It will be the biggest order ever placed for station escalators and both transport companies hope to make big savings from economies of scale.

The cost of designing, building and maintaining a single escalator is over £1m.

About 60 escalators will be required for the Crossrail stations in central London with around 45 escalators required for London Underground’s major escalator replacement programme.

The contract is also open to the whole TfL group and could be extended further to meet the future needs of Docklands Light Railway, London Overground as well as Tube maintenance firm Tube Lines.

Andy Mitchell, Crossrail Programme Director, said: “2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the first escalator being installed on the Tube network at Earl’s Court.

“During the coming years, Crossrail and London Underground could need over 100 new escalators and this contract is likely to be the UK’s largest single order for station escalators.

A joint procurement process is being undertaken by Crossrail and TfL with the aim of achieving significant cost savings that would not otherwise be realised if separate smaller orders were placed.”

Under this contract, installation of new escalators for the Tube network is due to begin in late 2013 with work underway from 2015 at the Crossrail stations.

The invitation to tender will be issued later this year. The closing date for expressions of interest is 13 July 2011.