Holland Park station to close for lift replacement work

30 December 2015
New, more reliable lifts will replace the existing ones installed nearly 30 years ago
"When the works are complete, everyone will benefit from new, more reliable lifts. We will also be carrying out other improvement work within the station while it's closed, making it brighter, more spacious and easier to use"
David Waboso
Capital Programmes Director, London Underground
  • Work will mean that Holland Park Tube station will be closed until August 2016
  • During this period, customers are advised to use nearby Notting Hill Gate or Shepherd's Bush Tube stations
  • Wide range of improvements including a more spacious ticket hall, increased accessibility and better security

London Underground (LU) is reminding customers who use Holland Park Tube station that vital work to replace the station's two lifts will begin on 2 January 2016, with other work to modernise the station being carried out at the same time.

The current lifts are nearly 30 years old and need to be replaced to ensure they work reliably - the existing lifts fail regularly causing travel disruption to customers. The nature of the work means that while this essential upgrade is carried out the station will be closed. It will re-open again in August 2016.

LU explored in detail the option of replacing the lifts one at a time and keeping the station open. However, this was neither the safest nor least disruptive option for customers. If only one ageing lift was in operation, the larger volume of customers using it would put it under greater stress, increasing the likelihood of it failing and customers and staff becoming trapped. This would in turn lead to a significant increase in unplanned station closures. Additionally, the total time to complete the work on both lifts would increase from 30 to 64 weeks if the lifts were replaced one at a time while keeping the station open.

The adjacent spiral stairs cannot be used as the sole means of access between the ticket hall and platforms as there are 110 steps (the equivalent of a five storey building) and they are too narrow for a two-way flow of customers.

While Holland Park Tube station is closed, LU will take the opportunity to carry out other modernisation work within the station including:

  • Improving the ticket hall by making better use of existing space, giving a brighter, more spacious feel
  • Increasing security by providing Passenger Help Points on both platforms and increasing CCTV coverage in key areas of the station
  • Installing energy-efficient lighting
  • Improving accessibility by installing features such as dual-level handrails, hearing induction loops and tactile surfacing
  • Upgrading the finishes on the platforms and passageways

David Waboso, London Underground's Capital Programmes Director, said:

'We're sorry for the disruption that this essential lift replacement work will cause our customers but, when the works are complete, everyone will benefit from new, more reliable lifts. We will also be carrying out other improvement work within the station while it's closed, making it brighter, more spacious and easier to use.

'Customer safety is our number one priority and, in order to replace the lifts in the safest way and with the least amount of disruption, we need to close the station. This decision has not been taken lightly and we will work hard to complete this vital modernisation as quickly as possible, keeping customers and local businesses informed as the work progresses.'

Lift replacement in Tube stations is a lengthy process due primarily to the restricted working space and the complexity of working underground in cramped lift shafts. Because of this, replacing lifts at a station like Holland Park - with a single lift shaft that continues deep underground - takes some months.

From Holland Park Tube station, Notting Hill Gate Tube station is a seven-minute walk or nine-minute bus journey served by London bus routes 31, 94 and 148. Shepherd's Bush Tube station is a 13-minute walk or 10-minute bus journey served by London bus routes 31, 94, 148 and 228. Customers paying a bus fare to access these stations will receive an automated refund added to their Oyster or contactless payment card.

 

Notes to Editors:

  • Working on one lift at a time in a deep lift shaft like that at Holland Park Tube station would mean there would be no transfer available between lift units in the case of lift failure, prolonging the time it would take emergency services to rescue customers or tend to someone requiring immediate medical attention.
  • LU is undertaking a major programme of renewal which is essential to provide for London's growing transport needs now and into the future.
  • Information including a video on how we replace lifts on our network can be found here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/tube-improvements/behind-the-scenes/escalator-refurbishment?intcmp=14562