The escalator at Bury’s Metrolink station has been out of service for more than 400 days in the last three years, data from a Freedom of Information Act request has revealed.

According to the data, the current outage has lasted more than 280 days, since 11.22am on October 3, 2023.

Since then, the escalator has continued to be out of order – despite being reported to maintenance contractors WeMaintain the same morning.

Now, Transport for Greater Manchester says the escalator will be fixed by "the middle of August".

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According to Metrolink bosses, the escalator, which is around 50 years old, was said to have suffered "extensive damage" caused by flooding – meaning repair work is taking longer than usual.

In June 2023, the escalator was shut off for nearly five days after the on-site cleaner noticed "a large amount of water from the heavy rain leaking through the roof was pouring into the escalator" – just months before the ongoing outage began.

Maintenance logs show several visits to the escalator have since taken place – including on Christmas Day – but, for now, the escalator remains out of order – with travellers forced to take the stairs or lift.

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It’s the longest period of outage for the escalator since 2020, with work orders being fixed within just over 10 days on average, according to maintenance records.

Other outages recorded in the maintenance logs include a week-long outage in May 2023 after an "elderly woman" fell from the escalator while the lift was also out of service, prompting health and safety checks.

In February 2022, the escalator was down for just over five days after staff reported "a loud banging and grinding noise".

Pete Sommers, TfGM’s Metrolink director, said: “We are sorry for the unacceptable amount of time the escalator has been out of service at Bury.

“The most recent problem is due to extensive damage caused by flooding, which has meant repairs to the escalator, which is around 50 years old, have been complex.

 “Our teams, together with the Metrolink operator and maintainer KAM, have been working hard to bring it back into service and can confirm that the repairs will be completed by the middle of August.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.