Angel station faces year-long closure for escalator work

Transport for London (TfL) is considering a closure of Angel Underground station for up to a year to undertake escalator replacements. The station's three escalators, which have been in service for approximately 35 years, transport nearly 12 million passengers each year and are nearing the end of their operational life. One escalator experienced a breakdown in April, and TfL has indicated that a second unit could fail imminently. The third escalator is expected to remain operational for another two years.

Potential interim measures and replacement plans

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TfL is exploring interim measures to manage the situation, including making the station exit-only during off-peak hours from November. This would mean passengers could leave the station but not enter during evenings and weekends. TfL has stated that the escalators' length makes them unsafe to use as fixed staircases, and no alternative means exist for moving passengers between the ticket hall and the lower concourse. Design work for the new escalators is scheduled to commence this autumn and is anticipated to take around a year. Following this design phase, TfL will decide between a complete station closure for approximately 12 months or a phased replacement, which would extend the overall duration.

Concerns over impact and funding

Islington Council has voiced concerns regarding the potential closure. Council leader Una O'Halloran warned in a letter that a complete shutdown would be 'devastating' for local businesses. She also suggested that TfL had delayed the planning process until the escalators had already failed. Richard Jones, director of asset performance delivery for London Underground, attributed the delay in escalator replacement to 'many years of constrained government funding'.

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Wider network issues and precedents

Angel station is not the only location on the London Underground network facing issues with outdated escalators. Data released in July indicated that 153 of the network's 566 escalators are operating beyond their expected lifespan, contributing to TfL's £6.5 billion maintenance backlog. In 2023, Kentish Town station closed for a year for similar escalator replacements. Cutty Sark DLR station also reopened in March following approximately ten months of escalator and station upgrades. While no final decision has been made for Angel station, TfL has advised that customers could use King's Cross St Pancras and Old Street stations as alternatives on the Northern line's Bank branch if the station closes.