Ha-ha! I think it’s more that a wise man is capable of both adopting that which is new and retaining that which has been passed down to us: “prove everything; hold fast that which is good” as the motto for my former borough council would put it.
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Plans for the existing Euston station post HS2?
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Ha-ha! I think it’s more that a wise man is capable of both adopting that which is new and retaining that which has been passed down to us: “prove everything; hold fast that which is good” as the motto for my former borough council would put it.
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Dark, chunky, imposing. Brutal. Which one am I talking about? Both of them. But at least the 60's concrete box is one of the classic examples of that style, unlike the arch and it's style, where pretty much every bit of neoclassical architecture from that era in London that survives (and there's a lot) is significantly better than the arch was.
People's love of the Euston Arch is:
1) it not being there and absence making the heart grow fonder
2) it being railway history - the main reason why its demolition was opposed in the 60s.
If some wealthy individual wanting to preserve it bought it 60 years ago, took it apart and rebuilt it somewhere away from Euston, it wouldn't be missed at Euston, and people wouldn't be overly fussed to visit it.
Not at all. Rather than being the ugliest example of it's type, St. Pancras is pretty much the prettiest example of both the Gothic Revival architecture and a train shed in London (you can perhaps debate the Palace of Westminster and Brunel's shed being better than the Midland Hotel and Barlow's shed).
Agreed!
The Great Hall and ticket office at London Euston are excellent in my opinion and removing them would be vandalism in itself.
You can do whatever you want with the platform area, however!
As an aside, I notice that people only ever mention the Euston Arch, which could only have remained in its original position if the station wasn't enlarged. Nobody ever mentions the rest of the station - which is the bit that passengers actually used.
Journeyman
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Agreed!
The Great Hall and ticket office at London Euston are excellent in my opinion and removing them would be vandalism in itself.
You can do whatever you want with the platform area, however!
Yeah, the platforms are grim and seriously need some natural light. I took a train from Grand Central in New York a few years ago, and found it even worse - wonderful spacious concourse, platforms a dank depressing hole.
Mikey C
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A few US stations are like that, Penn is completely enclosed and dreary while while Union station Chicago has a glorious Waiting Hall upstairs but dark and depressing platforms down below
Far worse than Euston's platforms!
And looking at prints and pictures on wikipedia, far nicer than that arch that seems to be taboo not to praise to the rafters.
Seems to be the default across America to have wonderful station buildings, and then drab platforms. Union Station LA's platforms are a level higher than the surface, but (while alright) are pretty plain and utilitarian - but the station building next to it is a fantastic Art Deco building that's so nice they do expensive weddings and other, similar, parties in some of the now superfluous halls.
strawbrick
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Several yera ago there was a major development proposal for Euston station with seperate levels for arriving and departing passengers. Departing passengers were to enter at a higher level and were then held until the arriving passengers had cleared the platform and the train had been prepared ready for departure, much like the arrangements for Eurostar at Waterloo, thus giving a much quicker turn-around.
The full width of the station between Eversholt Street & Melton Street was to be covered by a slab on top of which there were to be flats, offices, shops & open spaces.
All was ditched when HS2 came along!
The full width of the station between Eversholt Street & Melton Street was to be covered by a slab on top of which there were to be flats, offices, shops & open spaces.
All was ditched when HS2 came along!
Philly is the same too. Seen as the best after GCT, and horrible down below.
I actually think the current Euston works fine. Yes there isn't any seating, but there is the mezzanine now and a ton of other outlets. With VHF, the waits became less and jumping on a train to Manchester became almost commuter-like in function. Not the twice a year type fuss of yesteryear's holiday maker.
The irony of the frequency and less need for seating is the ruthless taunting of last minute platform announcements, especially on the Manchester trains!
Bletchleyite
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Indeed. The main issue with Euston is the way they choose to operate it, about which there have been many threads passim. I find the actual station pleasant enough other than the bogs, which due to inadequate ventilation utterly stink.
The Planner
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No, that wasn't the fault of HS2, it was going to be done as part of the overall scheme.
I’ve been reading about it this morning, so the answer to the original question is currently there are no plans.
There are 3 phases 1, 2a and 2b.
2b is redevelopment of the current station itself.
Phase 2b has been taken away from HS2 after an independent review and is now in the hands of NR and DfT and is currently ‘under review’
Something will happen though as phase 2a eats into I would say about a third of the current station and takes platforms away.
