【明報專訊】On 18 April this year, a six-month ''standing-only'' escalator trial began at Holborn (霍爾本), a busy London Underground station. Passengers are asked not to walk up two escalators there after a previous experiment found it improved passenger flow.

The trial is aimed at reducing congestion at the station. A similar trial was carried out in November last year. It showed 16,220 people could travel on Holborn's 23.4-metre-high escalators during rush hour, compared to 12,745 in normal circumstances.

It is a tube convention for passengers to stand on the right on escalators to allow others to walk on the left. In fact, Transport for London (倫敦交通局) has found that the left-hand side of an escalator more than 18.5 metres high is very much unused.

(source: Ming Pao, BBC, Transport for London)

“ Dr Panda: Eason! It's very dangerous to jump on an escalator! You should stand still and hold the handrail! ”

■Photo story

Holborn station's escalators are 23.4 metres tall. Much of the space on the left-hand side of them is normally unused.

■Quiz

Choose the correct answers.

(answers on next text)

1. When is the six-month trial to end?

a. on 18 April 2016

b. on 18 October 2016

c. on 18 November 2016

2. What are passengers asked to do in the trial period?

a. to walk faster on escalators

b. to stand still on escalators

c. to avoid using escalators

3. Which of the following words can replace "tube" in paragraph three?

a. London Underground

b. Holborn bus station

c. Transport for London

4. It is a tube convention for a passenger using escalators to do what?

a. to stand still all the time

b. to stand on the left or walk on the right

c. to stand on the right or walk on the left

■Words

escalator 電梯

London Underground 倫敦地下鐵

rush hour 交通高峰時間

■Glossary

trial (n) 試驗

passenger (n) 乘客

congestion (n) 擁擠

convention (n) 傳統