Navigating escalators while changing Tube stations is one of London’s most stressful yet essential experiences. From rushed commuters walking on the left to hurried steps to catch a train, the escalator hustle is a daily ritual.
Despite the anxiety they may bring, escalators are vital for Londoners, linking the maze of the Underground lines and tunnels. According to Transport for London (TfL), the network features an impressive 451 escalators across the network’s 272 stations.
One station claims the top spot for the most escalators, which makes sense as it is one of the busiest Tube stops. It’s Waterloo Station!
Passengers exit Waterloo Underground Station into the main Waterloo Terminal
(Image: No credit)
Waterloo sees around 100.3 million passengers annually. It’s served by the Northern, Jubilee, Bakerloo, and the Waterloo & City lines.
To handle this massive footfall, the Zone 1 station is equipped with 23 escalators. Those escalators must be working overtime to keep so many people moving.
Six of these lead directly to the Jubilee Line, and two more connect to the mid-level between the street and Jubilee. Three link the Jubilee and Northern lines without passing the Bakerloo Line.
There’s a total of 11 escalators that can lead you to Jubilee Line
(Image: MyLondon)
Three additional escalators provide access to the Bakerloo and Northern Line trains. There are no escalators leading to the Waterloo & City line.
Beyond connecting the Tube lines, three escalators lead to Southbank, while six others connect passengers to Waterloo railway station. The train station ranks as the fourth most used out of 2,581 stations in Great Britain.
The London Underground ’s history with escalators began in 1911 – Earls Court became the first station to introduce them. Today, Angel station boasts the longest escalator at 60 metres, while Stratford’s is the shortest at just 4.1 metres.
According to the London Transport Museum, an escalator can last up to 40 years. Over its lifetime, it travels a distance equivalent to a trip to the moon and back, which shows its importance in keeping London moving.
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