Deep Level Tube Access by stairs

[Mutant Lemming]

With one lift out and just missing the other at Hampstead I decided I needed the exercise anyway and took the stairs (all 300 odd of them) down to platform level. The notice does say the steps should only be used in an emergency but they are quite often used as an alternative by passengers. It got me to wondering how many of the spiral staircases at deep stations are still open to the public to use ? I know the ones at Covent Garden are fairly well used (as people give up on the queue for the lifts) but how many others are there that one can utilise as part of their daily exercise ?

 

[Nym]

Tottenham Court Road has them at the moment, but will no longer be accessable when the new ticket hall opens...

 

[Domh245]

With one lift out and just missing the other at Hampstead I decided I needed the exercise anyway and took the stairs (all 300 odd of them) down to platform level. The notice does say the steps should only be used in an emergency but they are quite often used as an alternative by passengers. It got me to wondering how many of the spiral staircases at deep stations are still open to the public to use ? I know the ones at Covent Garden are fairly well used (as people give up on the queue for the lifts) but how many others are there that one can utilise as part of their daily exercise ?

I've used the ones at russell square before now. I was fed up of the huge queues for the lift and took the stairs with my classmates (and teacher) in tow

 

[greatkingrat]

There is a spiral staircase at Euston which will soon be in regular use due to escalator repairs.

 

[user15681]

Doing Russell Square and Goodge Street quite often, it leaves a nice warm feeling in the thighs and calves. Nice exercise to start the day.

 

[Darandio]

Only basing it on memory as we used it quite a bit on a holiday a couple of years ago, but would Chalk Farm count? I know it's not strictly that 'deep', but Google tells me that as it was part of a fully underground construction, it counts as deep.

I honestly cannot remember if the stairs were there to be used only in an emergency, or as normal practice, but I'm positive we did use them.

 

[user15681]

There is a spiral staircase at Euston which will soon be in regular use due to escalator repairs.

It can be used now if you know where it is, so I'm assuming it'll be signed better and people made to use it?

 

[rebmcr]

Stairs down at Russell Square are no bother. Stairs up are something I only made the mistake of doing once.

 

[Mojo]

In addition to the lift stations, Camden Town also has a staircase for use from the ticket hall to the lower concourse area.

 

[hassaanhc]

Queensway has stairs and lifts. Last month I was there with a friend, one of the two lifts was being worked on while the other was playing up, so everyone had to use the stairs. It was something like 100-125 steps but didn't feel like that much as I was going down!

 

[spinba11]

Hasn't Hampstead go 4 lifts?

 

[Tibbs]

Mornington Crescent has 66 steps. I used to do it twice a day as part of my exercise routine!

 

[Mikey C]

All the stations with lifts have well sign-posted stairs as well, if the lift plays up you have to use the stairs, whereas escalators can always be used as a fixed staircase.

I remember walking up the Angel stairs once (before it was rebuilt), that was a fair climb!

 

[Mojo]

All the stations with lifts have well sign-posted stairs as well, if the lift plays up you have to use the stairs, whereas escalators can always be used as a fixed staircase.

Technically you can't always use escalators as a fixed staircase. For instance if there is a broken chain until the escalator has been anchored it needs to be completely barriered off.

 

[edwin_m]

Technically you can't always use escalators as a fixed staircase. For instance if there is a broken chain until the escalator has been anchored it needs to be completely barriered off.

I think that sort of failure would be unusual though - if there was no alternative route the station would have to be closed or made exit-only.
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All the stations with lifts have well sign-posted stairs as well

To be pedantic this is true of the stations where lift has always been the main mode of access, but not those where lifts have been added more recently to provide wheelchair access. Presumably if the lift is out of order wheelchair users have to go via the nearest alternative accessible station - which could be a good way away!

 

[Mikey C]

I think that sort of failure would be unusual though - if there was no alternative route the station would have to be closed or made exit-only.
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To be pedantic this is true of the stations where lift has always been the main mode of access, but not those where lifts have been added more recently to provide wheelchair access. Presumably if the lift is out of order wheelchair users have to go via the nearest alternative accessible station - which could be a good way away!

