Sadiq Khan confirmed that the Victoria and Central Line Night Tube will reopen by the end of November, after over 150 thousand signed a petition by Ella Watson, to make women’s safety a priority.
Currently, last trains in central London leave at 1am BST and restart at 5.30am, with anyone travelling between those hours left with night buses, taxis or walking.
The Mayor said he recognised the Night Tube’s “importance to the confidence and safety of everyone travelling home at night, particularly women and girls”.
NEW: Night Tube services on the Victoria and Central Line will resume on 27 November.
The Night Tube has been a huge success since we introduced it in 2016 – and this will help improve safety and allow everyone to enjoy London's culture and nightlife. https://t.co/PLQEzNwoJp
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) October 14, 2021
Sisters Uncut staged a protest outside London’s Old Bailey, where former police officer Wayne Couzens was being sentenced for the murder of Sarah Everard.
In the wake of the murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard, women’s fears of walking alone at night have been exacerbated. According to a UN Women report, “71% of all ages in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space.”
However, the changes to TFL’s service have not gone unrecognised. Aimina Hussain, Founder of Women’s Safety Society at Southbank University, said: “I talk to women all of the time who say they are too scared to walk places or catch the bus alone; this announcement will alleviate some concerns. [But] it does not go far enough”.
“This is great progress”, Petitioner Ella Watson said, “but improving the safety of all women is vital.
“The goal of the petition was to reinstate the Night Tube for everyone, whether they’re on the Northern line or the Jubilee, so I’m not ready to give up the campaign just yet.”
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