King’s Cross to be largest Rail Hub in Europe!

8th February 2006

Emily Thornberry welcomed Transport Secretary Alistair Darling’s decision to fit out the new Thameslink station at Kings Cross St Pancras: making it indisputably London’s and soon Europe’s premier rail transport hub.

The second phase of the new Thameslink station at King's Cross St Pancras should now be completed in 2007. This second phase will prepare the station for operational use at a cost of over £60 million. The new station will replace the existing Thameslink station on Pentonville Road.

Emily said:

‘Developing Kings Cross is not only vital to the economic future of this corner of Islington, but also for the whole of London and the UK. This station will eventually be the biggest rail transport hub in Europe, with up to a million people a week expected use it. I was concerned that what is known as the “Thameslink box” might be mothballed and have been working to ensure this did not happen. I am really glad that the government has given it the go ahead. This investment is sensible transport planning in action. Passengers will no longer have the nightmare of dragging their cases from Kings Cross Thameslink along the Pentonville Rd to the main station: they will be able to change lines under the roof of a superstation’

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said

"I have agreed to the proposal to fit out the new Thameslink station at King's Cross St Pancras. This new station will provide an excellent interchange between Thameslink and national and international services. It will also provide better access to passengers who use the Olympic Javelin service from St Pancras to Stratford during the 2012 Games."

Key local benefits include:

• all construction will be in one piece, minimising disruption to local residents, workers and commuters.
• a better interchange, solving the passenger ‘scramble’ up Pentonville Road.
• massive improvement to the transport capacity of area, taking pressure off the Underground at King's Cross
• With the push for the Thameslink 2000 project the potential for better links between Channel Tunnel Rail Link (due to be complete in 2007) and all London's airports - including quicker journeys to Luton and Gatwick

Editors’ Notes:

The first phase of the station construction was completed in May 2005, when an eight-month blockade of the line allowed the construction of a station "box" under the new St Pancras station site.
·        Work on the second phase will include laying flooring, fitting seven escalators and two lifts, and will cost in the region of £50m. A further £10-15m will be spent on signalling work and to transfer services from the current station at Pentonville Road.

BBC coverage –  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4692536.stm