Press Release

LU to seek views on alternative later weekend Tube proposal

22 November 2005

London Underground (LU) today announced that it would be seeking the views of stakeholders on an alternative proposal for later weekend Tube services.

The original consultation, "Should the Tube run later at weekends?", proposed that the Tube run an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights, starting up again an hour later on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  LU is now considering an alternative proposal to run the Tube half an hour later on those nights, one hour later the following Saturday morning with services unchanged on Sunday mornings.  Stakeholders will have until 12 December 2005 to respond to the new proposal.

Richard Parry, LU Strategy and Service Development Director said: "The original consultation showed that most Tube users and Londoners would welcome a later weekend Tube.  It also showed some concern for those who use the Tube early at the weekends, especially on Sundays.

"We need to strike the right balance between late evening and early morning Tube users.  We've taken all views on board and will now consult stakeholders on this alternative proposal to run the Tube half an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights and retain the current start time on Sunday morning.  This alternative offers a large proportion of the benefits of the original proposal whilst significantly reducing the numbers who would be adversely affected."

LU received 54,000 respondents to the original consultation, with the majority in favour of a later weekend Tube.  However, the consultation also revealed a significant minority would face longer journeys the next morning, especially on Sunday mornings when the first Tube services would reach central London around 0830hrs.  There was particular concern for low paid and public sector workers and for those seeking connections with rail services and flights from London airports.

The new proposal would see last trains leaving central London around 0100hrs on Friday and Saturday nights.  The Tube would start one hour later on Saturday morning, with trains arriving in central London around 0700hrs.

Sunday morning services would remain unchanged from the present, where trains reach central London around 0730hrs.