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London's night tube 'will not happen this year'

By Marc Chacksfield

14 October 2015

Best hold-off on deleting those cab numbers - London's much-delayed Night Tube service has been pushed back into 2016.

The BBC has word that talks between London Underground unions and Transport for London have failed to reach an agreement over staff pay and conditions for the much-delayed Night Tube.

As a result, the 24-hour weekend service - which was due to launch on 12 September for Jubilee, Victoria, Piccadilly, Central and Northern lines - won't arrive this year.

Finn Brennan of the union Aslef said discussions had broken up because London Underground had "mishandled these negotiations" rejecting a number of the proposals unions had tabled to resolve the dispute.

"They [London Underground] have wasted every opportunity for a settlement and seem to have been determined to provoke confrontation rather than resolution," he told the BBC.

Mick Cash of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) emphasised that the delays hadn't been caused by the unions, but rather that the decision was taken by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

"RMT is frankly astounded that Boris Johnson has rung his officials from Japan and instructed them to kick the Night Tube into next year," he said.

While the unions are blaming TfL and Boris, TfL is yet to make an official statement on the latest talks.

We'd bet our monthly rail fare on who they'll be blaming - and it won't be Boris Johnson.