LU throws party for Northern line

Even the most tolerant of London Underground customers would find little to celebrate in the Northern line's track record.

Today, however, Tube bosses will throw a party in honour of the "misery line".

Passengers at Balham station this morning were to be treated to the sight of LU staff cutting a cake to mark the 75th anniversary of the line's southern extension from Clapham Common to Morden.

Local MPs were invited to attend the party, but none found the time to be associated with what is probably the most unpopular feature of their constituencies.

A spokesman for Transport 2000 said: "Surely this has to be a joke. Even if the Northern line is not as bad as its reputation, it is still very much the case that passengers suffer severe overcrowding and a dilapidated infrastructure."

Cynthia Hay, of Capital Transport Campaign, added: "Many passengers will be surprised at this party."

Government research shows that during the rush hour the Northern line vies with the Jubilee for the title of most overcrowded. Between 8.45am and 9am, it carries 7,321 passengers - 112 per cent of its capacity - on its busiest section between Clapham North and Stockwell. It also has the worst pollution.

LU insists it has good reason to celebrate the Northern line.

An LU spokeswoman said: "Today it is the top performing line on the network for many key criteria. Negative perceptions are out-of-date." She admitted there is an overcrowding problem but said the line is a "victim of its own success because so many people want to use it".

LU points to the new fleet of trains, introduced under a Private Finance Initiative. A 20-year £1 billion modernisation programme is also ongoing.