Passengers say the two escalators have been out of order on more than 20 occasions in the past 12 months alone and are becoming frustrated at the recurring inconvenience.

Patrick Taylor from Duston said: "This is the second time in a couple of months one or the other escalator has been broken but it has been worse than that.

"It must have happened literally 20 times in the last year.

"When people come here from other towns in the county it's enough to make them turn around and go to Wellingborough or somewhere else."

The engineering problem this time is with the chainwork under the steps but Northampton Borough Council, which is responsible for maintenance, said the works have been needed for differing reasons over the past year.

It accepted that the claim of 20 breakdowns in the past 12 months could be correct but could not provide a more accurate figure.

A spokeswoman for Northampton Borough Council said: "Essential maintenance work is being carried out on both escalators during the next two weeks.

"The contractors will try to keep one escalator running where possible provided it is safe for them to do so while carrying out their work.

"The lifts are also available for people to use. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

But Northampton's bus user's group is less than happy with the escalating problems.

Member Patrick Rawlinson said: "The alternative every time this happens is the stairs which go up through 180 degrees at each level so there are lots of twists and turns and the doors have heavy hinges.

"The problem is that the escalators are so old the contractors probably have a job getting spare parts.

"I doubt we will see them replaced to solve the problem because no one has decided whether the whole station is being demolished or not."