Night Tube: Boris Johnson says services will start in July

Sebastian Mann17 March 2016

Night Tube services will start running in July, Boris Johnson said today.

The Mayor of London claimed he had been given an approximate launch date by Transport for London after being asked if the wait would end before August.

Mr Johnson said: "Well, that's what I'm told by TfL - towards the end of July."

TfL later confirmed the end of July was the earliest date transport bosses believed they could launch the service.

A spokesman said they were working towards "late July" as a possible start date for the Night Tube but added its introduction may have to be staggered.

Taking the reins: Boris Johnson in a simulator used to train Tube drivers
Jeremy Selwyn

It comes three days after it was claimed the service would launch on August 5 but only on two lines.

Drivers' union Aslef, which was involved in the dispute that has held up the launch, said passengers would be able to travel all night on Fridays and Saturdays on the Victoria and Jubilee lines.

When it is rolled out in full, parts of the Northern, Piccadilly and Central lines will also run 24-hour weekend services.

Some of stations included in the overnight service Transport for London
Tfl

Mr Johnson's announcement came as he took the controls of a training simulator being used by some of the 200 part-time drivers who will help run the service.

Night Tube's introduction was pushed back from September last year because an agreement could not be reached with trade unions, but the two biggest players - Aslef and the RMT - have since accepted new terms.

Referring to the delay, Mr Johnson said: "We've had to go a bit slower than I necessarily would have wanted, but on the other hand better to do that ... I thought Londoners would rather wait a little bit than we pay an exorbitant demand to get it done."

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