London Underground's Waterloo & City Line is closed for five months from 1 April 2006 for much needed engineering improvements that will deliver increased reliability of services, an increase in capacity, and improved journey times.
The Waterloo & City line, London's second deep-level Tube line, opened in 1898. It was intended then, as now to offer commuters a direct rail link to and from the City of London. The 1.5 mile line links Waterloo with Bank without any intermediate stations.
9.6 million people use the line every year: an average 40,000 use the line on a weekday and 4,000 on Saturdays. (The line is not in passenger service on Sundays.)
During the five-month closure, passengers traveling from Waterloo to Bank are advised to take the Bakerloo or Northern lines to Embankment station and then the District or Circle line to Monument station.
Transport for London (TfL) is investing £10bn over the next five years to improve and expand London's transport network, with more than half of that being spent on the Tube. Metronet Rail BCV is responsible for the renewal and maintenance work.
