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Summer of pain for O2 fans as works shut Jubilee line
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Business Editor07.07.09
Fans who have paid hundreds of pounds to see events at the O2 were today warned of transport disruption all summer because of closures on the Jubilee line.
Many at the Madonna concert at the Greenwich venue on Saturday night took up to six hours to get home.
Angry fans condemned “appalling planning” by Transport for London, which closed the Jubilee line over the weekend as part of a £600 million programme of signalling improvements. Although extra bus and ferry services were laid on, the 17,000 fans struggled to get away from the O2 .
Further closures of the line will hit transport through July and August and affect:
Concerts by R&B and rap star Ne-Yo and singer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds on 11 July.
A concert by rapper FloRida at IndigO2 on 12 July.
Walking With Dinosaurs on 8 and 9 August.
The 4 Nations Basketball on 15 and 16 August.
The work on modernising the 30-year-old signalling network is being done by the Tube Lines consortium. A spokeswoman for TfL said: “Tube Lines have fallen behind schedule. They have requested extra closures.”
A spokeswoman for Tube Lines said: “We're six months from completion and in the phase when we need to run trains. You can't do that in the three or four hours you get at night.”
A spokesman for the O2 Arena said: “We know the situation is far from ideal but we do work with TfL to make the journey home as smooth as possible.”
He said detailed transport options were provided to customers in the venue and every ticket holder is emailed about travel alternatives.
Reader views (10)
I witnessed the 400 yard queues on Sat night, of people waiting to get back across the river, with children. Patience was not much in evidence.
For those about to drive, BEWARE, if you say that you're going in, "for a drink" the cost is £6, to "see the show" and its (suddenly) £20. If that's not O2 ripping us off, I don't know what is !
02 will lose their audience, and the restaurants their trade if this continues.
- Alistair, London, UK
The Jubilee Line has been closed at weekends since 2008. Those of us who live in areas using only the Jubilee can verify that. It only started becoming an issue because of the O2 but at least I am glad this is taking the dimension it should because it has become RIDICULOUS how we are all treated. It's not just the gig fans, there are several thousands if not millions of people who use the line to go about their work and they need it back too. TUBE LINES, GET ON WITH IT AND STOP LAZING ABOUT.
- Sue, London
The Jubilee line extension is less than 10 years old. WHY exactly is it always shut at weekends for engineering work?
- Thalia, London
It's not just the O2 that is impacted by the chaos of closing the Jubilee Line. Wembley Stadium car parks took over 2 hours to clear after the Take That concerts. It really is incredible that we have cutting edge venues supported by third world infrastructure.
- Anna, London, England
Well that's what happens when you put a concert on in the Millennium Dome! The whole area is a wasteland and the sooner it is torn down the better.
- Kimberley, London
Mark Lee - A spokeswoman for TfL said: “Tube Lines have fallen behind schedule. They have requested extra closures.”
You have read into my previous comment incorrectly. Typically the schedules have run behind by TFL and these extra closures have been planned with not much notice. I can't believe that there aren't possibly any other (maybe quieter) nights of the week when the extra closures can be scheduled, though obviously I am not an expert. Your comments are directed as if I clearly know nothing about the transport network - well, i have lived in London all my life, have endured the commute to work for 20 odd years, and have always been a big advocate of the transport system especially to reduce car journeys. Hence my comment about people driving (or being forced to feel they have no real option but to drive). Also, there are few real public transport "alternatives" to get to the O2 which are efficient and quick, which is key to people getting home before the system shuts down altogether in the early hours.
But you are very right about O2 rubbing their hands with glee - which makes the whole situation more difficult for the punters who have paid premium ticket prices. O2 have people over a barrel and probably don't care - they've made their money - and will make more on the Thames Clipper. So applause to you for pointing this out. p.s. lets not go there on the O2/AEG/Ticketmaster "collaboration"!!!
- Jmy, Enfield
Take the DLR from Bank to Greenwich and take a ten minute bus ride from there to North Greenwich. Simpler and cheaper than the alternative.
Next year once the work is done there will be trains running every two minutes through the station; increasing capacity and speeding up journey times. No pain no gain, as they say.
- David, London
Jmy - when would you prefer these works were done? 20,000 people travel to the O2 for concerts. Many, many more travel to work during the week using the line. The O2 are notified of these plans months in advance and still insist on putting on these concerts, in full knowledge that there will be major works on the key transport artery. Their irresponsibility should be highlighted, not TfL's need to do vital upgrade work.
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall
The O2 must be secretly rubbing their hands with glee. They own Thames Clippers, who run the boat service, and who charge £10 return to the O2. All these extra passengers travelling by boat must be making them a mint...
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall
"He said detailed transport options were provided to customers in the venue and every ticket holder is emailed about travel alternatives."
I am going to see Babyface on Saturday at the O2. Am absolutely dreading the travel, and contrary to the quote above, i can categorically state that i haven't been e-mailed about travel alternatives. The O2 e-mail/website simply give you a link to the TFL website which, if you have a spare hour or two, then you are expected to search through the minefield of alternatives yourself. Unfortunately there are few ways on or off the O2 site, and no pedestrian bridge link from south of the river to north. I was looking forward to the evening, now i'm left feeling with a sense of dread at having a particularly difficult journey. No wonder people drive everywhere - sadly, that is looking like the best option. It beggars belief that additional works are carried out on Saturday evenings which affects the biggest event venue in London. Shame on all those who make those decisions - what a turn off to all Londoners and visitors to London, and everyone that spends their hard earned cash on what is supposed to be a relaxing evening out.
- Jmy, Enfield