Phase 1 is already underway.
Current work will not impact it, it’s pencilled in for Eversholt Street
There are 3 phases 1, 2a and 2b.
2b is redevelopment of the current station itself.
Phase 2b has been taken away from HS2 after an independent review and is now in the hands of NR and DfT and is currently ‘under review’
Something will happen though as phase 2a eats into I would say about a third of the current station and takes platforms away.
Phase 1 is already underway.
There is.
Current work will not impact it, it’s pencilled in for Eversholt Street
edwin_m
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Phase 2a of HS2 as a whole just extends it from near Lichfield to Crewe and doesn't affect the services out of Euston. It is now intended to complete 2a at the same time as phase 1, although this depends on getting the 2a Hybrid Bill through on time (the construction itself is easier so there is scope for it to catch up with 1). So I'm not sure why there should be any extra work at Euston for 2a.
Got mixed up.
phase 1 should be stage 1, 2a stage b1, 2b stage b2, stages being the building process at Euston
Dr_Paul
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The bus station at Euston is far too small for the number of buses that use it and terminate there, and is incredibly awkward for bus drivers with its tight corners and huge columns. To make it a suitable size, one would have to extend the bus station into the two green patches between it and the main road, and completely remodel it.
edwin_m
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They've scaled back the Oxford Street routes in preparation for CR1, but didn't reinstate them when it was delayed. I don't see CR2 going ahead for some time, so HS2 will probably be there first, so if anything that means more buses rather than fewer.
LOL The Irony
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Opening one before the other is a bit putting the cart before the horse. At least CR1 is at OOC.
ScottGallagher
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The most consistent thing of my 30 odd years of using Euston is that cut through between the bus station and the main station that has had a constant smell of and puddles of pee to dodge - it never changes.
The whole place doesn't know what it wants to be. The bus station should be brought into the park in front and the concourse extended forwards near to where the bus station is now or as far as possible. Is there some sort of ventilation that sits to the side of Nandos that prevents that?
Inside there have been many changes over the years, somebody mentioned tie rack as i think you had shops on the concourse built like conservataries around the columns, that would have been the late 80s.
The whole place doesn't know what it wants to be. The bus station should be brought into the park in front and the concourse extended forwards near to where the bus station is now or as far as possible. Is there some sort of ventilation that sits to the side of Nandos that prevents that?
Inside there have been many changes over the years, somebody mentioned tie rack as i think you had shops on the concourse built like conservataries around the columns, that would have been the late 80s.
As someone more used to a revamped Kings Cross and St Pancras when a arrived at Euston last year I was shocked at what a dump it was in comparison, a 1960's time warp.
The arch well it was a shame it had to go but it was not that great from a styling viewpoint so I wouldn't try to recreate it, I think we have too much looking back in this country as it is.
The arch well it was a shame it had to go but it was not that great from a styling viewpoint so I wouldn't try to recreate it, I think we have too much looking back in this country as it is.
We had those in Charing Cross and Victoria as well in the 80's/90's. I think it was "a thing" for London terminals.
I agree, Euston Station is in a word is a dump and needs to be demolished,the best thing to happen to it is HS2, once all the work is done akin to what was done to Kings Cross in its own way, this eye sore will be gone hopefully.
Bletchleyite
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It's really not. It's a bit scabby outside, and the platforms aren't great (but you aren't intended to spend time there), but it's cool in winter, warm in summer, spacious and impressive in its own Brutalist way. There are far worse stations in the world. It just needs a few minor changes.
RailWonderer
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I would agree.
The two alleys running to the square probably need repaving and removing the dark shelters overhanging the paths would deter tramps from squatting and peeing around there. The front face needs a modernization, but the inside is fine, functional and doesn't contain shops just there to look more high end (like St Pancras).
The best idea was the one that sunk the platforms and opened up the area above them for east-west access. All along Eversholt Street it's a dead wall due to the station, and that's such a waste of prime land. Sink the platforms lower, and rebuild the station accordingly.
The Planner
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Camden bank would be fun if you did that.
edwin_m
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I think something gets done about that wall, even though the tracks stay at the existing level.
NotATrainspott
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This is the cross-section of the HS2 plans for the station. The classic platforms only need sunk by about 2-3 metres to match up with the HS2 ones. It might be possible to have more restricted clearance on the classic side, so the same deck level could be above a slightly higher set of tracks.
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