I'm scratching my head to remember the last time I saw a wheelchair user on the Underground, but that's another debate
(The number of wheelchair compatible stations is so low, and they're so scattered, that I can't imagine any wheelchair users except perhaps on the Jubilee Line extension)

 

[edwin_m]

I'm scratching my head to remember the last time I saw a wheelchair user on the Underground, but that's another debate
(The number of wheelchair compatible stations is so low, and they're so scattered, that I can't imagine any wheelchair users except perhaps on the Jubilee Line extension)

I've seen lifts out of service much more often than I've seen wheelchairs!

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I do wonder what the point is of the signs saying 'emergency use only', when it's obvious that at most places, 'emergency use only' is not enforced and it would be silly and pointless to enforce it. The stairs are not only the favoured route of many people who want some exercise, but also ease pressure on the lifts. I'd have thought signs that simply warn people how many stairs there are, so they can make their own judgement on whether they are sufficiently fit to cope, would be more accurate/appropriate.

 

[edwin_m]

I guess if lots of people started using the stairs in both directions they might get congested with risk of trips and falls. And possibly the stairs don't meet the LU standards for non-emergency stairways - I'm sure there's a document somewhere that goes into huge detail on treads, risers, spacing of landings etc.

 

[Tom B]

Holloway Road is very shallow, and anybody who knows the station will probably take the lifts. Finsbury Park is only accessible by stairs (is it unique for a deep level station?).

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I do wonder what the point is of the signs saying 'emergency use only', when it's obvious that at most places, 'emergency use only' is not enforced and it would be silly and pointless to enforce it. The stairs are not only the favoured route of many people who want some exercise, but also ease pressure on the lifts. I'd have thought signs that simply warn people how many stairs there are, so they can make their own judgement on whether they are sufficiently fit to cope, would be more accurate/appropriate.

It is probably a H & S risk assessment thing - if you reduce the risks (or more to the point the liability) then it is best to either prevent it or to make it a case of 'at your own risk of heart attack be it' absolving the firm of any blame should you peg out on step 293 on the climb up from Hampstead platforms.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

It is probably a H & S risk assessment thing - if you reduce the risks (or more to the point the liability) then it is best to either prevent it or to make it a case of 'at your own risk of heart attack be it' absolving the firm of any blame should you peg out on step 293 on the climb up from Hampstead platforms.

Yeah, I guess in a weird kind of way the current set-up works. The notices perhaps discourage enough people from using the stairs to stop them getting too crowded, and - if anything ever happens - allows TfL to argue that people shouldn't have been on the stairs anyway, while at the same time everyone benefits from the fact that some people choose to use the stairs despite the notices

 

[Mikey C]

The presence of lifts does rather confuse many tourists, as it seems that many of them assume that the reason the station has no escalators is that the distance to the surface is tiny and they're not needed!
I've seen tourists struggling up the stairs at Queensway with their luggage, I had to persuade two tourists with heavy suitcases not to follow me up the stairs this morning

 

[moogal]

Holloway Road is very shallow, and anybody who knows the station will probably take the lifts.

The opposite, surely? I used to work round the corner from there and used the station regularly - I could usually beat the lifts using the stairs.

 

[fgwrich]

Doing Russell Square and Goodge Street quite often, it leaves a nice warm feeling in the thighs and calves. Nice exercise to start the day.

I've got to admit how much of a pain Russell Square is in the morning rush hour - I'd normally give the stairs a go but rather dismissed that idea as I was on my way to a careers assessment and following job interview a week later, both times it took 10 minutes to get up to the surface with the queues to the 2working lifts (both under manual control at the moment as well) - are they working on a third at the moment?

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Have actually noticed yesterday that at Hampstead it only has 'Emergency Use Only' at the bottom of the steps for people going up - at the top it just mentions how many steps there are.