New Northern Line extension opens
London Underground link brings Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station within 15 minutes of the City and West End.
PUBLIC services on the London Underground Northern Line extension began operating on September 20.
The 1.8 mile (3km) twintunnel route from Kennington, which includes new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station, is the first major extension of the capital’s tube network this century.
Major construction work began in 2015 and the project has remained on course for its planned autumn opening despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
The new stations will see an initial service of five off-peak and six peak time trains per hour, with trains doubling (10 offpeak and 12 peak) by mid-2022.
Regeneration
Transport for London says the new link will dramatically improve connectivity and contribute to the area’s postpandemic recovery by bringing both areas within a 15-minute journey of both the City and the West End.
TfL estimates that the Northern Line extension is supporting around 25,000 new jobs and over 20,000 new homes.
Drivers and around 100 station staff have undertaken training to familiarise themselves with the route and stations.
Work by London-based Brazilian artist Alexandre da Cunha was installed at Battersea Power Station ahead of the station’s opening. A new walking route between Nine Elms station, Nine Elms Lane and the River Thames is among a number of local improvements to make it easier for walking and cycling between public transport links.