London Underground’s first major expansion this century has opened, Press Association has reported. The two new Northern line stations opened in south London following a £1.1 billion project on the two-mile tunnel.

The first train on the new route departed from Battersea Power Station at 5.28am. It then called at the other new station, Nine Elms, before reaching the final station of Kennington.

The services will play “a major role” in the capital’s recovery from the pandemic, according to London mayor Sadiq Khan. He said it would support “thousands of new jobs, homes and businesses.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: The expansion of this line in the first of its kind since the Jubilee line was opened in the late 1990s (PA)The expansion of this line in the first of its kind since the Jubilee line was opened in the late 1990s (PA)

The expansion of this line in the first of its kind since the Jubilee line was opened in the late 1990s. The Greater London Authority borrowed £1 billion for this project, which will be funded through business rates from the local area and about £270 million of contributions from developers.

The construction of the twin railway began in 2015.

Service will begin with 6 trains per hour during peak-time and five per hour during off-peak periods. Services will double by the middle of next year.

It is estimated by TfL that the new services will support 25,000 jobs and 20,000 new homes.

The opening of two new stations will bring the total number on the network to 272.