Request ID: FOI-2566-2122 Date published: 16 February 2022
You asked
Please can you explain the situation with the escalators at Cutty Sark Station? Why have they been partially out of service for so long at such a busy station? It means customers have to choose between the stairs or a very small lift, which is not suitable for many travellers. How long have the escalators been partially out of service and is this normal in comparison to the rest of the TFL network? Why does noone ever appear to be trying to fix them? When will they be fixed? How many travellers are being inconvenienced or avoiding travel altogether due to this situation? What change of circumstances or publicity would prompt TFL to fix the escalators as an urgent priority?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2566-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6th February 2022 asking for information about the escalators at Cutty Sark station.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:
Question 1: Please can you explain the situation with the escalators at Cutty Sark Station? Why have they been partially out of service for so long at such a busy station? It means customers have to choose between the stairs or a very small lift, which is not suitable for many travellers.
Answer: Escalators E1 and E2 are currently in service. Escalators E3 and E2 are out of service due to worn-out components. These components are “long lead items” and replacements have not yet arrived.
Question 2: How long have the escalators been partially out of service and is this normal in comparison to the rest of the TFL network?
Answer: Escalator E3 has been out of service since September 2021 and escalator E2 since November 2021. TfL does not hold a comparison across the rest of the TFL network, and such a comparison could only be calculated at disproportionate cost (note that under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act TfL is not obliged to supply information if it would cost more than £450 to determine if that information is held, and to then locate, retrieve or extract that information from elsewhere).
Question 3: Why does noone ever appear to be trying to fix them? When will they be fixed?
Answer: Work on escalator E3 is due to commence in March 2022, and when complete the contractors will start work on escalator E2.
Question 4: How many travellers are being inconvenienced or avoiding travel altogether due to this situation?
Answer: TfL does not hold this information. While we do hold entry and exit data for the station it is not possible to determine how many passengers entering or leaving the station would have used escalator E2 or E3 as opposed to another route.
Question 5: What change of circumstances or publicity would prompt TFL to fix the escalators as an urgent priority?
Answer: As stated in answer to Question 3 above, work to fix the escalators is due to commence next month and plans are also in place for mid-life overhauls of all four escalators at Cutty Sark station.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
