London’s Night Tube will partially return in November and people have taken to social media to respond to the news.
Transport for London (TfL) and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said services on the Central and Victoria lines will run through the night on Fridays and Saturdays from Saturday 27 November after it was suspended in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
NEW: Many Londoners have asked when the Night Tube is coming back. Today I'm delighted to confirm that, after a significant amount of hard work over many months by TfL, City Hall & trade unions, Victoria & Central Line services will resume on 27 November.
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) October 14, 2021
Khan said: “The reason why I was so keen to be the first mayor in London’s history to start the Night Tube in 2016, and to restart it now, after the Covid pause, is because I know how important this is to London’s thriving night-time economy, to London’s recovery and to the confidence and safety of everyone travelling home at night, particularly women and girls.
“I am determined to make our city as safe as possible for all Londoners.
“That’s why I’m delighted to see the return of the Victoria and Central Night Tube lines next month, which will make a huge difference to people travelling around our city at night and making their way home, offering them an additional safe, reliable transport option.
Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter
“I will continue to work with TfL and the Government to do everything we can to bring back the full Night Tube network as soon as possible.”
It comes after tens of thousands of people signed a petition calling for the Night Tube to resume to help protect women and girls in the wake of the awful deaths of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.
TfL said the Central and Victoria lines were previously two of the busiest lines on the Night Tube network, providing connections between “large parts of London and the centre of the city”.
It added: “Restoring night running on these lines will help businesses like bars, clubs and restaurants as London’s night-time economy continues to recover following the pandemic.”
Responding to the announcement, some people were thrilled about the service returning:
This is fantastic news from @SadiqKhan - the Night Tube is back next month on two of the busiest lines. The Night Tube will support London’s thriving night time economy and will give more confidence to women travelling through our city at night.https://t.co/mYTZCeYt4o
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 14, 2021
Really pleased that night tube on the Victoria and Central lines is all set to restart on 27 November. Big thanks to colleagues @TfL who have been working on this over recent months. https://t.co/J22EHAEiXg
— Heidi Alexander (@Heidi_LDN) October 14, 2021
IT'S BACK!!! @tfl Night Tube services will return to the Central and Victoria lines from 27 November 🌟👏🏾🌟#LetsDoLondon pic.twitter.com/DUjqsSuHZS
— Night Czar (london.gov.uk/coronavirus) (@nightczar) October 14, 2021
Women who travel at night for work or to enjoy London’s nightlife will welcome this announcement from @SadiqKhan.
— Marsha de Cordova MP (@MarshadeCordova) October 14, 2021
Reopening the Night Tube on two of the busiest lines next month will give women an additional safe way to travel at night and will improve their confidence to do so https://t.co/w92Ko20LaV
Women and girls deserve to feel safe in our city - and the return of the Victoria/Central line night tube will be a relief to many.
— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙 (@DrRosena) October 14, 2021
While we still have a long road ahead to tackle this deeply rooted issue, access to reliable late night transport is a step in the right direction.
Jace Tyrrell, chief executive at business group New West End Company, said: “West End businesses absolutely welcome the news that the Night Tube is returning, particularly ahead of our busy festive season when many businesses have later opening hours and we see a greater number of visitors at all hours across London.
“The safety of our customers and 150,000 colleagues is of paramount importance, and the Night Tube offers a much missed alternative for travelling around London safely.
“We hope that the reopening of the network will give Londoners confidence to travel around the capital in a safe, low-crime environment.”
But others said the service should return sooner than November:
No doubt this will be a safe(r) travel option, but why wait another six weeks to reopen it?
— Mandy 💙... North of The Wall... #JohnsonOut (@Amanda_N_D) October 14, 2021
A cynic might say it's more about the money to be made from people travelling to/back from Christmas nights out/parties.
Why are we waiting untill November The 27th? Im a comedienne & im constantly walking home late & in the dark - what happens between now & then. Stop Delaying!!
— Gabby Killick (@Gabbykillick) October 14, 2021
Others wished it was available on other lines:
The Northern Line is the backbone of the Night Tube let's be honest https://t.co/c9R3fUEKqk
— ً (@callumtwalker) October 14, 2021
NEW - parts of the night tube back., Victoria line and Central line. Oh to be back living in Bethnal Green...
— Kate Ferguson (@kateferguson4) October 14, 2021
Night tube returning No Jubilee Line pic.twitter.com/ipzGiJb2tN
— Josh Snow ❄️ (@JoshwaM) October 14, 2021
And others said it was a small move to ensure women are safe and that more needs to be done:
Thank god they reopened it before anything bad happened https://t.co/g6heBjrtZl
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) October 14, 2021
Night tube, sure. What would really give women more confidence to travel around London at night is a police force capable of removing the criminals in its ranks and acknowledging how badly they've let us down #CressidaMustGo
— Sarah Manvel (@typewritersarah) October 14, 2021
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), raised concerns about staff and said it is vital that TfL reaches an agreement with union reps on rosters which “don’t leave staff burnt out and exposed to intolerable pressures”.
He added: “We warned months ago that slashing 200 Night Tube train driver positions would create a staffing nightmare and London Underground need to start facing up to that reality.”
Lynch also claimed that prior to its suspension, the Night Tube was “a magnet for violent, abusive and anti-social behaviour”.
