With Christmas coming, night-time travel will become more and more essential.
Uber has just increased its fares by 10% in London whilst Bolt will soon allow drivers to set their own rates. This increase presents another hurdle for Londoners following yet another delay to the return of a limited night tube service.
The Central and Victoria lines were supposed to start running all night again on Saturday, but a strike organised by the RMT union meant the service was restricted. A list of planned future strikes appears at the end of this article.
This disruption to the night tube comes as another blow to women who need to get home safely. Together with the spike in Uber, and possibly Bolt, fares – this will result in people having to take the night bus.
A lot of people including myself feel unsafe taking the bus because of behaviour that can range from just being made to feel uncomfortable, to being directly harassed.
A petition launched by Londoner Ella Watson to bring back the night tubes has been signed by almost 160,000 people who don’t want to be forced to pay for overpriced taxi rides and to wander around hopelessly at night trying to find suitable transportation.
I spoke to a few individuals to see what they thought of the situation.
London student Shirin Ghayad said, “With the tube it would take us 40 or 30 minutes depending on where we are in London. Without it, it takes us an hour sometimes two.”
She added that her option was often to get the bus. “The first time I felt safe because I was with guy friends. The second time I was spiked, and I do not remember anything.” Her negative experience is similar to that of a lot of other women.
Londoner Chris Williams said, “It’s important for everyone to get home safe especially women, so the night tube should be reinstated as soon as possible.” He added that, “It puts one’s mind at ease to know you have a quick way to get home.”
The second statement particularly resonates with me, as I’ve experienced the struggle of having to find another way home when you’re not familiar with night buses.
Although I support Ella’s petition, bringing back all the night tube will make life easier and safer for everyone, not just women.
So despite the planned strike action below, hopefully TFL’s early Christmas present to us all will be the night tube.
Planned strike action
- 8.30pm 3 December – 4.29am 4 December Central and Victoria.
- 8.30pm 4 December – 4.29am 5 December Central and Victoria.
- 8.30pm 10 December – 4.29am 11 December Central and Victoria.
- 8.30pm 11 December – 4.29am 12 December Central and Victoria.
- 8.30pm 17 December – 4.29am 18 December Central and Victoria.
- 4.30am 18 December – 4.29am 19 December Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria.
