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Tube commuters will be told to stand on both sides of the escalator at a busy central London station for six months - in a new trial which could pave the way for a permanent change.

Passengers are again being asked to ignore the decades-old "walk on the left" rule at Holborn in a bid to cut queues and ease congestion.

A three-week test run at the station late last year showed 30 per cent more passengers could travel on the escalator if they stood on both sides, Transport for London said.

From April 18, one of four escalators at the station will remain “standing only” at all times for six months, while another will follow the new protocol at just some times of the day.

Extra staff armed with megaphones will be brought in to ask customers to stand on both sides during the experiment.

Peter McNaught, London Underground operations director, said: “It may not seem right that you can go quicker by standing still, but our experiments at Holborn have proved that it can be true.

“This new pilot will help us find out if we can influence customers to stand on both sides in the long term, using just signage and information.

“Anyone who wants to walk on the other escalators will be free to do so, but we hope that with record numbers using the Tube, customers will enjoy being part of this experiment to find the most efficient ways of getting around.”

Commuter Phil Walder, from Battersea, regularly uses Holborn station.

The 58-year-old company director said: “I understand the mathematical model of making everyone stand works to get people through quicker than the current set up, because it avoids queues at the top and bottom of the escalators.

“But, if everyone was encouraged to walk, and no-one stood, then they would get through even quicker

“In a society that is suffering increasing obesity, it seems ridiculous to stop people getting exercise by walking up the escalators.”

TfL has been working with the behavioural science department at the London School of Economics to develop a variety of messages to encourage commuters to follow the new rules.

Methods developed include a talking projection of a staff member, electronic versions of the triangular “stand on the right” signs, and footprints and handprints on the escalators.

Customers who want to walk will still have at least one other escalator to use, TfL said.