In article
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From

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...nd-24-hour-tub
e-night-trains

Trains will run through the night from 12 September 2015, with six running
an hour across the five _night tube_ lines _ Jubilee, Victoria and most of
the Piccadilly, Central and Northern lines.

Transport for London (TfL) said the move would support almost 2,000
permanent jobs and provide a £360m boost to the economy.

Demand for overnight tube services, matching New York and Berlin, has been
demonstrated by the increasing numbers of late-night London Underground
journeys, which have risen at twice the rate of daytime trips since 2000 -
a period in which night bus usage almost trebled.

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, said: "Running trains all through the
night was once thought impossible, but with the huge investment we've put
in and upgrades that have been delivered we stand ready to take the tube
to the next level. The evolution of the night tube will without doubt make
London an even better place to live, work, visit and invest."

Mike Brown, the managing director of London Underground, said: "Already
over half a million Londoners use the Tube after 10pm on Fridays and
Saturdays, and the introduction of the night tube, which will cut journey
times and open up new possibilities across the nighttime economy, is a
historic step in our modernisation of London Underground."

He said TfL was seeking a sponsor for the service, despite criticism over
previous deals. Neither Barclays nor Emirates' sponsorship of the cycle
hire and cable car have covered costs, while a previous deal with the
Wonga loan firm for late-night tube travel at the new year caused
controversy.

Unions have accused TfL of trying to divert the public from its wider
programme of redundancies.

Mick Cash, the new RMT general secretary, said: "Whilst RMT is not against
night running of the tube in principle, provided all staff involved are
properly rewarded and that safety and security is thoroughly worked out
and agreed, the truth is that the mayor threw this plan in as a diversion
from his massive cuts and closures programme that will axe a thousand
staff and decimate services and safety."

The launch of 24-hour weekend tubes coincides with the start of the
third-largest international sporting event, the Rugby World Cup, which
will be hosted by England from 18 September. An estimated 400,000 overseas
visitors are expected, with three venues hosting key matches in the
capital.

With a picture of the District Line at Earl's Court. Doh!

--
Colin Rosenstiel