Transport for London Confirms Night Tube Introduction Delay

The new night Tube service, which was due to be launched on September 12, has been officially suspended until an agreement can be reached between the operator and workers, London Underground has confirmed.

It is likely to run around the clock on Friday and Saturday nights on the Jubilee, Victoria, and most of the Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines.

Union opposition to management proposals has so far led to two 24-hour strikes in the past few weeks.

London Underground has now postponed the launch until later in the autumn.

Now London Underground believes they are close to striking a bargain with their employees, and that the night Tube will be delivered “for Londoners this autumn” – just not by September 12.

“Aslef believes that a world-class capital city like London needs a 24-hour Tube service, but not at the expense of the work-life balance of our members”.

The Night Tube will allow passengers to travel into the early hours of the morning on weekends, which is causing disagreements with staff over pay and shift patterns.

‘Our objective is to reach an agreement that ends this dispute’

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London’s Mayor Boris Johnson had already hinted that the start of the night-time weekend service would be delayed but the decision had not been formalised.

London First, an organisation that aims to improve business in London conducted research into the economic benefits of the Night Tube and found the new service will boost jobs and help maintain London’s status as a vibrant and exciting place to live, work and visit.

The RMT has set two new dates of September 8 and 10 for more strikes if there is no agreement.

Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman on the London Assembly Caroline Pidgeon criticised Mr Johnson’s “error in setting a specific date before all staffing arrangements and other issues had been settled”.

“The Mayor must now also come clean and explain when the expected changes to Night Buses will take place”.