London hopes to become 24/7 city with Tube running round the clock services

Meanwhile, LU's plan for all-night Tube services, announced yesterday, attracted immediate controversy, as it entailed job cuts of 750 at London Underground and the closure of all ticket offices.

The current staff at LU total 18,000, including 5,500 station staff.

Among several initiatives announced are bank card payment technology from next year, extended Wi-Fi coverage at underground stations, improved ticket machines, as also staff removed from the ticket offices to be based in ticket halls and on platforms.

Meanwhile, the Tube would run 24 hours a day at weekends starting autumn 2015 which would give a huge boost to London's nightlife, according to an announcement today.

The ''Night Tube'' would be welcomed by late-night revellers, businesses and their employees and bring London in line with other capitals such as New York and Berlin.

According to Tube chiefs, the historic change, on London Underground's 150th anniversary, had come with the London Evening Standard highlighting the benefits to the night-time economy of a round-the-clock service in a series of articles this year.

London Underground would start frequent train service with a minimum four per hour in the middle of the night and aim at extending the Night Tube to other lines. The service would also dovetail with night buses.