Commuters face year and half of escalator disruption

Tens of thousands of commuters using Bank Tube station face more than a year and a half of major disruption.

Work to refurbish four more escalators starts in three weeks and will not finish until the end of next year. Tube bosses today advised passengers to avoid changing at Bank during that time.

Bank is the busiest station serving the Square Mile. Nigel Holness, of London Underground, said: "We are urging passengers to use alternative nearby stations, such as Cannon Street, Moorgate, Mansion House, London Bridge, Liverpool Street or St Paul's."

Commuters have already suffered months of disruption at the station during the replacement of other escalators. From 1 March until the end of the year an escalator between the DLR platforms and Northern and Central lines will be replaced. There will be no step-free lift access between the DLR and street level.

From May until the end of next year three escalators between the Central line ticket hall will be taken out of service one at a time.

Central line commuters should enter Bank via the Northern line hall between 7am and 10am Monday to Friday due to a one-way escalator system.