TfL rubbishes claims that Night Tube will help only rich Londoners
Transport for London has rubbished claims that the Night Tube would benefit only the richest of Londoners, insisting it will support thousands of jobs across the capital.
A study published today claims that the service, which was due to launch on 12 September, was tilted in favour of people with higher-than-average house prices.
Travel app MapWAy said the average house price in boroughs serviced by the Night Tube were £394,00, compared with £285,000 in boroughs that are missing out. More than a quarter of London's 8.2m population will live in an area not covered by the Night Tube.
Currently it is hoped that the Night Tube will run on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines, although there are plans to roll the 24-hour service out across the entire network eventually.
TfL has rebutted the suggested that the Night Tube was only for the elite few.
Gareth Powell, London Underground's director of strategy and service development, said: "This new 24-hour service at weekends is backed by Londoners and businesses and will make life easier for everyone, particularly night-shift workers getting to and from work. It will link with London's extensive night bus, taxi and private hire networks, will support thousands of jobs and stimulate hundreds of millions of pounds in economic growth.
“The lines chosen for the Night Tube network are thanks to the continued modernisation and improved reliability of those parts of the Underground network.
"The service will be kept under review and we hope to extend it in the future, particularly once the improvement programme on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines is complete.”
However as it stands, the debate is something of a moot point: With the 12 September launch date missed, TfL is still adamant the Night Tube will launch in the autumn – although sources have previously told Morning Wire it could be as late as March next year before it's up and running.