I also noticed below the escalators to the platform there was a big unused UK Border Force area.
^This. Internally known as T2 or Zone 6. Turned some of the staff corridors and part of the arrivals area into departures. Caused some issues with our fire system while they were doing the work, luckily now fixedIt's an additional overspill departure lounge during peak times. Was made by annexing part of the arrivals area.
They take a few eligible punters at a time from the main queue, and filter them to the "alternative" T2/Z6 check-in. I say eligible because there is only the moving ramp access to the platform and no lift.^This. Internally known as T2 or Zone 6. Turned some of the staff corridors and part of the arrivals area into departures. Caused some issues with our fire system while they were doing the work, luckily now fixed
Not seen it in action yet but not sure how they handle queues with people trying to pass through between the arcade and the exit onto pancras road.
TBF the 2007 refurb was designed weird; not enough departure space and too much arrivals that was mostly wasted, but I presume they had their reasons.
Being detained for what?Plenty of detention facilities on arrival, spent quite a while in there myself.
I believe, but I'm open to being corrected on this, that the 2007 refurb was originally designed to accommodate passport/customs checks on arrival, as this was the original plan in the 1990's. Meanwhile, the juxtaposed border controls had proven to be a success, so St Pancras ended up with a huge arrivals area that was no longer needed.
Had the juxtaposed controls been there from the original plans, then I suspect the departures hall would haven taken up most of the space.