A common occurance at Box Hill station lately
Seems to be that Connex have taken to routinely closing the upward/exit escalator during off-peak times at Box Hill. Yet they open it up and have it running for peak-hour.
So what could the reason be? To save electricity? Or is it about to fall apart so they’re only running it in peak hour to get the maximum life out of it? Then why do they need to barricade it off?
So then what’s wrong with taking the stairs, isn’t the exercise supposed to be good for you? I’d have no problem taking the stairs if there wasn’t 50 other people being forced to take them at the same time. That and I get enough exercise walking to the station, that taking the stairs or the escalator (which I walk up anyway) is hardly going to make a difference. Not to mention that this is just one more thing to frustrate commuters, causing them to reconsider the prospects of driving a car instead. When you already have to put up with inferior off-peak frequencies ranging from 15 to 40 minutes, you don’t need this little extra annoyance.
No doubt the problem is that the escalator is so old that is is in need of replacement, though they should never have let it get beyond disrepair. It’s likely that they won’t do anything now, until the shopping centre is redeveloped and they finally overhaul the ‘transit interchange’ (railway station and bus terminal). Who knows when that will be….