Central Line reopens fully

Central Line reopens fully

A full timetable is expected to return around the end of April

All Central Line stations are now open to passengers again, 11 weeks after a train derailed at Chancery Lane injuring 32 people.

The last of 49 stations to come back into operation on Saturday were on the extreme western stretch of the line.

Services have now resumed between North Acton and West Ruislip, the Essex 'Hainault loop' and the Woodford to Epping sections.

London Underground (LU) said the news would come as a relief to commuters, retailers and shoppers.

Limited timetable

But it warned passengers would have to wait for a full service, as a limited timetable is still running.

LU expects to restore a full working timetable of Central Line services around the end of April.

The Central Line was suspended when a train derailed at Chancery Lane station in central London on 25 January, injuring 32 people.

The incident was caused by a traction motor attached to the underside of the train coming loose and falling on to the track, derailing carriages.

'Long, hard slog'

LU was forced to close the line while it modified its fleet of 85 trains, causing widespread disruption to Tube users.

Managing director for LU Paul Godier said: "We said we would be back to all destinations by Easter and I'm pleased we have some good news at last and are able to beat that estimate by a week.

"This has been a long, hard slog and it's still not over yet.

"But we have now reached a very significant milestone and I just want to thank all those customers who have stoically tolerated this disruption for so long."

Long-standing engineering works planned between North Acton and West Ruislip will mean a limited closure in this area over the Easter weekend, LU said.

The Central Line disruption has cost London Underground £40m, while the cost to the London economy is thought to be about £275m.