said on Friday that the people using the night tube would include doctors, nurses, security guards, porters and tourists.
About 100 police officers will be on patrol to allay any safety fears and eight new bus routes will now run 24-hour services to go hand-in-hand with the Tube night services.
The plan was announced in November 2013 and meant to begin in September 2015, but strikes over pay delayed the start by almost another year.
London’s Night Tube begins this weekend, with mayor Sadiq Khan saying it will be used by a variety of people including “a middle-aged clubber” like himself. Supt Chris Horton, the officer responsible for policing on the underground, said there was no reason for passengers to be less safe than during the day.
Trains will operate through the night on the Victoria, usually shut from around 12.30am, and parts of the Central line, previously closed from midnight.
He said the force would focus on “being visible” and ensuring it was “able to intervene in places that are likely to see significant issues”.
Speaking ahead of the launch he said: “I’m really excited. I’m pleased and proud that we’re here”.
“What’s important is we got the detail and the planning right”.
Asked if he was concerned about feeling exhausted, Daniel George, 28, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, said: “No, you change your sleeping pattern to work around that sort of thing”.
He continued: “It’s great for people not having to worry about the last train”.
The service expansion could also lead to around 2,200 new jobs, and up to 77 million in British pounds for London’s economy by 2029, according to a report by London First and EY.
Advertisement
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved.
