§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of station closures on each line of the London Underground from 1995 to 1999 and the projected station closures over the next 12 months, indicating the reason for closure in each instance. [100947]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 6 December 1999]: This is an operational matter for London Underground. I understand that the detailed information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost as it would include:
Closures as a result of operational issues (within or outside London Underground's control).Weekend engineering work.However, the following table summarises past and future major planned station closures:
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Date went out of service Station 24 September 1999 Camden Town 28 May 1999 Chancery Lane 23 June 1999 Charing Cross 3 October 1999 Clapham North 24 November 1999 Clapham South 30 November 1999 Heathrow Airport 28 May 1997 Holborn 2 November 1999 Holborn 3 June 1999 Hyde Park 19 November 1999 London Bridge 29 March 1999 Manor House 26 November 1999 Manor House 1 September 1999 Notting Hill Gate 6 October 1999 Notting Hill Gate 19 June 1999 Old Street 24 September 1999 Old Street 3 May 1999 Oxford Circus 12 August 1999 Oxford Circus 24 November 1999 Piccadilly Circus 24 September 1999 Shepherds Bush
Date went out of service Station 26 September 1999 South Wimbledon 2 October 1999 South Wimbledon 2 August 1999 St. Johns Wood 21 June 1999 Tottenham Hale 22 September 1999 Waterloo 30 September 1999 Waterloo 30 October 1999 Waterloo 30 October 1999 Waterloo 16 November 1999 Waterloo 16 November 1999 West Ham 1 December 1999 Wood Green London Underground have implemented a new programme of expenditure on escalator maintenance and repair of more than £100 million over the years 1998–99 to 2000–01 (1998–99 £26 million, 1999–2000 £44.8 million, 2000–01 £66.1 million).
In most cases where an escalator is out of order there will be a parallel escalator which is in operation to minimise passenger inconvenience and disruption. This enables stations to remain open while the works are in progress, and at all times safety is the priority.
1 There are six escalators out of service at the east end of Canary Wharf Station that will not be utilised until there is sufficient passenger demand.2There are five "redundant" escalators at Charing Cross Station that lead to the former Jubilee Line platforms that are no longer in use following the closure of these platforms.