Mayor announces Piccadilly line Night Tube services

• Mayor fulfils pledge to have five Night Tube services up and running by the end of the year
• More than one million journeys already made on the Central, Victoria and Jubilee services – exceeding predictions
• Northern line Night Tube ready to launch on Friday 18 November

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that Night Tube services will start on the Piccadilly line on Friday 16 December – fulfilling his pledge to have five lines running by the end of the year.

This announcement follows the successful launches on the Central, Victoria and Jubilee lines, and the imminent arrival of services on the Northern line on Friday 18 November. By starting before Christmas, the Piccadilly line services will provide a real boost for shoppers and those out enjoying the capital’s nightlife.

The Night Tube services have proven a huge success with Londoners, with more than one million journeys already made. The launch of the further services on the Northern and Piccadilly lines before the end of the year will make night-time travel even easier for tens of thousands more Londoners every weekend.

The 24-hour weekend Piccadilly line service will run between Cockfosters and Heathrow Terminal 5. It will help Londoners working shifts to get to and from work and make it even easier to access the Capital’s nightlife – from bars and restaurants in Kensington to the music venues of Hammersmith and the cultural hotspots of the West End. The services will also make travel to the airport quicker and easier for those catching early weekend flights.

Night Tube services are cutting journeys across the capital by an average of 20 minutes, with some cut by more than an hour. It is also playing a vital role in opening up London’s night-time economy, and is expected to boost it by £77m a year and support around 2,000 permanent jobs. The positive impact has already seen increased footfall on Oxford Street and in the West End.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I pledged to introduce five Night Tube services before the end of the year, and it gives me great pleasure to announce the start date of the fifth of these, the Piccadilly line services. We’ve seen how enthusiastically Londoners have embraced the Night Tube, and I am delighted that we’ve exceeded expectations with more than one million journeys made already. The addition of the Piccadilly line will help even more thousands of Londoners every weekend, from those taking in the capital’s cultural landmarks to the many workers who keep London open around the clock.”

Mark Wild, London Underground’s Managing Director, said: “The Night Tube is making life easier for our customers, with over a million journeys made on the service since it began. Launching the Night Tube on the Northern line next month and the Piccadilly line in December is an exciting development for London, which will enable even more Tube customers to make the most of everything this great city has to offer.”

Nica Burns OBE, Owner of the Palace Theatre, home to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, said: “How fantastic that the theatre community will be able to relax after a show without the expense of a car home. For those who work late, being able to go home by Night Tube makes it much easier to socialise after work without the added expense. Very exciting!”

Jaime Nabeta, General Manager of The Prince of Wales Theatre, part of the ‎Delfont Mackintosh group of theatres, said: “The weekend Night Tube takes the pressure off our ticket holders in having to rush to get home and enhances their experience of going out in the West End.”

Nigel Nathan, Managing Director at Olympia London, said: “The Night Tube has already proved to be of great benefit to London and we look forward to the addition of the Piccadilly line to the service. Two of Olympia London’s closest stations, Barons Court and Hammersmith, will now be even more accessible to those enjoying our events, as well as the wonderful bars, restaurants and attractions that west London has to offer. It also provides further flexibility and choice for those working within the venue outside of regular hours.”

Zuleika Fennell, Chief Operating Officer, Corbin & King, which owns restaurants including The Wolseley, Brasserie Zedel and The Beaumont, said: “The Night Tube has already greatly improved the lives of our staff, who generally live in Zones 4 to 6. They feel safer, are more rested and able to give better service to our customers at all our restaurants.”

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre, said: “The Piccadilly line runs through the heart of Theatreland and once it begins running for 24 hours at the weekend, will give our audiences the flexibility to explore the West End’s vibrant nightlife, making that trip to the theatre even more special. Moreover, the Night Tube has already proven to be a tremendous asset to the industry; helping our staff and performers get home in the quickest possible way, so it is fantastic that this initiative is being rolled out further.”

Patricia Bench, Hammersmith BID Director, said: “The arrival of the Night Tube on the Piccadilly line is going to have a big impact on the night-time economy in Hammersmith. People who come here to enjoy an evening at the Eventim Apollo or Lyric Hammersmith won’t have to rush off to make the last Tube; they’ll now have the option to stay a bit longer and make the most of the town’s pubs and restaurants. The extension of the service will also help to increase connectivity to Heathrow Airport. As an area that has a lot of hotels, this will make it much easier for guests and staff to get here, making Hammersmith even more accessible.”

Ros Morgan, Chief Executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, said: “The Night Tube is proving a huge success for central London. Our businesses and property owners are delighted that central London is now more accessible than ever at the weekend. Footfall is up, crime is down and businesses are benefiting. It’s great news that the Piccadilly line is now joining other Tube services, creating more opportunities for people in north east and south west London to experience the best that our world famous West End has to offer.”

Emily Candler, Executive Director, Discover South Kensington, said: “There’s so much happening in South Kensington after dark, from late night exhibitions to concerts, inspiring talks and Museum Lates. The Night Tube coming to South Kensington will mean people can relax and enjoy their time here, and will make a real difference to the people who work behind-the-scenes after the visitors have gone.”

David Taylor, Owner of Balans Soho Society, said: “Balans Soho Society has been open 24-hours-a-day on Old Compton Street for nearly 30 years. The introduction of the Night Tube finally seems to recognise what we've always really known – that London is an amazing, vibrant city that doesn't just grind to a halt at half past midnight.”