The start of the Night Tube service could still be “weeks” away despite two 24-hour strikes scheduled to take place next week being called off.
The RMT “suspended” the walkouts it had ordered to take place next Tuesday and Thursday (8th and 10th September) to allow further negotiations to take place over the 24-hour Tube operation and annual pay.
London Underground (LU) confirmed last week the scheduled opening of Night Tube on 12 September would be delayed because of the continuing dispute with all four of the powerful LU unions.
Insiders close to the dispute say it could be “many weeks” before Night Tube is up and running.
A senior source connected with the dispute told the Evening Standard: “There is no new date for Night Tube. There is still a vast amount of negotiation to get through and nobody, as yet, has any idea when it will start. We could be many weeks away.”
London Underground today declined to say when Night Tube will begin. Steve Griffiths, LU chief operating officer, merely stated: “Talks continue this week as we seek the long-term resolution of the dispute.”
Mayor Boris Johnson has said he wants to see Night Tube “introduced this Autumn” and has backed away from naming a date.
An RMT spokesman warned although the strikes planned for next week have been suspended other industrial action – including a work to rule by engineering staff which has led to the cancellation of some services – remains in place.
He said the union “remains in dispute” with LU and if the talks fail then further strikes will be ordered.
Night Tube, when it does begin, will see services run throughout Friday and Saturday nights on the Jubilee and Victoria lines and most of the Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
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