The Night Tube is launching on part of the London Overground just in time for Christmas

The Night Tube has been a game changer for getting home after a night out in the capital. No longer are we forced to spend the whole night frantically worrying that we’ll miss the last tube home, shell out for a pricey Uber or (shudder) get on a night bus. Plus, it helps out people heading home after working a night shift.

Now it’s been announced that the service is coming to part of the London Overground – and just in time for Christmas. TfL said today that Night Overground services will begin in east London on Friday 15th December.

The 24-hour services will operate on Friday and Saturday nights on the London Overground between New Cross Gate and Dalston Junction, extending to Highbury & Islington next year.

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “delighted” about the development.

He said: “The Overground has transformed travel across the capital in the last 10 years, opening up areas of London and setting a new standard for quality of service on the rail network. We continue to improve the service every year and I’m delighted that we can bring night services to the East London line for the first time ever next month. The Night Tube has proven such a success with Londoners, I know the Night Overground will help thousands more who are working through the night or out enjoying our capital’s nightlife.”

And Will Rogers, managing director of Arriva Rail London, which operates the London Overground on behalf of TfL, added: “We are proud to be delivering 24hr weekend services to the benefit of our customers who work during the night, and those that will be able to enjoy east London’s vibrant social scene with an easier route home.”

The Night Tube first launched on the Central line last August and has seen more than nine million journeys so far – despite a string of rows over pay and safety between TfL and the unions. At the minute, services run on the Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines.

Here’s what the new Night Tube map will look like: 

(Images: REX, TfL)