Good news guys – we waited years for the Night Tube and it’s finally here!

When it was first announced, we collectively panicked and allowed London to be brought to a halt at the mere threat of strikes. We shared our Uber code on every social media account that we have, and we dreamed of days when we could get home from a night out on the £1.20 we had left on our old, pre-contactless Oyster; but the Night Tube just didn’t seem like it was ever going to happen.

But now that it’s actually here, why do I feel like I’m never going to use it?



As a woman, I won’t be using the Night Tube. The Night Tube is a great idea in theory. Believe me, the threat of ‘glug your rosé down, the tubes are stopping in half an hour!’ puts a downer on my night just like it does to anyone else’s. But I’ve had enough issues with the Tube in broad daylight to know that the Night Tube just won’t work in practice.


The Night Tube is here, but should we be rejoicing? (Picture: PA)

During the day on the Tube I’ve had encounters where men have approached me, and then followed me down the train (in front of strangers who do nothing to help). I’ve had inappropriate comments, looks and invasions of space, but I’m one of lucky ones.

I know many women personally, and have read many more accounts by women I do not know, who have had physical altercations on the Tube, and no one around has done anything to stop it. If women can still be made to feel uncomfortable (at best) by men on a busy, daytime Tube, adding alcohol, darkness, fewer staff and less of the general public into the equation is only going to end in trouble.

And not to be cynical, but I don’t think complaining to a tired, bored and overworked member of TFL staff who petitioned against the Night Tube will go down too well. Getting a night bus as a woman is daunting enough, but at least the driver is in earshot, and can let you off at any time. The threat of harassment (or even assault) happening to me underground with fewer people around to help and witness is enough to put me off the idea altogether.

Would you feel safe at night? (Picture: EPA)

But where does that leave women travelling home alone at night? In an ideal world, harassment wouldn’t happen, and drunk men would know where to keep their hands. But this isn’t an ideal world, and our options are limited to Ubers (arguably an equally unsafe method of transport in my view) or black cabs (I guess the multi millionaires will be fine then).

Whenever any woman tells the Internet about a negative experience she has had with men, dudes with cartoon avi’s love to hop in their mentions and tell them they’re wrong. So I’m going to clarify this: it’s not just me. Sexual assault on the tube (in the day) has risen by 41% since 2015, with 1,961 violent and sex crimes reported (reported being the key word here). With such a drastic increase of crimes being reported, opening the Night Tube at this time just isn’t a good idea.

A group of girls using the Night Tube on its first night – but it’s not something I will be using (Picture: PA)

The Night Tube is, again, just another service that will benefit men more than it will women. Still, if men start using it, at least Saturday night Uber surge charges might be lower?



When approached for comment, Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Deputy Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: ‘We have a strong commitment to eradicate unwanted sexual behaviour on London’s public transport and while Night Tube is operating, all stations will remain staffed and controlled at all times with our staff backed up by British Transport Police officers.

‘Passengers’ safety on the transport network is our number one priority, which is why we’re investing an extra £3.4 million towards policing the Night Tube. This will see around 100 officers out on the network when full services are underway, with at least as many officers out during the night as would be seen during the day.’

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