From
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...e-night-trains

Trains will run through the night from 12 September 2015, with six running
an hour across the five “night tube� lines – Jubilee, Victoria and most of
the Piccadilly, Central and Northern lines.

Transport for London (TfL) said the move would support almost 2,000
permanent jobs and provide a £360m boost to the economy.

Demand for overnight tube services, matching New York and Berlin, has been
demonstrated by the increasing numbers of late-night London Underground
journeys, which have risen at twice the rate of daytime trips since 2000 –
a period in which night bus usage almost trebled.

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, said: “Running trains all through the night
was once thought impossible, but with the huge investment we’ve put in and
upgrades that have been delivered we stand ready to take the tube to the
next level. The evolution of the night tube will without doubt make London
an even better place to live, work, visit and invest.�

Mike Brown, the managing director of London Underground, said: “Already
over half a million Londoners use the Tube after 10pm on Fridays and
Saturdays, and the introduction of the night tube, which will cut journey
times and open up new possibilities across the nighttime economy, is a
historic step in our modernisation of London Underground.�

He said TfL was seeking a sponsor for the service, despite criticism over
previous deals. Neither Barclays nor Emirates’ sponsorship of the cycle
hire and cable car have covered costs, while a previous deal with the Wonga
loan firm for late-night tube travel at the new year caused controversy.

Unions have accused TfL of trying to divert the public from its wider
programme of redundancies.

Mick Cash, the new RMT general secretary, said: “Whilst RMT is not against
night running of the tube in principle, provided all staff involved are
properly rewarded and that safety and security is thoroughly worked out and
agreed, the truth is that the mayor threw this plan in as a diversion from
his massive cuts and closures programme that will axe a thousand staff and
decimate services and safety.�

The launch of 24-hour weekend tubes coincides with the start of the
third-largest international sporting event, the Rugby World Cup, which will
be hosted by England from 18 September. An estimated 400,000 overseas
visitors are expected, with three venues hosting key matches in the
capital.