Accident statistics on tube escalators, particularly London Bridge station
Request ID: FOI-1446-2223 Date published: 13 October 2022
You asked
I would like to know the number of people that have been injured in the escalators on both the tube network and Londonnzbrisge station over the past 5 years and the severity of those injuries.
Also the number of faults found on the escalators over the same time period
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1446-2223
Thank you for your request received on 15 September 2022 asking for information about accidents on London Underground escalators.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require. You asked:
I would like to know the number of people that have been injured in the escalators on both the tube network and London bridge station over the past 5 years and the severity of those injuries.
Please find the requested information attached. The safety of our staff and customers is always our top priority and London Underground is recognised as one of the safest metros around the world. However, we are never complacent, and continuously strive to reduce injuries. Slips, trips and falls are the biggest cause of accidents on escalators, and we have been trialling and implementing a variety of ways to minimise these incidents and highlight risks and encourage safe use of escalators. These include encouraging customers to hold the handrail; walk or stand safely; be aware of the step or landing interface; and, where available, to use lifts when mobility impaired. Further initiatives to minimise slips, trips and falls include blue footprints on the steps, hand prints on the handrails, contrasting colours to highlight the ‘comb’ between the moving steps and the landings, wording on step risers, new electronic displays, under-step lighting, escalator and lift floor signs, projections of staff members giving safety messages near escalators and frequent public address announcements. Additionally, TfL's safety campaigns, which run throughout the year, use posters in lifts, stations, as well as advertisements on the escalators across the network, to remind our customers of the risks of running on stairs and escalators. We continually monitor the effectiveness of our measures and campaigns in reducing accidents and adjust our approach accordingly. We offer comprehensive help and support to people involved in, or affected by, a life-changing incident on the TfL network via The Sarah Hope Line: https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/incident-support-service.
Also the number of faults found on the escalators over the same time period
Like all of our assets, such as trains and track, we have a continual programme of maintenance and renewal for our lifts and escalators to ensure they are reliable and safe to use for our customers. Due to the nature of the work, replacement and refurbishment can take a number of months to complete.
Escalator and lift replacement and refurbishment works can be a lengthy process due to the size and difficulty of the task in addition to the relatively small space to undertake the works. We continue to look at ways to reduce the amount of disruption on our customers while we undertake refurbishment and replacement works. For example, we will sometimes replace more than one step-free lift at a time if removing one of the two lifts takes away step free access – this reduces the overall time step free access is unavailable for customers. We also continue to invest in vital improvements to the transport network including making more stations fully accessible across London.
Please see the attached spreadsheet for the requested information. Please note that an escalator being out of service is also not always a result of the escalator having a fault, for example a customer may have switched it off maliciously.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
