They're Splitting the Northern Line... Maybe
•February 22, 2026
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Why It Matters
A split or even partial separation would directly improve service reliability for over a million daily riders, while also shaping TfL’s long‑term capital strategy amid constrained budgets.
Key Takeaways
- •TfL still considers splitting Northern line despite past cancellations.
- •Historical mergers created complex junctions at Kennington and Camden Town.
- •Full split hindered by funding; partial separation offers limited relief.
- •Planned review slated for 2040 alongside Jubilee line replacement.
- •Operational inefficiencies persist, affecting reliability and passenger experience.
Summary
The video examines Transport for London’s lingering proposal to split the Northern line into two independent routes, a concept that has resurfaced after earlier announcements were shelved.
The Northern line’s tangled layout stems from early‑20th‑century mergers that forced the City (Bank) and Charing Cross branches to share tracks at Kennington and Camden Town. Those junctions limit capacity – a 12‑trains‑per‑hour corridor is divided among six branches, causing chronic delays that earned the line the nickname “Misery line.” TfL announced a full split in 2013, cancelled it in 2018 due to cost, and now only a partial separation remains on the table.
A partial split would route all south‑bound trains from Morden via the Bank branch and those from Kennington via Charing Cross, leaving the northern branches inter‑woven. The plan also includes a costly rebuild of Camden Town station to untangle the track layout, but funding shortfalls after the pandemic have pushed any decisive action to a tentative 2040 review when both Northern and Jubilee fleets will be due for replacement.
If implemented, a split could boost reliability, increase peak‑hour capacity, and simplify signalling, benefitting millions of daily commuters. Conversely, postponement means the line will likely continue to suffer from bottlenecks, forcing TfL to allocate scarce capital elsewhere and leaving London’s busiest north‑south corridor vulnerable to future disruptions.
Original Description
Beyond our Kennington.
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