New era for King's Cross station as futuristic £500million concourse is unveiled



A spectacular new western concourse will be launched today at a London railway station first built in 1852 - after an eight-year £500million restoration project.

Described by rail bosses as 'the biggest transformation in the 160-year history of King's Cross station', the restoration of the Grade 1 listed building is part of a further £2.2billion redevelopment of the once shabby King's Cross area of north London.

A vast steel and glass lattice-work roof forms the centrepiece of the rail network's 'gateway to the North' , which will provide three times the space of the current station concourse.

The site is set to open to the public on Monday.

21st century twist: A super-strong domed roof, constructed from 1,200 tonnes of steel, lets natural light in

The station currently serves 45 million people a year, but that number is set to rise by 10million within the decade.

Speeches will be made by transport secretary Justine Greening, mayor of London Boris Johnson and the chief executive of Network Rail David Higgins.

Network Rail programme director for the new station Ian Fry says: 'We are about to usher in a new era for King's Cross and everything is on track and looking good.'

The lattice-work roof is officially Europe's largest single-span station structure, according to the architects John McAslan and Partners.

Covering the vast Western Concourse, and spanning the full 150m length of that part of the station, it is supported by a 20m-high tapered central 'funnel' and 16 further smaller columns around the station - which allow it to cover a remarkable 8,424 square metres. This is enough room to cover three Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The super-strong domed roof is constructed from 1,200 tonnes of steel, with the castings at the top of each supporting column each weighing 1.5 tonnes.

Transforming the station - which was designed by Lewis Cubitt and built while Queen Victoria was still in the early years of her reign - has also been the catalyst for one of the largest regeneration schemes London has witnessed.

The overhaul of King's Cross has seen 67 acres of brown-field land redeveloped to create 8 million square feet of offices, shops and new homes, as well as an art college.

Gateway to the North: The new concourse at King's Cross, which has undergone a significant revamp

Transformation: There will be shops spread over two floors inside the new station

A lower funnel stretches to the roof. The castings at the top of each supporting column weigh 1.5 tonnes each

The station links services from Edinburgh and the east Coast to six different Underground lines and the Thameslink service to Brighton - as well as to both domestic and international services from neighbouring St Pancras.

For regular users of the station, the good news is that the existing decrepit green canopy area, which currently forms the front of the station by the taxi rank – built in 1972 and planned as only a temporary structure - is finally to be removed to reveal the original 1852 façade in all its glory.



The bad news is that demolition work on this part of the station (which is to become the exit) will not begin until September, after this summer's Paralympics - and is not due for completion until next year.

The £500million restoration of the 160-year old Grade 1 listed building is part of a £2.2billion redevelopment

A Network Rail spokesman says: 'The shell-shaped glass and steel building provides three times the space of the current station concourse, with better facilities, new links with the Tube, better links to St Pancras station, more shops and restaurants, larger destination boards and clearer station announcements.'

He adds: 'From next Monday, passengers leaving on trains from King's Cross will need to enter the station from the stunning new building on the western side of the Grade 1 listed station.

'There are entrances to the concourse direct from the Tube and for pedestrians from Euston Road, Pancras Road and via new arcades on the ground floor of the Great Northern Hotel.

'Inside, the large uninterrupted main congregational space will allow passengers to circulate freely, placing them at the heart of the new station with easy level access to all platforms.'

The station already serves 45 million people a year, but that is set to rise by 10 million within the decade

About 15 per cent of the roof cladding is glazed to ensure plenty of natural light while passengers wait – hopefully not too long – for their trains.

Shops - 24 in total - are spread over two floors, including restaurants and eateries.

But the official adds: 'The crowning glory of the western Range works will be the rehabilitation and reopening of the station's 1852 'pay office' or booking hall – a magnificent double height, five-bay space, which closed after the existing concourse opened in 1973.'

And Mr Fry adds : 'I'm sure that regular users of the current station will be very pleased with the new concourse when it opens, but I'd encourage everyone to pick up one of the station maps we're giving out this week and take a moment to consider their best route through their new station.'

A Network Rail spokesman continues: 'Passengers will need to understand how the layout of the new station works, as the existing 1970s building on Euston Road that currently serves both arriving and departing passengers will cater only for arrivals until its demolition begins after the London Paralympic Games. The area will be transformed into a new public open space by September 2013.'

This week Network Rail and the train operating companies serving King's Cross are distributing 'wayfinding maps' to station users to help travellers understand the imminent changes to the station, with further advice online.