Night Tube marks decade with 67 million journeys but no expansion plans

London’s Night Tube has carried 67 million passengers since its launch on 19 August 2016, Transport for London confirmed. The service now operates on Fridays and Saturdays across the Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, with an average of 81,000 journeys each night.

Lovely Obeng, a customer service assistant at Tottenham Court Road station, worked the first shift in 2016. She recalled the excitement among passengers and staff. "Working the launch night, as a team, we all felt like we were part of something great," she told the BBC. More than 50,000 journeys were made that night on the Victoria and Central lines alone.

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Delays and disputes

The Night Tube was originally scheduled to start in September 2015 but was delayed after disputes between TfL and rail unions over pay and working conditions. Months of negotiations and industrial action followed before the service finally launched under then-newly elected Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Khan joined passengers on the first night, calling it one of his favourite memories as mayor. TfL estimated the service would add £360 million to London’s economy over 30 years, supporting the night-time economy. The service was suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and fully restored by July 2022.

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No expansion planned

Despite growing demand, including calls for Thursday services as London’s nightlife shifts earlier, TfL said no expansion is planned. A spokesperson told the BBC that any changes would require additional funding and adjustments to overnight maintenance schedules. "Expansion could be considered once major TfL modernisation programmes are complete," they said.

Travelling on the first-ever Night Tube is one of my favourite memories as mayor. Through a decade of late nights and early starts, the Night Tube has become a defining feature of London as a world-leading 24/7 city.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

Impact on workers and passengers

Obeng, now 29, described the Night Tube as a transformative experience. She recalled helping a distressed passenger who had lost her friends and belongings during her first months on the job. "That memory will stand with me for my entire career with TfL," she said.

The service has become a lifeline for night workers and revellers alike. Obeng noted that shifts varied widely, requiring staff to act as first aiders, therapists or friends. "Every day is different because you don’t know what is going to come your way," she said.

What happens next

TfL has not set a timeline for reviewing Night Tube expansion. The current service remains limited to Fridays and Saturdays, with no plans to extend to other lines or add Thursday services. Funding and maintenance constraints are cited as the primary barriers.