TfL: Kentish Town Tube station to close for up to a year for works

Kentish Town Tube station will close from June 26 for up to a year while Transport for London (TfL) carries out work.

The station’s two escalators are the most unreliable on the network and will be replaced.

TfL says additional improvements will be carried out at the same time at the Northern line station.

Kentish Town Thameslink station will remain open for the duration of the work.

Esther Sharples, TfL’s director of asset performance delivery, said: “I’d like to thank our customers in advance for their patience while we replace the escalators at Kentish Town station. They are the most unreliable on the Tube network and this essential work will improve journeys through Kentish Town station for many years to come. We explored all possible options to keep the Tube station open during this work but safety considerations and space constraints meant it wasn’t feasible.

“We are using the opportunity while the station is closed to make many other improvements which will make the station more spacious, easier to use and more welcoming for our customers.”

TfL says the current escalators “frequently cause last-minute station closures leading to disruption for customers” and that they will be replaced “with new, high-performing machines”.

London Underground escalators

The existing escalators were Installed in 1997 and bespoke to the station, making it difficult to source parts for maintenance and repairs.

The replacements will be the model used on the Elizabeth line and throughout the London Underground network, making sourcing parts easier. TfL says they are expected to last for around 40 years.

Other work during the closure will include removing the redundant ticket office and realigning the ticket barriers to provide more space for customers and additional ticket gates. The station will be painted and deep cleaned, with new floor and wall tiling and improved signage.

Kentish Town Thameslink station

Kentish Town Thameslink station will remain open and Tufnell Park Tube station is accessible by bus or just over 10 minutes from Kentish Town station on foot.

Access to Thameslink platforms will be via the out-of-hours entrance, 20m along Kentish Town Road. Tickets and Oyster top-ups will not be available at the station, as the main concourse will be closed.

Kentish Town Thameslink station is expected to be busier than usual, especially during peak hours.

Jenny Saunders, Thameslink’s customer services director, said: “We’re sorry for the inconvenience during this major TfL project, and I’m grateful to passengers for their patience. Please allow an extra few minutes to get to and from your Thameslink platform as the station will be busier than normal, especially in the evening peak, and the temporary access route is narrower. If you usually buy your ticket at Kentish Town, remember to buy it in advance while the ticket machines aren’t available. And please don’t forget to tap in and out when you’re using the temporary entrance.”

London Underground escalators facts

London Underground's escalators tend to be in operation in both directions for up to 20 hours a day. They weigh around 40 tonnes each and carry millions of people each year. A typical 15m rise escalator has around 15,000 moving parts.

The two new escalators at Kentish Town Tube station will have more efficient motors and drivers, meaning less electricity will be needed to operate them. When not in use, the escalators will run slower to save energy. LED lighting has already been installed in the ticket hall at Kentish Town.