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| Subway in London Plans to Run 24 Hours | |
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| LONDON — The London Underground is facing one of the most drastic overhauls in its 150-year history. Starting in 2015, its trains will start running throughout the night, and most of its ticket offices will be replaced by upgraded machines or turnstiles that accept contactless bank cards as part of a plan meant to bring the world’s oldest subway system “into the 21st century.” | LONDON — The London Underground is facing one of the most drastic overhauls in its 150-year history. Starting in 2015, its trains will start running throughout the night, and most of its ticket offices will be replaced by upgraded machines or turnstiles that accept contactless bank cards as part of a plan meant to bring the world’s oldest subway system “into the 21st century.” |
| The announcement on Thursday brought mixed reactions. In a capital that prides itself on its theater scene and night life, the prospect of 24-hour train service has been one of the most popular campaign pledges of Mayor Boris Johnson. | The announcement on Thursday brought mixed reactions. In a capital that prides itself on its theater scene and night life, the prospect of 24-hour train service has been one of the most popular campaign pledges of Mayor Boris Johnson. |
| But at a time of sluggish economic growth, declining real wages and austerity policies, the planned closing of ticket offices, which will cost about 750 Underground workers their jobs, has angered transport unions. Some warned that it could prompt the first major strikes in four years. | But at a time of sluggish economic growth, declining real wages and austerity policies, the planned closing of ticket offices, which will cost about 750 Underground workers their jobs, has angered transport unions. Some warned that it could prompt the first major strikes in four years. |
| Bob Crow, the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, or R.M.T., which represents many of those who would be affected by the layoffs, said the union would “fight these plans with every tool at our disposal.” | Bob Crow, the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, or R.M.T., which represents many of those who would be affected by the layoffs, said the union would “fight these plans with every tool at our disposal.” |
| If the London Underground management doesn’t “wake up and see sense, that means, inevitably, industrial action across the entire network,” he added. | If the London Underground management doesn’t “wake up and see sense, that means, inevitably, industrial action across the entire network,” he added. |
| Transport for London, the city’s transport authority, has not been spared from budget cuts. It needs to find about 78 million pounds, or $126 million, this year and next. Closing the ticket offices will amount to roughly £50 million, or $80 million, in savings a year. | Transport for London, the city’s transport authority, has not been spared from budget cuts. It needs to find about 78 million pounds, or $126 million, this year and next. Closing the ticket offices will amount to roughly £50 million, or $80 million, in savings a year. |
| On Thursday, officials appeared to focus on the more popular part of the announcement, emphasizing how the changes would take the Tube, as London’s subway system is known, into the future. | On Thursday, officials appeared to focus on the more popular part of the announcement, emphasizing how the changes would take the Tube, as London’s subway system is known, into the future. |
| “For 150 years, the Tube has been the beating heart of London, its tunnels and tracks providing the arteries that have transported millions of people and helped to drive the development and economic growth of our great city,” Mr. Johnson said. | “For 150 years, the Tube has been the beating heart of London, its tunnels and tracks providing the arteries that have transported millions of people and helped to drive the development and economic growth of our great city,” Mr. Johnson said. |
| He added that the proposal “will not just boost jobs and our vibrant nighttime economy, it will further cement London’s reputation as the best big city on the planet in which to live, work, visit and invest.” | He added that the proposal “will not just boost jobs and our vibrant nighttime economy, it will further cement London’s reputation as the best big city on the planet in which to live, work, visit and invest.” |
| Not so long ago, the Tube had a reputation for being among the least reliable systems in the developed world. But a continuing program of modernization, financed by steep increases in the price of tickets and involving many hours of disruptive work, appears to be yielding fruit. The Tube now runs with greater frequency and has minimized travel disruptions, carrying some 1.2 billion passengers a year, about as many as the entire national rail network. | Not so long ago, the Tube had a reputation for being among the least reliable systems in the developed world. But a continuing program of modernization, financed by steep increases in the price of tickets and involving many hours of disruptive work, appears to be yielding fruit. The Tube now runs with greater frequency and has minimized travel disruptions, carrying some 1.2 billion passengers a year, about as many as the entire national rail network. |
| The most regular complaint heard these days during rush hour is not about service but about overcrowding. Passenger numbers are steadily increasing, up by almost a third over the last decade, as London’s population grows. The number of those living in the capital is expected to expand from 8.4 million inhabitants today to about 10 million by 2030, breaking a previous record set in the late 1930s. | The most regular complaint heard these days during rush hour is not about service but about overcrowding. Passenger numbers are steadily increasing, up by almost a third over the last decade, as London’s population grows. The number of those living in the capital is expected to expand from 8.4 million inhabitants today to about 10 million by 2030, breaking a previous record set in the late 1930s. |
| The 24-hour service will start in 2015 on five lines during Friday and Saturday nights and is expected to eventually be extended to other lines and nights of the week. | The 24-hour service will start in 2015 on five lines during Friday and Saturday nights and is expected to eventually be extended to other lines and nights of the week. |
| Among the pilot lines are the Piccadilly, the Victoria, the Central, the Jubilee and important sections of the Northern. | Among the pilot lines are the Piccadilly, the Victoria, the Central, the Jubilee and important sections of the Northern. |
| Ticketing and the current system of payment cards, known as Oyster cards, will start to be phased out next year, when the Underground will encourage passengers to move to a system of direct payments by using bank debit cards. | Ticketing and the current system of payment cards, known as Oyster cards, will start to be phased out next year, when the Underground will encourage passengers to move to a system of direct payments by using bank debit cards. |
| Already, ticket offices sell less than 3 percent of the tickets used for the system, down from 10 percent 10 years ago, Transport for London said. | Already, ticket offices sell less than 3 percent of the tickets used for the system, down from 10 percent 10 years ago, Transport for London said. |