The Anonymous Widower

Approaching Kings Cross – 6th January 2021

I took these pictures approaching Kings Cross.

Note.

1. There is still track to be laid.
2. The electrification is still to be erected.

But everything seems to be getting there.

This Google Map shows the section between the two tunnels.

• Copenhagen Tunnel is North of this map.
• Gasworks Tunnel lies between this map and Kings Cross station.

Both tunnels have three double-track bores, where in this massive project, the Eastern bores are being brought back into use to add capacity to Kings Cross station.

Note.

1. The East Coast Main Line runs North-South across the map.
2. The quadruple track crossing East-West at the top of the map is the North London Line.
3. Below it, is the Channel Tunnel Rail Link into |St. Pancras.
4. The link to the Canal Tunnels take Thameslink trains to the deep level platforms in St. Pancras.
5. The two new tracks will be on the Eastern side of the East Coast Main Line.

This second Google Map shows the track and platform layout at Kings Cross station.

Note.

1. There are twelve platforms, which are numbered from 0 to 11, with Platform 0 in the East.
2. The various islands are numbered as follows from East to West; 0/1, 2/3, 4/5, 6/7, 8/9 and 10/11.
3. The six tracks through the tunnels may be bi-directional, so will each track be linked to a pair of platforms?
4. Platforms 0 to 4 are in the Eastern half of the station
5. Platforms 5 to 0 are in the Western half of the station
6. Platforms 9, 10 and 11 are short platforms  in the old suburban station, which is mainly used by suburban services to Cambridge and Kings Lynn.

When I arrived there was a five-car Azuma in Platform 9, as these pictures show.

I’ve seen Grand Central’s Class 180 trains in these short platforms before, so is this going to be a regular occurrence.

Services Into Kings Cross

When the remodelling at Kings Cross is complete, current plans say the following trains will be running into Kings Cross station.

• LNER – Two tph – Edinburgh – Long train
• LNER – Two tph – Leeds – Long train
• LNER – One tph – Lincoln or York – Long or short train
• Great Northern – Two tph – Cambridge (stopping) – Short train
• Great Northern – Two tph – Cambridge (fast) – Short train
• Hull trains – Seven tpd – Hull and Beverley – Short train
• East Coast Trains – Five tpd – Edinburgh – Short train
• Grand Central – Four tpd – Bradford Interchange – Long or short train
• Grand Central – Five tpd – Sunderland – Long or short train

Note,

1. tph is trains per hour and tpd is trains per day.
2. There is a mixture of short and long trains.
3. Short trains can fit all platforms, but long trains can only use platforms 0-8.
4. There are nine tph and a total of 21 tpd in various less-frequent services.

My scheduling experience in other fields, says that ten platforms will be needed for a full service, with each of the ten platforms handling just one tph.

Conclusion

Wjen all the work is completed, Kings Cross station will have room for a few extra trains.

 

 

January 12, 2021 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Azuma Train, Class 700 Train, Class 802 Train, Grand Central Trains, Hull Trains, Kings Cross Remodelling, Kings Cross Station, LNER, Northern City Line