Over 1.5 kilometres of escalators now installed at Elizabeth line stations

Over half of the escalators for the Elizabeth line stations have currently been installed, with 17 escalators being fully commissioned at Canary Wharf station and the framework for 37 more bring completed at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street. Together these combine to a length of 1,603 metres, the equivalent of one mile of escalators.

In total, 81 escalators will be installed at nine Elizabeth line stations between Paddington and Woolwich, with a total length of 2.8 kilometres (2,802 metres).

In addition, 54 lifts are being installed at these nine stations and all 40 stations on the Elizabeth line will have step-free access.

“Over 200 million passengers a year will use these escalators to access the newest addition to London’s transport network,” said Vanessa Hope-Lewis, Crossrail Lift and Escalator Field Engineer. “As the Crossrail project passes 85% complete, the installation of these escalators is another step forward in the completion of the Elizabeth line ahead of its opening on time in December 2018.”

The longest escalator on the Elizabeth line will be at Bond Street – the 60-metre long escalator will carry passengers from Hanover Square near Oxford Street to platform level 25.7 metres below. The shortest escalator, at 18.5 metres, will be at Liverpool Street and take passengers from street level down into the Broadgate ticket hall.

The 81 escalators have been installed at a 30-degree incline and will travel at a speed of 0.5 metres per second, with the exception of Canary Wharf’s escalators which travel at 0.75 metres per second as they have one less flat step at the top.