Transport for London (TfL) has announced that the Waterloo & City line will re-open today [07 June] to boost the capacity of the transport network as London continues to recover from the pandemic.
The line, which connects Waterloo and Bank stations, has been closed since March last year. Drivers were transferred to the Central line to ensure that TfL could run as many services as possible during the pandemic enabling social distancing.
The Waterloo & City line will run every five minutes Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 10:00 in the morning and 15:30 to 19:00 in the afternoon. TfL said this will enable customers to stagger their journeys during the morning and afternoon peak, and add extra capacity for people who are unable to change their working hours and have to travel at these times.
The operator stressed customers should still follow all government advice, and when using the network people are encouraged to travel at quieter times where possible. TfL will continue to monitor demand across the network.
It was initially planned that the line would re-open on 21 June, but ridership on the tube has increased by more than 20% since 17 May. TfL added the extra capacity provided by the re-opening of the Waterloo & City line will give more options for people travelling at the busiest times.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said: “I’m delighted that the Waterloo & City line is returning from today, ahead of schedule. As London’s economy continues to re-open and more people return to the offices, having this key artery connecting Waterloo and Bank stations up and running will be vital.
“The line will not only make transport a lot more convenient for people travelling to and from the heart of the City of London, but it will support our businesses in the city that help to drive London and the UK’s economy and help our eco-system of retail, hospitality and cultural venues, which are vital to our economic prosperity.”
