The Northern line extension on the London Underground to Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station will open on the 20th September, TfL has confirmed.

Tube services on the extension will start on Monday 20 September, running from Kennington station on the Charing Cross branch. There will be an initial peak time service of six trains per hour on the extension, increasing to 12 trains per hour by mid-2022. There will be five trains per hour during off-peak times, doubling to 10 trains per hour next year.

Around 100 members of station staff are currently undertaking training to become familiar with the two new step-free Tube stations, and Northern line drivers are receiving instruction on the new route.

Nine Elms station (c) TfL

Earlier this year, Kennington station became a Zones 1 and 2 station so that people using the two new stations, which are both in Zone 1 wouldn’t have to pay extra to travel through Kennington, as it was a the time a Zone 2 station.

Work is also nearing completion on Art on the Underground’s new permanent artwork by London-based Brazilian artist Alexandre da Cunha, which is being installed at Battersea Power Station Underground station ahead of the launch.

Based on historical precedent, the first passenger train on the line is rarely the first thing in the morning, as there will be a publicity launch later in the morning, followed by passenger services. TfL says that it will confirm the time of the first passenger train to serve Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station closer to the opening date.

Northern line extension timeline

  • 2014: Secretary of State granted Transport and Works Act Order (November)
  • 2015: Start of major construction works (November)
  • 2017: Two tunnel boring machines – Helen and Amy – launched at Battersea (March) and broke-through at Kennington (November) – named in honour of the first British astronaut, Helen Sharman, and British aviation pioneer, Amy Johnson, who was the first female pilot to fly solo from Britain to Australia
  • 2018: Tunnelling work undertaken for new customer passageways linking platforms at Kennington Tube station
  • 2019: Completion of track installation throughout the NLE . Engineering train travels the length of the extension for the first time (June)
  • 2020: Power supplied to stations (November) and energisation of track (December). Start of dynamic testing with first test passenger train travelling the length of the extension (December)
  • 2021: Trial operations begin (July); start of passenger services on 20th September

The last major Tube extension was the Jubilee line extension, which opened, in phases, in 1999-2000.

Battersea Power Station (c) TfL

Outside the stations, a number of schemes making it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport in the Nine Elms and Battersea areas are also nearing completion. These schemes include new pavements, seating and signage, tree planting and increased cycle parking. They also include the opening up of a Victorian railway arch in Nine Elms, known as Arch 42, to create a new walking route between Nine Elms station, Nine Elms Lane and the River Thames. Santander Cycles are also available to hire across the Nine Elms and Battersea area.

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12 comments
  1. Uche Mick Chinonso says:

    I shall mark this on my calendar. Once the extension opens, I’m there.

  2. Brian Butterworth says:

    Well as a die-hard Hitchhiker’s Fan I’m clearly going to be there for the opening of Arch 42!

    And, as you all know, I’m clearly waiting to see say BATTERSEA POWER STATION STATION on the outside, as those are TfL design rules.

  3. James Scantlebury says:

    Looks like the proposed artwork at Nine Elms by Samara Scott has been cancelled? No sign of it on the Art on the Underground site..

  4. Peter says:

    Google maps, and its satellite view of Battersea Power Station, both need up-dating! Take a look….

  5. Anon says:

    10 minutes between trains will seem a long time but glad it’s happening.

    • Melvyn says:

      A luxury compared to times between trains on Circle Line.

      I still think a link to the Victoria Line should have been included and Kennington Station upgraded with full step free access.

  6. Manek says:

    It’s a shame it didn’t go a bit further and link up to Battersea Park Station.

    • ianVisits says:

      There’s an out-of-station interchange between the two, but putting the new tube station next to the mainline railway would have meant demolishing a lot of existing buildings instead of using the empty land at Battersea — and the practical benefit of the connection was calculated in the consultation papers to be minuscule compared the substantial cost of the extra work.

    • MK says:

      As someone who often wishes South Wimbledon would link up with either of the district line Wimbledons or even the tram, I’d like it too — but it’s hard to imagine who would be using that. Anyone coming in via the NR service to Victoria can change to the Northern line at Balham, or change for Waterloo-bound trains at Clapham Junction.

  7. TC JAV says:

    Will combine a visit to have a trip on the line on the first day, and a walk in the area as well, two of my favourite hobbies in one day!

  8. Paul says:

    Re: Opening times
    I have heard 8am from a credible source

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