Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled a new Tube map featuring the two Tube stations making up the Northern Line Extension, which are set to open next week. Final preparations are underway ahead of the two step-free, Zone 1 stations at Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms opening their doors on Monday 20 September, putting this area of south London on the Tube map for the very first time.
Major construction on the 3km twin-tunnel railway between Kennington and Battersea Power Station, via Nine Elms, began in 2015. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the construction project has stayed on track for an autumn opening.
Tube services on the extension will start from Battersea Power Station on Monday 20 September at 05:28. There will be an initial peak time service of six trains per hour on the extension, which runs from Kennington station on the Charing Cross branch, increasing to 12 trains per hour by mid-2022. There will be five trains per hour during off-peak times, doubling to 10 trains per hour next year.
TfL has delivered the Northern Line Extension £160m under budget, bringing its estimated final total cost to £1.1bn, despite the cost pressures brought about by the pandemic. The spending authority budget was increased to £1.26bn in January 2016, but TfL has worked hard to ensure the project provides strong value for money.
Final preparations including paving and landscaping work at the front of both stations, and commissioning of ticket machines, ticket barriers and advertising screens are also underway. In addition, the world-famous Tube map has been updated to include the two new Northern line stations – bringing the total number of Tube stations on the London Underground network to 272. The new map will go up in stations prior to the launch, as well as being available as a pocket Tube map featuring new cover artwork from British artist Helen Cammock, online at the TfL website and on the TfL Go app.
The two new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station will both be step-free from street to train, bringing the total number of step-free stations on the Underground network to 88.
Carl Painter, London Underground Area Manager responsible for the two new stations, said: “There is a palpable air of excitement behind the doors in both of our state-of-the-art new stations as around 100 staff get ready to welcome customers from Monday. London Underground stations have a long history of helping to define a neighbourhood’s identity, in gluing communities together and providing a highly visible landmark that helps visitors to navigate. We look forward to welcoming customers to the newest additions to the Tube network next week.”
Priscilla Smartt, Customer Services Supervisor at London Underground, working at the new Battersea station, said: “Working at a new Tube station from the day it opens is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. I can’t wait to welcome customers through the doors and see the excitement on their faces as they discover our new stations for the first time.”
Work is also nearing completion on Art on the Underground’s major new permanent artwork by London-based Brazilian artist Alexandre da Cunha, which has been installed at Battersea Power Station Underground station ahead of the opening.
The Northern Line Extension is the first major Tube extension this century and is supporting around 25,000 new jobs and more than 20,000 new homes. In addition, construction of the extension boosted the UK economy and supported around 1,000 jobs, including 79 apprenticeships.
The opening of the Northern Line Extension comes ahead of the transformational Elizabeth line launching in the first half of next year, revolutionising travel across the capital.
Photo credit: Transport for London
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