Central Line station Holland Park will be closed for up to EIGHT months to replace 30-year-old lifts.

The Kensington and Chelsea borough station will close from Saturday January 2 until August 2016.

London Underground (LU) say the 'vital' work to replace the station's two lifts will be carried out alongside other work to modernise the station.

The current lifts are nearly 30 years old and need to be replaced to ensure they work reliably – the existing lifts fail regularly causing travel disruption to customers.

The nature of the work means that while this essential upgrade is carried out the station will be closed. It will re-open again in August 2016.

LU explored in detail the option of replacing the lifts one at a time and keeping the station open but concluded it was neither the safest nor least disruptive option for customers.

If only one ageing lift was in operation, the larger volume of customers using it would put it under greater stress, increasing the likelihood of it failing and customers and staff becoming trapped.

This would in turn lead to a significant increase in unplanned station closures. Additionally, the total time to complete the work on both lifts would increase from 30 to 64 weeks if the lifts were replaced one at a time while keeping the station open.

David Waboso, London Underground’s Capital Programmes Director, said: "We’re sorry for the disruption that this essential lift replacement work will cause our customers but, when the works are complete, everyone will benefit from new, more reliable lifts.

“We will also be carrying out other improvement work within the station while it’s closed, making it brighter, more spacious and easier to use.”

Customer safety is number one priority

The adjacent spiral stairs cannot be used as the sole means of access between the ticket hall and platforms as there are 110 steps, the equivalent of a five storey building, and they are too narrow for a two-way flow of customers.

Mr Waboso said: “Customer safety is our number one priority and, in order to replace the lifts in the safest way and with the least amount of disruption, we need to close the station.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and we will work hard to complete this vital modernisation as quickly as possible, keeping customers and local businesses informed as the work progresses.”

While Holland Park Tube station is closed, LU will take the opportunity to carry out other modernisation work within the station including:

  • Improving the ticket hall by making better use of existing space, giving a brighter, more spacious feel
  • Increasing security by providing Passenger Help Points on both platforms and increasing CCTV coverage in key areas of the station
  • Installing energy-efficient lighting
  • Improving accessibility by installing features such as dual-level handrails, hearing induction loops and tactile surfacing
  • Upgrading the finishes on the platforms and passageways

From Holland Park Tube station, Notting Hill Gate Tube station is a seven-minute walk or nine-minute bus journey served by London bus routes 31, 94 and 148.

Shepherd’s Bush Tube station is a 13-minute walk or 10-minute bus journey served by London bus routes 31, 94, 148 and 228.

Customers paying a bus fare to access these stations will receive an automated refund added to their Oyster or contactless payment card.