Kentish Town Tube station has reopened after a longer than expected shutdown to allow its escalators to be replaced. The station, on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line, had been closed since June 2023. It reopened early on Monday morning – a date first revealed by The Standard two weeks ago.
Despite the reopening, its new ticket machines will not be ready until the New Year, meaning passengers will be unable to top up their Oyster card or buy a paper ticket at the station. It will also be several weeks before direct access to Thameslink train services is restored. Thameslink passengers will have to continue to use the out-of-hours entrance 20 metres along Kentish Town Road for the time being.
“It’s a big day for NW5! Kentish Town station is open. It’s been shut for 18 months,” tweeted Sarah Morris of @BBCRadioLondon, sharing insights about the new escalators and ticket machines.
Like the rest of the London Underground, the station will close on Tuesday night and will not reopen until Boxing Day, as there will be no Tube services on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, another boost for Northern line passengers arrived recently as Colindale station reopened on December 20 after being closed for six months due to upgrades. Full completion of the Colindale work is expected by autumn 2025.
The work at Kentish Town overran due to the greater extent of disrepair than initially estimated. Initially, the station was expected to open in June 2024 but was postponed twice, with the latest opening pushed back to late December 2024. This included significant renovations to the ticket hall’s floor and ceiling as well.
The two escalators at Kentish Town, which were 26 years old, were regarded as the least reliable on the entire London Underground. TfL struggled to find replacement parts when they broke down, confirming the urgent need for replacement. Much of the structural elements required repair, with some components described as “beyond repair” according to TfL documentation.
Richard Jones, TfL’s director of asset performance delivery, stated, “I’d like to thank our customers for their patience... the work took longer than originally planned due to additional challenges,” acknowledging the transition period for passengers has been challenging.
The new escalators are expected to last 40 years and will conservatively run slower when not needed, contributing to energy savings. Enhanced features include more ticket gates—seven, to be precise—in the ticket hall, as well as aligned barriers for improved passenger flow.
Historic features, such as the original clocks on the platforms and outside the station, have also been preserved, adding to the station's character.
Criticism during the prolonged closure emerged from local businesses impacted by the loss of foot traffic, stressing the importance of steady access for commuters and customers. Some businesses noted the downturn during the closure but look forward to increased patronage with the station's reopening.
While passengers can now access the station, transferring between Thameslink and the Tube remains out of reach until December 30 due to still-ongoing engineering works. This extension was initially unanticipated, leaving some travelers frustrated yet hopeful for the full return of seamless service.
Jones emphasized the vision behind these upgrades, saying, “The new escalators will greatly improve journeys through the station and are expected to be in service for the next 40 years,” pointing to future reductions of unplanned station closures and their operational reliability.
Overall, Kentish Town Tube station's reopening brings mixed emotions: relief for frequent travelers, yet cautious anticipation for full service restoration. Soon, passengers using the station will experience improved convenience and reliability, marking the end of its time as the "London Underground station forgotten by time.”
