Residents near Northern Line disappointed at Night Tube delays

By James Mayer, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents living near the Northern line are “disappointed” the Night Tube isn’t opening next month when other lines are.

From November 27, Central and Victoria lines will run continuously throughout the night on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed the return of Night Tube services on the two London Underground lines on October 14.

Balham resident Lauren Wyllie, said: “I’m disappointed, it’s the most important line, connecting everyone and also one of the most busiest from start to finish.

“I’d love to know the reasoning behind it.”

But the 40-year-old added: “Honestly, I don’t think getting the Tube is the safest thing anyway so I don’t know whether that is a positive or negative.”

Harry Stones, a resident of Elephant and Castle which is on the Northern line and Bakeloo line, said: I don’t really use it too much, usually I just use the bus it’s not really like much of an issue to me.”

But the 22-year-old added: “I understand like how important it is for everyone else – safety is the number one for sure thing.”

Chev Choo, a resident of Nine Elms, where a Northern line station opened on September 20, said: “This is a large residential area so it would be quicker and more convenient for residents living here if the Night Tube was open, instead of using a bus at night.”

The 50-year-old added: “It can be very shady at night and dangerous for women if they have to walk around.”

Julia Whittle, who was visiting the area from Essex said: “I think all lines should be open for all women and for everyone to enable safe passage home no matter what sex or gender you are as long as it doesn’t bankrupt everybody.”

The 52-year-old added: “It’s always so congested so I think this is the best most greenest way to travel for everyone.

“The Northern line is really important, it covers such a large area.”

The opening follows a successful petition regarding women’s safety, which garnered almost 150,000 signatures and negotiation between Transport for London (TfL) and transport unions

Julia Whittle, who was visiting the area from Essex said: “I think all lines should be open for all women and for everyone to enable safe passage home no matter what sex or gender you are as long as it doesn’t bankrupt everybody.”

The 52-year-old added: “It’s always so congested so I think this is the best most greenest way to travel for everyone.

“The Northern line is really important, it covers such a large area.”

The opening follows a successful petition regarding women’s safety, which garnered almost 150,000 signatures and negotiation between Transport for London (TfL) and transport unions.

But TfL insists that the decision is to ‘support economic recovery’ and ‘provide even more travel options and improved safety for Londoners travelling at night’, describing the Night Tube as ‘a safe, low crime environment’.

On the Central line, services will run between Loughton or Hainault and Ealing Broadway via Central London. The Victoria line will run the whole line throughout both nights.

The remaining Night Tube lines (Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly) and the night Overground are not set to return until next year.

TfL has said the reason why it is not bringing back the Northern line Night Tube yet is because a new tunnel for the line at Bank is being completed from January to May 2022 so it would not make sense to open the Night Tube, only to close it again in January.

The Jubilee and Piccadilly lines need more staff and training and TfL do not have the resources yet to have these lines open all night.