Three central Rome metro stations now closed.

Rome's municipal public transport company ATAC has closed the central Spagna metro station to allow for urgent checks on the station's escalator system.

Spagna now joins Repubblica and Barberini metro stations, both of which were shut down due to malfunctioning escalators.

The decision to shut Spagna was taken because its escalators are of the same type as Barberini station whose escalator system collapsed on 21 March.

There were no injuries at Barberini unlike the 23 October incident at Repubblica when dozens of people were hurt in a major accident after the escalator accelerated suddenly.

The closure of Spagna means that commuters travelling from Termini must pass through three closed metro stations before being able to get out at Flaminio.

Photo: Barberini station by La Repubblica