Less disruption for South Wimbledon passengers
Plans to close the entire length of the Northern Line north of Stockwell from the early evening for improvement works, have been scaled back.
The original programme would have affected people travelling from to and from central London from stations including South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood.
But Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) have told Tube Lines, the company responsible for upgrading the line, that this would have too great an impact on too many people.
Now only the Bank branch between Kennington and Camden, and the High Barnet branch north of East Finchley will close from around 9.30pm between Monday and Thursday from Monday July 5.
A through service will be provided on the Charing Cross branch to maintain services to the West End, link north and south London, and provide Northern Line passengers with alternative ways to get home. Replacement buses will also be provided.
But weekend closures proposed through July and August between Kennington and Morden will go ahead as per the original Tube Lines plan, whilst the future closure programme is reviewed.
The revised closures plan was agreed ahead of TfL’s purchase of Tube Lines, which is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
The upgrade work is replacing the 40-yer-old signaling system on London’s busiest tube line, aiming to deliver faster journey times, improved reliability and vital additional capacity.
Boris Johnson said: “This is vital upgrade work, and some closures will be necessary, but as we take control of Tube Lines and reconfigure the upgrade programme, we’ll be looking to proceed in a way that causes Londoners the least disruption possible.”
Mike Brown, MD London Underground, said: “Londoners want their tube upgraded, but they also want to be able to get around their city. Although the Northern line upgrade is essential, we can approach it in a way that inconveniences Londoners less.
"Some closures have already been planned, and we need to go ahead with them, but once we have control over the work we will be able to cut disruption. Our priority is to lay out a programme that gets the job done to a timetable that suits Londoners and with the minimum disruption to our customers and businesses.”
Although the Northern line does not directly serve any 2012 Olympic and Paralympic venues, TfL also said the line will be running a full and reliable service during the summer of 2012.
June 9, 2010