Night Tube (with ECS) to run this weekend ahead of official launch

London's 24-hour Tube service is being trailed this weekend ahead of its official launch on August 19.

Transport for London have confirmed that passenger-free trains will be running overnight on the Victoria and Central lines on August 12 and 13 - one week before the service goes live.

A TFL spokesman said: "The trains will involve operational staff - station and train staff - and no customers so it will be behind closed doors"

The trial, testing the operational readiness of the new service, will commence after the last Tube on Friday and Saturday night so won't impact customer travel.

The Night Tube was announced in September 2014 but has been repeatedly delayed by a series of disputes between Tube workers and TFL over pay and work conditions.

The service will decrease journey times by an average of 20 minutes and support around 2,000 permanent jobs, boosting London’s economy by £360m.

TfL chief Mike Brown said: “It is good news for London. More than half a million people use the Tube after 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and the introduction of the Night Tube, which will support London’s businesses and jobs, is a historic step in our modernisation of the Underground and our work to support London’s economic growth.”

It will go live on the Central and Victoria lines next week, with Piccadilly, Jubilee and Northern lines to get the 24-service in the autumn.

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