Waterloo escalator closure

Tube Lines will be managing this complex work and rigorously testing the escalators. While this is carried out London Underground is advising passengers to use the following routes when changing between the Tube, National Rail and Eurostar services:

• Waterloo & City line passengers – exit at the front end of the platform and use exit 7 for connection with National Rail.
• Bakerloo & Northern line passengers – use either entrance 6 (out to York Road) or entrance 7 (which comes up in the National Rail concourse near platform 7).
• Jubilee line passengers – use the entrance by McDonald's or entrance 7.
• South West Trains passengers – use either entrance 6 or 7 depending on which Underground line is required.
• Eurostar passengers – change between Waterloo terminal and Underground as normal.
• Southern and South Eastern passengers travelling via Waterloo East – connect with Jubilee line services at Southwark.

"Over 64 million people use Waterloo Underground Station every year and that number is rising, so it is essential that these escalators are refurbished," says Kevin Bootle, Jubilee line manager. "If only one escalator had been closed at a time, the work would have taken much longer – well over a year. Escalator machine rooms are extremely small and engineers cannot work next to a moving escalator for safety reasons.

"With just two escalators working, passengers would be reluctant to find an alternative route. It would put an enormous strain on those two escalators, which would struggle to cope with the number of people using them.

"This essential work is part of TfL's £10 billion investment over the next five years to improve and expand the capital's transport network. Although there will be some inconvenience, all the rail and Tube services are still accessible.

"Once the work is completed the three escalators will be fully reversible, which will allow far greater operational flexibility than before."