TfL announces Saturday Northern line Night Tube closures in bid to tackle noise problems as RMT claims victory

Commuters pack on to a Tube train. Pictures: PA Images/Yui Mok PA Wire/Press Association Images

The Northern line’s Night Tube will be closed this weekend for work to tackle persistent noise problems.

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Noisy tubes on go slow Noisy tubes on go slow

The RMT, who had called industrial action over noise have claimed victory, after TfL announced the work this afternoon. They have halted plans to operate a "go-slow" policy on certain parts of the line in protest against a lack of action on the noise.

Problematic areas of tube track, between Kentish Town and Camden Town, and Camden Town and Euston will undergo "rail grinding" to smoothen them out.

TfL itself will also introduce speed restrictions on one section of the line and the problematic track fastening Pandrol Vanguard will be removed from all areas.

Scores of passengers have complained about the issue, with some saying during a recent Twitter Q&A session that they "feared for [their] hearing."

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From midnight tonight, tube drivers will be operating a "go-slow" policy on sections of the line until further notice. This means journeys may take longer while this takes place. 95 per cent of transport workers balloted backed the action, saying TfL had failed to act on the insufferable screeching.

Further Saturday night tube closures will take place on October 19, and November 9 and 16.

In the email to customers this afternoon, it said the Friday night service would run as normal.

Mick Cash, the RMT's general secretary said: "This is a massive victory for the union, for our members and for RMT's strategy of declaring appropriate industrial action to leverage negotiations with the employer. Be clear about this, if we hadn't balloted and declared a programme of action from midnight we would not have secured this eleventh hour agreement with London Underground."

A TfL spokesperson said: "Following constructive engagement with the RMT on the plans we have to tackle Tube noise, we are pleased they have suspended their industrial action. The health and safety of our staff and customers is our top priority and we will continue to progress a number of immediate and longer-term plans to help solve this complex issue."