ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Holland Park Tube station will close for eight months in the New Year to replace ageing lifts installed three decades ago.

On Wednesday, Transport for London announced the Central line station would shut on January 2 to allow repair work to be carried out.

An unscheduled date in August has been set for the station to reopen.

According to London Underground figures, more than 10,000 journeys are made through the station every day.

TfL apologised to commuters facing disruption, saying it investigated keeping the station open by upgrading the lifts one at a time.

But that was ruled neither the “safest” nor “least disruptive” option.

It was estimated maintenance work would take more than a year, from 30 weeks to 64, if the lifts were replaced one by one.

TfL said the stairs next to the lift could not be the only access in and out of the station because they are too narrow for passengers to pass one another walking up and down.

In total, there are 110 steps, the equivalent of climbing up or down a five-storey building.

The transport authority said the lengthy closure was an opportunity to spruce up other areas of the station with improved security and ticket hall among the planned works.

David Waboso, the Tube'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 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.”

Passengers who use Holland Park have been advised to use alternatives such as Notting Hill station, a seven-minute walk or nine-minute bus journey or Shepherd’s Bush, a 13-minute walk or 10-minute bus ride.