Broken escalators cause major congestion at station during rush hours
TfL has been criticised over repair works at Brixton underground station. Customers have complained over long queues and heavy crowding for seven days in a row.
Planned refurbishment of two of the three escalators, built in the 1970s, was due to begin on 28th November. However, due to unforeseen complications, the third escalator, installed in 2004, took priority causing repair work to spontaneously begin on 14th November.
The London Underground operation director, Peter McNaught, commented, “The escalators are over 40 years old and now need to be refurbished to ensure the continued safe operation of the station for the future. To keep the station open the escalators are being refurbished one at a time, however we appreciate that it is taking longer for customers to enter and exit the station during the morning and evening rush hour.”
Streatham Labour MP, Chuka Umunna, tweeted about the issue “I understand Brixton tube station has been shut due to broken down escalators – slightly chaotic transport this morning. Buses good #lambeth.”
Umunna has since been in discussion with TfL and posted an “Update for constituents on the #Brixton tube escalator works” followed by a link of TfL statements, ensuring that travel disruption will be kept to a minimum.
Faryal Velmi, spokesperson for campaign group Transport for All, said the “big issue is communication. The frustration is that Londoners want maintenance [of stations] but they want it to be in a timely fashion. TfL need to make announcements about these things.”
Although transport bosses have apologised for the disruption of travel, the works are scheduled to continue until July 2015. Until then, enhanced local bus services between Brixton and Stockwell stations are being provided. Commuters are advised to use alternative methods of travel until the work is complete.
