R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

From 2015 the London tube will run 24 hours during the weekends. Strange as they do most of the engineering during that period of time.

http://news.sky.com/story/1171708/24-hour-tube-modernisation-plan-will-cost-jobs

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

That's probably why they're doing it - so they can inconvenience users at an even more awkward time in the early hours Smile

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Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Public transport in Britain's capital city is farcical. When my son and his mates came away from the Stones' gig in Hyde Park they had to walk to Euston station due to inadequate services in London. Some of his American friends were astonished that only a skeleton service existed over night.

They then missed their last train at Euston and had to sit on the floor on the rail replacement bus service for almost two hours.

A 24-hour tube service on weekdays is long overdue, but it's interesting how this announcement was made in attempt to suppress the union action against the closure of the ticket booths. Perhaps Bumbling Boris really does think we 're stupid!

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Ticket offices are an anachronism.
Most other subway systems have dispensed with them - Vienna's was fully automated 25 years ago.

Not sure about the wisdom of attempting a 24hr service while so much of the hardware needs replacing, something best done at weekends, when passenger numbers are lighter. The number of staff required, for security and safety, must be proportionately higher at that time too.

London has an extensive and frequent night bus service. Is that not enough for its nocturnal population, revellers and insomniacs?
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childprufe · Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 212 Location: lincolnshire

This seems to be a good idea. 15years ago (when I lived in Kingston), the idea of using public transport to go to a show/play/gig in London was ludicrous. A meal afterwards in town was even sillier. I have friends now who live in Newark (Notts - not New Jersey) who get the mainline to London for a show and can have a meal adjacent to Kings Cross before returning home on the blurry-eyed rattler. The last train to Kingston is still well before midnight.
And this is supposed to be one of the great cities of the world - and don't get me started on Hull, the newly elected city of culture - oh COME ON Very Happy

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