Transport for London (TfL) has announced that they have now resumed passenger trains at peak times on the Waterloo & City line to give passengers more options.
Over the past 15 months since March 2020, the Waterloo & City line has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the demand for transport.
Drivers from this line moved temporarily to the Central line to operate trains where they were most needed.
Since Monday 17th of May 2021, passenger numbers across the tube network have increased by 20%, showing the large surge in demand.
To ensure commuters have enough space and can socially distance, the Waterloo & City line is operating to a revised timetable of a train every five minutes.
These operating times are, Monday to Friday:
- Morning – 6 am to 10 am
- Evening – 5.30pm to 7pm
Passengers can travel with minimal risk to catching COVID-19 thanks to thorough and frequent cleaning schedules, and well-ventilated stations and stations.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I'm delighted that the Waterloo & City line is returning from today, ahead of schedule. As London's economy continues to re-open and more people return to the offices, having this key artery connecting Waterloo and Bank stations up and running will be vital.
“The line will not only make transport a lot more convenient for people travelling to and from the heart of the City of London, but it will support our businesses in the City that help to drive London and the UK's economy and help our eco-system of retail, hospitality and cultural venues, which are vital to our economic prosperity.”
Managing Director of London Underground, Andy Lord said: “The reopening of the Waterloo & City line is a welcome step back towards normality for the City as well as for the rest of London. I am proud of the fantastic work done behind the scenes that has enabled us to bring the line back into service sooner than projected, and look forward to customers being able to use the full network for the first time since the pandemic began.”
Policy Chair at the City of London Corporation, Catherine McGuinness, said: “Today's reopening of the historic Waterloo & City line is an exciting and vital moment in the Square Mile's recovery as it marks a huge step on our journey back to normality.
“The Waterloo & City line will support the return of the City's commuting workforce back to the Square Mile as the easing of restrictions allows. The additional footfall generated will also provide reassurance to the many businesses that rely on commuter traffic for trade.
“We warmly welcome the line back into service today, as we look ahead to a successful and sustainable economic recovery and a restoring of life and vibrancy to City streets.”
Managing Director of South Western Railway Claire Mann said: “The reopening of the Waterloo & City line is great news for our customers who travel into London Waterloo. This added connectivity will be a real boost to all those needing to travel into the city and beyond, and will also play an important part in the return to normality everyone is working towards.”
Adam Tyndall, Programme Director for Connectivity at London First, said: “It is fantastic to see the Waterloo & City Line reopen. As London's businesses continue to open up and more people return to the capital, having extra capacity to transport passengers safely is another sign of confidence in London's economic future as we recover from the pandemic.”
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Why not operate the Waterloo and City Line all day Monday-Fridays and on Saturdays. Including on bank holiday except Christmas Day and New Years Eve. And maybe operate on Sundays part time if that’s possible.