Commuters have been left frustrated as a shut down escalator at a Tube station has resulted in long queues of people. Transport for London (TfL) has closed the downwards escalator at Blackhorse Road station, in Walthamstow, to carry out essential maintenance.
The transport authority has said the works are part of a planned programme for maintenance and renewal, with each of the station’s two escalators being planned to be taken out of service one at a time. The disruption is expected to last until late June this year.
Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, shared a video on X of long queues of Victoria line commuters at the Underground station on January 9, when the closure was introduced. She described the situation as a ‘nightmare’ and said she was chasing TfL to arrange a meeting on the issue.
TfL has confirmed the remaining escalator at Blackhorse Road will always be set upwards during the works for safety reasons
(Image: Claudiac8 via Getty)
One commuter said on Facebook: “I knew this would happen. I’m just going to avoid it until August. Not a chance I’m dealing with that hell. What a mare.”
Another user described the service as ‘diabolical’, while others questioned why the functioning upwards escalator was not set downwards to accommodate the greater number people entering the station. TfL has confirmed that the remaining escalator will always be set upwards during the works for safety reasons.
A TfL spokesperson told MyLondon: “The closure of the escalator at Blackhorse Road will facilitate essential maintenance, improving efficiency and safety. We apologise for any disruption this important work will cause customers using the station. We encourage customers to travel at less busy times or to use our travel planning tools to take alternative routes.”
There are 89 steps to get down to the platforms at Blackhorse Road station. TfL has advised customers who cannot use the steps to take the 230 bus to Walthamstow Central station or the 123 and 230 buses to Tottenham Hale station instead, as they are both step-free stations.
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