THE new MPs for Hendon and Finchley and Golders Green have welcomed the news the Northern Line will not be split at Camden Town.

It had been feared the line, which serves the whole of Barnet, could be split so trains from Edgware serve one line and trains from Barnet serve the other, as part of upgrade work to increase capacity.

However, it has been announced the split will happen at Kennington in south London instead, preventing massive disruption for many north London users.

Hendon Tory MP Matthew Offord, who uses the line to get to Parliament from his home, welcommed the move by Transport for London and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

He said: “I previously met with the Mayor and his advisors to discuss the problems that splitting the line at Camden Town would cause my constituents.

“I am pleased that he listened to our reasoned comments and subsequently decided to improve the service by turning trains around at Kennington.

“As someone who travels to Parliament on the Tube I look forward to an increased capacity on the Northern Line making our daily journey not only quicker but also more comfortable.”

Finchley MP Mike Freer added: “This is great news for Northern Line users who have to put up with the most crowded carriages on the whole of the tube network. 

“Work has already begun and ultimately we'll have more trains, more space, better reliability and quicker journeys. 

“Best of all the splitting of the Northern Line at Camden Town is off the agenda for good."

Brian Coleman, the London Assembly member for Camden and Barnet added: "This is a tremendous victory for my constituents who use the Northern line.

“The idea that Camden Town was to become the transfer stations for either branch was ludicrous – it would never have worked.

The second phase of upgrade work on the line is expected top be completed by 2018, with the number of trains rising by at least eight an hour in both directions at peak times.