Tube will go 24 hour at weekends but ticket offices will close

The London Underground is to run a 24 hour service at weekends by 2015, Transport for London has unveiled.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and the Managing Director of London Underground, Mike Brown today set out their vision for the future of the Tube, including a new 24-hour ‘Night Tube’ service at weekends and more staff visible and available at stations to help customers buy the right ticket, plan their journeys and keep them safe and secure.

The announcement comes as TfL confirmed plans to shut all ticket offices on the tube and cut 750 jobs.  The trend of ticket sales away from ticket offices has surged over recent years and today less than three per cent of all Tube journeys involve a visit to a ticket office.

Mike Brown, Managing Director of London Underground, said: ‘People are at the heart of this vision – our customers and staff.

‘My commitment to London is that all Tube stations will continue to be staffed and controlled in future, with more staff visible and available to help customers buy the right ticket, plan their journey and keep them safe and secure.’

The 24 hour weekend service will initially impact the Piccadilly, Central, Victoria and Jubilee lines and parts of the Northern Line.

Today’s announcement also revealed that Oyster cards and ticketing will begin to be phased out next year, and replaced by contactless bank card entry.  Wi-Fi coverage will be extended to all stations and a further 27 stations will have their disabled access increased.

London Underground will now enter a 90 day consultation period on its proposals.