Approximately 27% of London Tube Escalators Operating Past Their Shelf Life

Freedom of Information data obtained by The Standard show that 153 out of 566 — approximately 27% — of escalators serving Transport for London's (TfL) Tube network are operating past their shelf life. Elly Baker, Labor’s transport lead on the London Assembly, said TfL gives escalators a 20-year midlife and 40-year total lifespan, which helps the government body determine when renewal work should occur. In recent years, however, Baker said she thinks TfL has moved toward condition-based monitoring to determine when major maintenance or replacement is needed. Many of the Tube's aging escalators serve some of London's busiest stations, including on the Bakerloo, Northern, Victoria and Jubilee lines. Excluding planned maintenance, the network saw 7,598 breakdowns in 2025, with Waterloo recording the highest number — 450. For its part, TfL said it carries out regular maintenance and inspection to keep all lifts and escalators safe and reliable, with major replacements carried out on a rotating schedule. Availability of escalators on the London Underground is at approximately 95%, "despite heavy usage of around six million escalator journeys every day across a network that is 160 years old in some areas."