Upgrade programme still under review
August weekend closures planned for the Northern Line upgrade, which had been due to affect the line between Kennington and Morden, have been cancelled.
Transport for London today announced services will operate as usual on August 7, 8, 21, 22 and 30, while London Underground continues to review the Northern line upgrade programme following the acquisition of Tube Lines by TfL at the end of June.
But the weekend closure for August 14/15 between Camden Town to Kennington, via Charing Cross, will go ahead as that closure is for upgrade work at Tottenham Court Road station.
Since the acquisition, TfL said it has started to understand the state of the upgrade work which was being carried out by Tube Lines. The work on the Northern line was predicated upon Tube Lines' work on the Jubilee line being completed, but it has been delayed by nearly eight months already, meaning knock-on effects for the Northern line work.
TfL is continuing its urgent assessment of the Northern line upgrade work and the closures that are needed to deliver it. The objective will be to deliver the upgrade with significantly less disruption and far fewer closures, to a timetable that suits passengers and businesses.
Mike Brown, Managing Director for London Underground said: "Since taking control of Tube lines we have been working hard to minimise the disruption to our customers on the Northern line. The key is to get the job done with fewer closures and with a timetable that suits passengers and businesses.
"Where work is ready to begin we will push ahead, but where other parts of Tube Lines’ delayed upgrade programme is diverting resources we want to ensure that we do not inconvenience Londoners unnecessarily."
The Northern line is London’s busiest line, and upgrade work is vital to replace the 40-year-old signalling system. Once upgraded with new signalling passengers will benefit from faster journey times, improved reliability and extra capacity.
At the end of June TfL also cancelled the early evening closures originally planned by Tube Lines for the Northern Line.
August 3, 2010