TfL escalators past lifespan risk commuter shift from Tube, Labour warns
Elly Baker says unreliable escalators could undermine City Hall’s 2041 transport targets for London
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Londoners could turn away from the Tube if escalators remain unreliable, Labour’s transport spokesperson Elly Baker has warned. The warning follows data showing that more than a quarter of the network’s escalators are operating beyond their expected lifespan.
Freedom of Information data released last month revealed that 153 of the 566 escalators on the London Underground are past their shelf life. In 2025/26, Transport for London spent £56.1m on escalators, including £38.6m in operating costs and £17.5m in capital expenditure. An additional £1.3m was spent on reactive maintenance call-outs.
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Risk-based approach criticised
Baker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that TfL’s shift to a risk-based maintenance approach, rather than refurbishing escalators every 20 years and replacing them after 40, has led to more unexpected breakdowns. She wrote to TfL Commissioner Andy Lord in June to criticise the approach, which she said results in unplanned station closures.
London doesn't work unless our transport system works. By and large, all our journeys work perfectly. But every time that somebody goes to a station and finds an escalator's out of order - sometimes that means the station's actually closed - they may feel the network is less reliable, and maybe they're just slightly less likely to use the Tube in the future, and that's not acceptable.
Elly Baker, Labour transport spokesperson
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Baker cited Woolwich Arsenal DLR Station, where three of four escalators were out of action last year. TfL said work on the Greens End entrance would not be complete until later this month. She argued that escalators are essential for passenger confidence and that TfL must prioritise their reliability despite budget constraints.
TfL defends maintenance strategy
TfL Commissioner Andy Lord defended the shift away from age-based interventions earlier this month. He said the network must balance escalator maintenance against other priorities, such as track infrastructure and ageing structures, due to financial constraints. A TfL spokesperson said escalator availability is around 95%, with six million journeys made daily.
The spokesperson added that some escalators are temporarily withdrawn or subject to increased maintenance to ensure reliability. Funding for replacements is prioritised based on customer usage and safety assessments. Escalators are maintained by Otis or TfL’s in-house team.
Impact on City Hall targets
City Hall aims for 80% of journeys in London to be made by public transport, walking or cycling by 2041. Baker warned that unreliable escalators could undermine this target by deterring commuters. She said TfL must listen to Londoners and prioritise passenger experience.
Baker acknowledged that escalators are safe but said TfL must prove they are a priority. She said the network does vital work but sometimes fails to listen to passengers about what matters most to them.
Questions this report answers
+How many London Underground escalators are past their expected lifespan?
153 of the 566 escalators on the London Underground are operating beyond their expected shelf life, according to FOI data released last month. This represents over a quarter of the network’s escalators.
+What is TfL’s escalator availability rate?
TfL reports that escalator availability on the London Underground is around 95%. The network handles approximately six million escalator journeys each day.
+Why is Elly Baker criticising TfL’s escalator maintenance?
Baker criticises TfL’s shift to a risk-based maintenance approach, which she says leads to more unexpected breakdowns and unplanned station closures. She argues this could deter commuters and undermine City Hall’s transport targets.
+What are City Hall’s transport targets for London?
City Hall aims for 80% of journeys in London to be made by public transport, walking or cycling by 2041. Unreliable escalators could deter commuters and threaten this goal, according to Labour’s transport spokesperson.
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