Commuters left fuming (and damp) by two hundred metre queues just to enter Brixton Tube station

Angry commuters are faced with two hundred metre queues to get into Brixton Tube station because of engineering work being done to the escalators. 

 

The queues, which witnesses claim stretched back as far as the Ritzy Cinema a couple of hundred metres from the station, have become a semi-regular feature along Brixton Road and is expected to last until July. 

 

The queues were particularly bad this morning because of problems with London-bound Southeastern trains from Bromley, which were not stopping at Brixton mainline station.

 

Commuters have been left fuming – and slightly soggy – and are taking to Twitter to vent their anger.

 

https://twitter.com/emmyappleby/status/570503687111639040

 

https://twitter.com/JoannDeLanoy/status/570511855518679040

 

https://twitter.com/redtkatet/status/570506586965352448

 

https://twitter.com/nellblock/status/570504321911160834

 

https://twitter.com/IamNads/status/570504254743552000

 

https://twitter.com/slowdowncadet/status/570501397935992832

 

https://twitter.com/me_ellis/status/570501722214408193

 

https://twitter.com/LynsLot/status/570498798599970816

 

https://twitter.com/jamie_buchanan/status/570513986246057984

 

https://twitter.com/johngreenn/status/570506705026588672

 

 

Update: TfL has now got back to us.

 

A spokesman said the queues were being monitored and that "normally no-one waits more than 10 mins to get into the station because of our works".

 

Peter McNaught, LU operations director, added: “To keep the station open the escalators are being refurbished one at a time, however we appreciate that it is taking longer for customers to enter and exit the station during the morning and evening rush hour. We have extra  staff on hand to manage queues and help customers move through the station in peak hours.

 

"There are also high-frequency bus services between Brixton and Stockwell stations to help customers with their journeys." 

 

"I would like to apologise for any disruption caused while these works take place, which are due to be completed this summer."

 

TfL has supplied some options to help commuters avoid the crush – although one of them includes not travelling between 7:30-9:30am and 5:30-7:30pm. 

 

Other suggestions include using bus routes two, 196, or 333 to Stockwell station from Brixton Road, or alternatively use National Rail services between Brixton and Victoria.