Night Tube set to kick off in 2015

For the first time in its 151-year history, tube trains will run overnight at weekends.

On Wednesday, Transport for London (TfL) has announced the capital's 24-hour weekend service, set to kick off in time for next year Rugby World Cup.

The event itself is expected to draw 400,000 extra visitors to Britain in 2015, between September 18 and October 31.

The service, which will continue permanently after the World Cup ends, will see the five busiest lines running for 24 hours from Friday morning to Sunday night.

TfL plans to run six trains an hour on the Victoria, Piccadilly, Jubilee and Central lines. The Northern line will run eight trains per hour, instead.

Not only the extra-trains will provide tens of thousands of Londoners with a convenient way to return home, the service is also expected to give a boost to London’s economy, creating around 2,000 jobs, considering both the extra staff to run the Night Tube and those who will be employed in London’s night-time business.

According to Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the Night Tube’s evolution “will make London an even better place to live, work, visit and invest” . 

For years the capital was told not to do this because tubes needed to be closed in the small hours of the night to enable the upgrades.

“Now we have done a lot of that (…..). With our large investment and upgrades that have been delivered (…), we can go ahead with 24-hour trains, a more ambitious service”, Mr Johnson said. 

Demand for it is demonstrated by the surge of late night London journeys, rising at twice the rate of daytime trips. Back in 2005, a proposal for an all-night service was backed by nearly three-quarters of Londoners.

Moneywise,  the Night Tube will be self-funding as a projected £291 million in additional fare revenue will cover the operational and capital costs.

Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing Director for Surface Transport, said: ” Funding will come from the increase fare revenues, from more people travelling and travelling more often “.

However, not everyone is focused on the bright side of this important project.

The National Union of  Rail, Maritime and Transport workers (RTM) said a 24-hour service will leave passengers and staff exposed to higher levels of violence and crime.

RTM representative John Leech, said: “The underground will become a far more dangerous place,  you would have people travelling home late at night, when the party is over, (…) there will be aggression and alcohol, maybe,  and we are very concerned about that.  We need more staff, better security, more police “.

While Wednesday’s announcement is a sign TfL intends to press on with its plan, the Unions are threatening more industrial action before the end of the year. 

It is better to stay United

Scottish voters have decided to stay united by voting ‘No’ to independence.

The whole of the United Kingdom held its breath for the outcome of the referendum, which took place yesterday and saw a record-breaking turnout of 84.6 per cent. For the very first time, even 16 and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote and more than 100,000 registered to have their say on Scotland’s future.

“The people of Scotland have spoken and it is a clear result. They have kept our country of four nations together and like millions of other people,  I am delighted”, Prime Minister David Cameron has declared this early morning in a statement outside No 10.

The PM, who last week rushed to Scotland with political rivals Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to save the UK, added:

“So now it is time for our United Kingdom to come together and to move forward”.

Also former PM Gordon Brown had pleaded with voters to stand up in order not to end the 307-year-old partnership of countries.

During his very recent speech, Mr Brown highlighted how the whole Britain fought and won a war against fascism .

“There is not a cemetery in Europe that does not have Scots, English, Welsh and Irish lined side by side”,  he said.

Independence would have put jobs, the economy and the NHS at risk. Scotland would have been out of EU, as well.

Before the referendum took place, Cameron promised Scotland more powers over tax and welfare and now that its population voted for a stronger Scottish parliament backed by the strength and security of the United Kingdom, the PM has answered to those in Scotland who are still sceptical of the constitutional promises he made, by saying:

“ We have delivered on devolution under this government and we will do so again in the next parliament (….). We now have a great opportunity to come together and work constructively (…) to advance the interest of people in Scotland as well as those on  England, Wales and Northern Ireland”.

The First Secretary of State William Hague will draw up a Scotland Bill by January 2015, with the aim of guaranteeing a balanced settlement, fair to each of the four countries.

Meanwhile, David Cameron could not forget to pay tribute to ‘Yes Scotland’ for its strong campaign and during his speech he said to all those who voted for independence: “We heard you”.

Scottish Prime Minister Alex Salmond’s independence dream was broken as 55 per cent of his country voted to stay in the UK and when the politician realised he would have never been the leader of an independent Scotland, he decided to resign.

 “I accept the vote of people and ask Scotland to accept the verdict of the people of Scotland. I believe this is a new, exciting situation, but I also believe in this situation the country would benefit from a new leader”, Mr Salmond has declared this evening.