27/08/2015

LU Postpone Night Tube Launch

London Underground (LU) have decided to postpone the launch of the Night Tube to allow the conclusion of talks with unions.

The new 24 hour service was due to be introduced on 12 September. However a number of strikes have been held by drivers in a dispute over rotas and working conditions.

In a statement released on the Transport for London website, LU said: "The Night Tube will transform night time journeys across London for millions of people.

"Journey times will be cut by an average of 20 minutes, with some cut by more than an hour, and London's night-time economy will be opened up to a host of new opportunities, with the Night Tube supporting around 2,000 permanent jobs and boosting the economy by £360m.

"Practical arrangements for the introduction of the Night Tube are now in place. However, as we continue discussions with our trade unions on rosters this means that it will not now be possible to agree these and communicate them to staff in time for the Night Tube to be launched on 12 September."

LU Managing Director, Nick Brown, added: "Further to the progress made in recent days with the trade unions and the suspension of strike action, we believe we are not far from an agreement that protects the work-life balance of our employees and is affordable, sustainable and fair.

"As such, we have decided to defer the introduction of Night Tube to allow more time for those talks to conclude. Our objective is to reach an agreement that ends this dispute and delivers the Night Tube for Londoners this Autumn."

(MH)

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