First test trains travel on the Northern Line Extension
Transport for London has successfully completed the first passenger test train along the 3.2 km Northern Line extension between Tube stations Kennington and Battersea Power Station.
The Northern line passenger trains travelled through the newly constructed junction that connects the existing Northern line tunnels at Kennington to the new extension, and then continued on to the new Nine Elms Tube station before arriving at the second new station at Battersea Power Station. The trains then turned around using the new crossover junction and completed the journey back to Kennington.
Improved transport links
The Northern Line extension is the first major Tube line project since the Jubilee line was extended east towards Stratford in the late 1990s. And it's the first extension for the Northern Line since the opening of the Clapham Common – Morden extension in 1926. The extension will improve transport connections in the districts of Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea and ensure residents can reach the City and the West End in only 15 minutes.
Milestones reached
The first test journeys for the new extension are the latest in a list of significant milestones that were completed in 2020.
These included switching on a permanent electricity supply to the two new Tube stations, energising the traction power supply to the rails, enabling passenger trains to run along the new tracks and successfully commissioning the latest edition of signalling software that connects the extension to the existing Northern line at Kennington.
Battersea and Nine Elms regeneration
The extension is enabling the ongoing regeneration of the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea areas, which has created 25,000 new jobs and more than 20,000 new homes in the area.
The line is expected to run commercial services from the autumn.
Heidi Alexander, deputy mayor for transport, said: “I’m delighted that the Northern Line extension has reached this major milestone, with the project on track to welcome its first passengers in the autumn.”
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s director of major projects, said: “The Northern Line extension continues to support jobs, homes and growth in this exciting riverside destination…We are now focused on making sure the signalling software and systems are ready, along with completing the final stages of fit-out of the two new stations before the planned opening of the extension in the autumn.”
