The Public Transport Authority has revealed lawyers are involved in a dispute over a $7.1 million train station escalator replacement program that has resulted in escalators breaking down for months at a time.

An escalator at Whitfords station has been broken for three months despite only recently being replaced as part of three-year lift and escalator replacement program on the Joondalup line and Perth station that finished in November 2016.

The issue has impacted several escalators. Credit:Erin Jonasson

In 2017 the PTA awarded a $116,000 tender to repair an escalator at Warwick Station.

According to Tenders WA both the original replacement program tender and the Warwick Station tender were awarded to global escalator and lift giant Kone.