Dozens of the most influential figures in the West End have demanded an immediate full restoration of the Night Tube to protect women travelling home.
In a letter to the Evening Standard, 37 leaders in the hospitality, retail, property and cultural sectors say that the reinstatement of just two lines next month “is not enough”.
Mayor Sadiq Khan announced two weeks ago that weekend night services on the Victoria and Central lines will begin again on November 27. However, there is no date for the resumption of late night trains on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
The letter, organised by Simon Thomas, chief executive of the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square, says that full Night Tube service “would provide reassurance for women concerned for their safety and wanting a more secure option when travelling at night”.
The partial resumption of the service came after tens of thousands of people signed a petition to reinstate it following the sentencing of Sarah Everard’s killer, former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens. The total number of signatories now stands at more than 156,000.
High profile figures signing today’s letter in the Standard include leading West End producer and chief executive of Nimax Theatres Nica Burns, managing director of Soho Estates John James, chief executive of Shaftesbury Brian Bickell, chairwoman of the Chinese Community Centre Christine Yau, and chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association Michael Kill.
Other backers include bosses at The Ritz, John Lewis at Brent Cross, Fortnum & Mason and the London Coliseum.
The Night Tube is the last element of the Underground network to be restored to “normal service” after the end of the lockdowns. Its return has been delayed by a dispute between TfL bosses and unions about rosters for Night Tube drivers that has now been resolved.
A TfL spokesman said the re-opening of the other lines is being held up by the need to train more drivers, as well as planned engineering work such as the upgrade of Bank station, which will require the closure of the Bank branch of the Northern line for 17 weeks.
