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1st LD Writethru: London 24-hour tube service to launch in August

Xinhua, May 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

London will launch the all-night Tube service on two underground lines on August 19, the London mayor announced Monday.

The Central and Victoria lines will start on August 19, while the Piccadilly, Jubilee and Northern lines will follow in the autumn after new tube drivers complete their training.

The all-night operations will begin on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Depending on different demands on different lines, there will be six to eight trains per hour during this period.

"More than half a million people use the tube after 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and the introduction of the Night Tube, which will support London's businesses and jobs, is a historic step in our modernisation of the underground and our work to support London's economic growth," said Mike Brown, London's transport commissioner.

"The Night Tube is absolutely vital to my plans to support and grow London's night-time economy - creating more jobs and opportunities for all Londoners," said the mayor.

It said around 200 part-time drivers are currently taking part in a 14-week training program for the new service, which is expected to boost London's night time economy by 360 million pounds (525 million U.S.dollars) and support about 2,000 permanent jobs for Londoners.

The 24-hour service was due to start last September but has been delayed because of unions strikes over the all-night service, payment and working conditions.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union is still in dispute with London Underground over conditions for engineering workers linked to the new service, according to local media, saying an industrial action ballot is being held. Endit