The Mayor of London has ruled out expanding Night Tube services to the Bank branch of the Northern line, despite calls from London Assembly members to introduce overnight trains on the route. Sadiq Khan said any proposal must be balanced against operating costs and the need for overnight maintenance access.
Mayor responds to Assembly member's question
Sem Moena AM questioned why Lord Khan and Transport for London (TfL) had not taken full advantage of the £700m upgrade of Bank and Monument stations completed in 2023 by introducing extra trains on Friday and Saturday nights. Between 12.30am and 5.30am, Northern line trains currently run only along the Charing Cross branch, extending north to High Barnet and Edgware and south to Morden.
Responding to the question, Lord Khan said the Bank station upgrade was primarily focused on reducing overcrowding during peak periods. "While Night Tube services have successfully supported London's night-time economy and made journeys easier for many night workers, any proposal to extend Night Tube services must be balanced against the costs of operating additional services and the need to maintain vital overnight access to the railway for maintenance and renewal works," he added.
Ridership decline since 2019
Lord Khan said the number of passengers using the Night Tube has dropped since the Covid pandemic, partly influencing the decision on future expansions. "The Bank branch of the Northern line is served by a range of overnight transport options, including Night Tube services via the Central line at Bank, Jubilee line at London Bridge, Windrush line at Shoreditch, 24-hour Thameslink services and an extensive network of night bus routes," he said.
"TfL currently has no plans to extend Night Tube services to the Bank branch of the Northern line, but will continue to keep service provision under review." At the same meeting last Thursday, the Mayor also ruled out expanding the Night Tube onto the District line, citing similar reasons such as costs and lower usage.
Night Tube history and current operations
Lord Khan launched the Night Tube in August 2016 as one of his first acts as Mayor of London. Since 50,000 journeys were made on its first night, passenger numbers have reached 67 million over the past decade. The service currently operates on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines, along with the Windrush London Overground line between Highbury and Islington and New Cross Gate.
The decision means no immediate changes to overnight services on the Bank branch, with TfL continuing to review service provision as part of its ongoing transport strategy.
