There were scenes of confusion and mass mutiny at Holborn tube station today, as two members of TfL staff wielding loudspeakers requested that commuters stand on the right AND ON THE LEFT of escalators.
The move — which flouts well-worn commuter convention — is part of a three-week experiment at the central London tube station, to work out whether, if people stand still on the moving staircases at peak times, they actually get out of the station quicker.
Teaching a commuter new tricks, however, is not easy, and reports from Twitter suggest not all is going according to plan:
Valiant staffer at Holborn tube trying to get people to stand on both sides of one escalator to ease congestion. Commuters look mortified.
— Kora-Lee Holmes (@KoraLee_Holmes) November 25, 2015
We wish TfL good luck over the next 20 or so days.
