Uber does not fear the Night Tube as it continues to target gaps in London's public transport

Uber has insisted its popular private hire app will complement the Night Tube, rather than run in competition with the new 24-hour service, ahead of its launch this Friday (19 August).

"We welcome the start of the Night Tube – London is a 24 hour city and we need a transport system to match. Uber is a complement to public transport – we help to fill in the gaps between the Tube, trains and where people are heading," Tom Elvidge, the general manager of Uber London, told IBTimes UK.

"In fact almost four in ten Uber trips start or end within 200 metres of a tube or train station. We're sure Londoners will continue relying on our app to help them get the last mile home safely, conveniently and affordably."

The comments come just days before the Night Tube rolls-out on the Central and Victoria lines this weekend. The service, which will also launch on the Northern, Piccadilly and Jubilee lines in the autumn, is expected to transform the capital's night time economy and how people get around the capital.

London's black cab drivers, who have faced competition from Uber since its 2012 introduction to the capital, have urged councils across the city to create more ranks outside Night Tube stations to coincide with the launch.

"We want everyone enjoying a night out to know they'll be able to get home safe, and so think that every Night Tube station needs to have a working cab rank during Night Tube hours," said Steve McNamara, the general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA). "The LTDA is currently speaking with local authorities across the capital to ensure that this is the case".

Transport for London said there will be taxi ranks at 20 of the stations on the Night Tube lines running from Friday, including 12 outside Central line stations and eight outside Victoria line stations. The Night Tube is expected to support 2,000 permanent jobs and boost the economy by £360m.

Ahead of its launch this week, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has committed £3.4m ($4.4m) extra in funding for around 100 additional police officers to protect staff and commuters on the new service.