LONDON (AP) — London's new overnight subway service has begun, with plans to host 50,000 riders each weekend.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan took the first Victoria line train on the new service early Saturday, chatting with passengers and marking the milestone. City leaders hope the new service will make the British capital a truly 24-hour city on the weekends and bolster its economy.

London already boasts a vibrant nightlife that attracts millions. But the service is also meant to serve doctors, cleaners and others who work graveyard shifts.

Police say they will be able to keep revelers in check.

Chief Constable Paul Crowther of the British Transport Police says "someone who's had a lot to drink at eleven o'clock is no different from someone who's had a lot to drink at three o'clock."