How long does it take to fix a failed escalator? For the management of Southern Cross Station this has become a chance to set a new world record, after the escalator linking the Bourke Street Bridge to Spencer Street broke down back in early November.

November 5.

November 10.

November 24.

December 29.

January 9.

January 29.

How many more months until this escalator finally gets repaired?

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Southern Cross Station has a long history of failure – back in 2012 there was a plague of failing floor tiles, with escalators joining the club soon after.

In 2012 I first noticed hefty timber barriers being used to prevent passengers from trying to use failed escalators.

Despite their size, the barriers could be disassembled into smaller components, ready to be moved to the next failed escalator.

By 2015 the barriers had been so frequently used they needed a repaint and some new signage.

But that wasn’t enough, so by 2017 the signs were replaced a second time.

Which was a good thing, given the signs were getting more of a workout.

Popping up around the station on an increasingly frequent basis.

And why are they breaking anyway?

North Melbourne Station also has a reputation for failing escalators – my theory being that undersized units were originally installed, leading to premature failure. Given that the rest of Southern Cross Station is almost at design capacity, could this be the same case here?

Footnote

Turns out I photographed the very same escalator under repair back in June 2016.

Unfortunately I can’t remember how long it took to get fixed last time.

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