Passengers using Angel Underground station could face major disruption as Transport for London considers how to replace its increasingly unreliable escalators.

A full closure lasting up to a year is among the options reportedly being examined for the Northern line station in Islington. Another possibility is to keep the station partly open while replacing the escalators individually, which could stretch the work over a longer period. The supplied report does not confirm a final decision.

Angel handles almost 12 million visits annually and has the longest escalators on the Underground network. At around 200 feet each, their scale makes replacement particularly complex. TfL says they are also too long to be used safely as fixed stairs.

The three escalators have been operating for nearly 35 years. According to the report, one broke down in April, a second was at risk of a similar failure, and the third also needed upgrading.

Before a replacement program begins, TfL is reportedly considering restricting the station to exit-only use at certain off-peak times so it can carry out initial repairs. That could prevent passengers from entering to catch trains during affected evenings and weekends.

Replacing a single escalator is expected to take around a year. The eventual disruption would depend on whether TfL replaces all three together or carries out the work in stages.

Richard Jones, London Underground’s Director of Asset Performance Delivery, said the aging equipment was becoming harder to maintain. He attributed the lack of investment in replacements to years of constrained government funding for essential renewals.

Jones said temporary entry restrictions would help prolong the escalators’ working life while TfL develops its plans. He also acknowledged the consequences for passengers, nearby businesses and residents, and said TfL would work with local stakeholders to reduce disruption.

Source: Supplied news report citing TfL statements and reporting by The Standard.