Businesses and commuters have bemoaned the impact of a platform closure at Barons Court tube station, 40 days on from when services were reduced.
The eastbound platform at the Grade-II-listed station, which serves both the Piccadilly and District lines, closed on 19 January for extensive roof repairs and will not reopen until early June.
This has led to a considerable decrease in footfall at the station, with a 57% drop during that period year on year, according to data from TfL.
The reduced demand has significantly impacted local businesses, including Metro Cafe which has experienced a 20% drop in sales.
Employee Jan Wojton shared that many historically loyal customers commuting to Charing Cross Hospital now choose alternative routes.
He said: “We’ve been here for 30 years, we only have regular customers, now we don’t get them.
“People told us, ‘See you in six months’.”
A member of staff at another nearby business claimed it had seen a 30% decrease in weekday sales.
“We used to have a queue out the door,” they said.
Commuters have also been affected, with many reporting increased travel times.
Pete, a 29 year-old salesman, said he has to walk an extra half an hour back to Barons Court from Hammersmith during his commute home from Park Royal.
Florence Selwood, 26, said her morning journey to her film job in Holborn now takes an additional 10-15 minutes as she has to travel westbound on the Piccadilly Line to change for eastbound services at Hammersmith.
“It’s frustrating but if they’re fixing the station and it’s going to be better in the long run then maybe it’s ok,” she said.
Richard Jones, TfL’s Director of Asset Performance Delivery, apologised to customers for any disruption caused by the closure.
Jones said: “It is the safest and quickest way to remove and replace the platform roof, which includes around 800 panes of glass.”
Once works on the eastbound side are complete, TfL will shut the westbound platform for repairs from mid-July until the end of the year.
Customers are advised to check TfL’s travel advice for the platform closure period and to check before they travel using TfL Journey Planner or TfL Go.
Featured image credit: Alice Bathurst
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