Angel station in Islington, one of London's busiest Tube stations, will become exit-only on weekends and bank holidays from January 2 next year. Passengers will not be able to enter the station during those periods as engineers work to fix ageing escalators.
Why the restrictions are being introduced
The station, which handles almost 12 million passengers a year, has two sets of escalators connecting the ticket hall, intermediate concourse and platforms. The escalators are 35 years old and include the longest on the London Underground network, stretching more than 60 metres and climbing over 27 metres.
Their size and age have made maintenance increasingly difficult for Transport for London (TfL), prompting the decision to restrict access to the station.
Funding shortfalls delay replacement
Years of Government funding shortfalls have meant TfL has been unable to replace the station's ageing escalators. The restrictions are scheduled to begin on January 2.
