Trial services begin on Northern Line extension ahead of autumn opening
Transport for London (TfL) has begun running trial services on the Northern Line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea ahead of this autumn’s opening.
Four trains per hour are currently being run through the extension at weekends as part of trial operations.
Once the extension opens, there will be an initial peak time service of six trains per hour, increasing to 12 trains per hour by mid-2022. There will be five trains per hour during off-peak times, doubling to 10.
A new timetable for the whole line will be introduced when it opens to the public.
The extension, which saw TfL build a new 3.2km tunnel, is the first major Tube upgrade to have been completed this century.
Construction on the £1.2bn project began back in 2015, with opening originally slated for 2020. The project was delayed due to changing plans for the new stations.
It will support the redevelopment of the area around Battersea, where 20,000 new homes are being built.
Deputy mayor for transport Heidi Alexander said: “The beginning of trial operations on the Northern Line Extension marks a major milestone in the project and it’s really exciting to see final training and testing taking place.
“When the extension opens this autumn, it will make a real difference to transport links south of the river, supporting thousands of new jobs and homes and boosting London’s recovery.”
Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council and co-chair of the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership, said: “We’re delighted that the countdown really has begun until new Northern line stations open at Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms this autumn.
“Delivering the first Tube connection here was a key part of our long-term vision that would unlock the potential of these long-neglected brownfield sites and plug the area into the rest of London.”