More strike talks this week

Both sides in the Night Tube dispute met again in an attempt to agree on the new service, just a week ahead of another planned strike.

Rail union members announced they would walk out for 24 hours for the second time this summer on the evening of 5 August if they cannot reach a delay, threating a fresh bout of travel chaos in London.

Talks at the conciliation service Acas centred on the closure of Tube ticket offices, with pay and conditions for the all-night service expected to be discussed.

Steve Griffiths, LU’s chief operating officer, London Underground, said: “As a gesture of goodwill we have agreed not to deduct pay from those drivers who followed the instruction of their union.

“We continue to work hard to make progress in resolving the dispute on pay and night Tube and avoid further unnecessary strike action.”

All-night Tubes are due to start on a number of lines on Friday and Saturday nights beginning on 12 September. But the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) said the new service would be a “financial nightmare”, losing almost £20 million in its first full year and well over £100 million by 2033.

Transport for London strongly denied the claim, saying there was “no doubt” that the service will pay for itself.