Stations Reborn As Shopping Destinations
This was a sub-headline in The Times yesterday describing the new policy of Network Rail in transforming stations. Head of Retail at the company is quoted as saying that they want to move away from the likes of McDonalds and Burger King. As a coeliac, I say good riddance to both of them. At the two stations fully redeveloped in London, they’ve got a Leon at Kings Cross and a champagne bar and Carluccio’s in St. Pancras. Both stations have proper pubs too. Next for the treatment in London is Waterloo, with Euston and Birmingham to follow. Both of the latter are terrible.
The Head of Retail also talked about removing the stranglehold of W H Smith, a shop of last resort if ever there was one. A French company, Relay, has been invited to open in Cannon Street.
Stations can’t be improved fast enough, as far as I’m concerned.
What Do You Think Of It Boys?
The picture shows three High Speed Diesel Trains this morning in platforms seven, six and five at Kings Cross station this morning. Note that platform seven is to left.
Three High Speed Diesel Trains at Kings Cross
For those of you, who know Kings Cross station, they started running to the station at the end of the 1970s, which is just about the time, that the disgusting dark green extension was erected.
The irony is that they’ll actually outlive the extension, by several years.
So good old British Rail did get some things right. But not stations! Where should Network Rail’s refurbishment experts strike next in London? After all, they’ve now done or have nearly finished St. Pancras, Stratford, Clapham Junction, Blackfriars, Kings Cross and Paddington. I think London Bridge and Waterloo are being planned. But what about the others!
Vote now and vote often.
The Intro And The Outtro
Network Rail showed how to open a station today. There were lots of signs and the old entrances had ushers so you would know the correct way to go.
Pratt of the Week? - Not Really!
I suggested to this guy, that he might be the “Pratt of the Week”. He took it well and it certainly is a light-hearted way to herd people in the right direction.
On exiting the station though, I was greeted by lines of smokers.
Pratts of this and every other Year!
How do we stop these “Pratts of this and every other Year” causing litter and blocking the way for those who are less than mobile?
The New Kings Cross Opens A Day Early
I hadn’t intended to go into the new part of Kings Cross station until it opened on the 19th. But I found it was open on Sunday the 18th.
It is impressive and even has a restaurant that does gluten-free fast-food; Leon
I have added some more pictures taken on the Monday. I’ll probably add a few more as time goes on.
There is a very good article on the design here in the Evening Standard.
Where’s All The Dirt Gone?
In my earliest memories of Kings Cross, this picture would have shown a dirty roof, with steam and smoke everywhere, as Gresley A4 and A3 4-6-2 “Pacifics” were getting ready to steam north.
We may think that was a long time ago and it is probably nearly 60 years ago. But there is a link to this picture I took today.
Where's All The Dirt Gone?
In the picture there are two of the InterCity 225 trains, which look like they’ve just had a good wash too!
But they could easily have been two iconic InterCity 125 trains of the 1970s!
Sir Nigel would have been proud as the 125’s were designed by a team led by one of his apprentices; Terry Miller.
I will not guarantee, that if I’m still here to take this picture in ten years time, that none of the platforms will contain an InterCity 125. These wonderful trains, where I’ve proven that you can sit on the floor and still be comfortable, will outlive most of us. And certainly me!
I notice in the picture, that they haven’t put the clock back up yet!
The New Kings Cross Station Opens on the 19th
On of the largest building projects in London hits a big milestone on Monday, the 19th with the opening of the new reception area at Kings Cross station. Before that though drinkers will get a new pub called the Parcel Yard, next Wednesday.
They do seem to be going to hit their target. In one of the pictures, you might just see the working destination board.
The Orange Train for the Dutch at the London Olympics
London’s new Overground system is four lines, with a fifth to be added in October, later this year.
The Dutch will feel at home on these trains, as the colour scheme of the trains and stations is predominately orange and the line is shown in orange on the tube map.
The major line, the North London line, also travels across North London from the Olympic site at Stratford and connects to buses and trains to get to the Heineken House at Alexandra Palace. If you go further west you get to Hampstead Heath and Kew Gardens, two of the best places in London to get over a hangover.
I suspect that getting to Alexandra Palace during the Olympics may be difficult, as the two train routes from Kings Cross St. Pancras station, where the Olympic Javelin Shuttles arrive, the suburban rail to Alexandra Palace station and the Piccadilly line to Wood Green station, are crowded most of the time, even without the Games. If you can get to Alexandra Palace station, it’s a much shorter walk up the hill to the Palace.
So a better alternative might be to take the North London line from Stratford to Highbury and Islington and then take the suburban rail from there to Alexandra Palace station. It will certainly avoid the inevitable crush and wait at Kings Cross.
The Memorial to the Kings Cross Fire
This clock is a memorial to those who died in the Kings Cross fire on November 18th, 1987.
The Memorial to those who died in the Kings Cross Fire
The brass plate above the clock has the words.
This clock has been given in memory of those who lost their lives in the fire at Kings Cross station on 18th November 1987 from all the Underground staff at sub-surface and tube stations.
The fire was one of the worst tragedies on the Underground in peacetime.
The New Kings Cross Starts to Appear
I took these pictures today and they show how the new Kings Cross station is starting to appear.
There is more about what is going on here.
The Labyrinth That Is Kings Cross
Kings Cross St.Pancras is not a very passenger friendly tube station.
They have put in two new Underground ticket halls in the past few years; one in front of St. Pancras station and one between Kings Cross and St. Pancras stations.
Sometimes I arrive at Kings Cross on say the Northern or Victoria lines and want to get out on Euston Road. Often I fail and end up at the back of the station, when I want the front. So I have a long walk along crowded corridors to get to where I originally wanted. Sometimes, I have to brave the waiting area at the front of the station, which is a pedestrian’s nightmare.
Waiting at Kings Cross
This picture was taken today, but it shows how people and masses of baggage seem to turn up an hour or so before their train leaves and just block the space. Hopefully, when they finish the station, people will wait in a better place. Also, as I said here, I do wish they’d give you a series of alerts about your train, so you could wait say in Starbucks with a coffee in comfort. After all if Transport for London can do it for buses with a simple text, Network Rail can do it for individual trains, especially, if you ask for it when you buy the ticket on-line.
The Anonymous Widower 