Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall today pledged to extend the Night Tube to boost London’s late-night economy.
She said she would provide all-night services at the weekend on the Hammersmith and City line “as soon as possible” if elected — followed by the District, Circle and Metropolitan lines “when feasible”.
Mayor Sadiq Khan, her Labour rival, tried to steal her thunder by immediately promising to do likewise if he wins a third term on May 2.
The Night Tube currently operates on five “deep level” lines — the Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Piccadilly and Northern. Part of the London Overground — the former East London line — also operates night services.
Ms Hall said adding more lines to the Night Tube would help women to get home more safely and boost the night-time economy, at a time of growing concern of a lack of late-night venues in central London.
She pointed to Transport for London research a decade ago that suggested for every £1 invested in Night Tube services there was a wider benefit of £2.70. “We have got to get London’s night life moving again,” she said. “This will really help. Not only is this an opportunity to revive our night-time economy and help London become a truly 24-hour city, but it is also an important part of my women’s safety plan. I’m hoping that people will feel safer, especially women.
“With CCTV in those carriages, I think they would feel much safer, and happier to stay out later.”
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, backed the plan. “Ensuring safe transportation for both staff and patrons is paramount,” he said.
Pre-pandemic, 11.1 million journeys a year were made on the Night Tube, generating £10 million in revenue but costing TfL £26 million to operate. Transport for London says it has “no active funded plans” to run services on the Elizabeth line or DLR through the night. Ms Hall said she had chosen the Hammersmith and City line as it would offer links to venues such as the Hammersmith Apollo, the Barbican and Fabric nightclub.
Hammersmith is already served by the Piccadilly line Night Tube.
Ms Hall, who lives in Harrow, admitted she did not use the Night Tube at present. “I tend not to be out that late because I’m working all hours,” she said. “It’s something I would use because it would make me feel safer. My days of clubbing until 4am tend to have gone. I have just promised Michael Kill that, hopefully if I become mayor, I will go out on the razzle with him until goodness knows when in the morning.
“I used to love going out until all hours. When you are young, you do. That is why it is so unfair at the moment. Young people don’t have what I used to have. I used to be able to go out and come home very, very early in the morning and have a great time in different clubs. The problem we have now is that people can’t get home safely, they don’t feel safe on our streets.”
The Night Tube was originally given the go-ahead by Mr Khan’s predecessor Boris Johnson but he was unable to secure a deal with the Tube unions to get it open prior to leaving office in May 2016. It eventually launched in August that year, three months after Mr Khan became mayor. A spokesman for Mr Khan said: “Sadiq wants to do this — and if re-elected will work to secure the funding for expanding the Night Tube to these four lines.”
Dee Chanelle, director of Zodiac, a LGBTQ+ venue in Camden, said: “With many venue closures in recent months, London’s night-time economy has seen a significant decline so any solution to help improve it is welcome.”
Sadiq Khan has unveiled plans to establish a “London bus company” to bring services into public ownership for the first time in 30 years.
At present, London bus routes are run by 16 private companies, which bid for contracts from TfL. The Mayor believes the new system “would offer better value for money”.
