The London Underground’s powerful RMT union today raised concerns over the cost of the Night Tube as the official start date of the service was declared.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said all-night services would begin running from August 19 this year – after months of delays amid a bitter dispute that sparked a series of strikes.
But hours later RMT general secretary Mick Cash warned the Night Tube could not be “delivered on the cheap”.
He said there remained "major unresolved issues" regarding Underground engineers who are concerned about working conditions and pensions.
He added: "RMT also still has major concerns over the safe running of the Night Tube and there are unresolved issues on the detailed safety case that will have to be agreed through the Health and Safety machinery.
“Against a background of massive cuts over-shadowing TfL [Transport for London] budgets all parties have to be clear that Night Tube, a development that RMT supports, cannot be delivered on the cheap."
Transport for London is set to lose £2.8 billion by 2019 thanks to cuts outlined in the Autumn Statement last year.
RMT regional organiser for London John Leach said the union feared these savings could jeopardise all-night services.
He said: “What we’re saying is: the question is how do you pay for it? I’m not convinced it can be done.”
Tube union Aslef, which represents the majority of the network’s drivers, said it welcomed the announcement and looked forward to working with the new mayor to implement changes.
The long-awaited 24-hour weekend service will begin on 19 August on the Central and Victoria lines, with the Piccadilly, Jubilee and Northern to follow in the autumn.
For the first time in the Tube’s history Londoners will finally be able to travel all night on Friday and Saturdays after almost a year of delays.
