TfL (Transport for London) have published the results of their consultation as to whether the London underground should run an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights. At the moment The Tube ends around 12:30am, to allow for overnight track maintenance — which apparently has to happen every night.
The proposal is to run the trains until 1:30am Fri and Sat (well, Sat and Sun mornings to be precise), but not start them until an hour later than they do currently, with trains not arriving into Central London until 7:00 – 8:30. This is to keep the same size maintenance window throughout.
Anyway, the results of the consultation are in and 73% of the 54,419 respondents supported the proposal. Twenty two per cent opposed the proposal, with 15 per cent of respondents strongly opposing.
The main reason for opposal was early-morning works but I guess those who like to do an “all-nighter” (ie stay out until the tubes start in the morning) will have to wait an extra hour. Perhaps an extra hour slouched in a shop door somewhere, who knows…
I’m definitely in favour of the tube running later, although I would much prefer the tubes to run 24hrs between Friday morning and Sunday night, with the option of closing specific lines overnight if there is a pressing need for emergency maintenance.
The reason for the question mark in my title for this post is because none of this has been formally agreed — and although the clear majority want it, the fact it may inconvenience key workers who start work early in the morning could scupper the plans.
What do others think?
When I had to get up and head to work early in the morning the last thing I would have wanted would have been having to negotiate a longer route to work. I’m with you on the 24 hour opening over weekends, but frankly would prefer to contend with a night bus when drunk, than a night bus when on my way to work and horribly sober at 6.30 in the morning.
As I understand it, there’s a constant need for overnight maintenance, as a minimum, which is why 24hour opening is completely out.
But I agree that later running on Friday and Saturday night is a good idea, and that’s how I responded to the consultation.
Looks like pretty much the same thing happened 100 years ago….
From the Times, 28/08/1907 :
“The Hampstead Tube – In response to an appeal from the public, a later service of trains over the Hampstead Tube will from tomorrow. The last train will leave Charing-cross for Highgate, calling at all intermediate stations, at 12.42 am, and for Hampstead and Golders Green at 12.45am. As the first train now starts shortly after 5am, there will, therefore, be about 4 1/2 hours’ cessation of traffic”