King's Cross Thameslink railway station
Encyclopedia
King's Cross Thameslink station is a closed railway station in central London
, which served the Thameslink
route. It was replaced by new Thameslink platforms at St Pancras
in December 2007. The last operator of the station was First Capital Connect
. The site is on Pentonville Road, about 150 m (164 yd) from station.
The station occupied part of the original site of the Metropolitan Railway
's 1863 King's Cross
station. Its original street buildings were a little further west than the later station frontage and, though in poor repair, may still be seen. The Thameslink platforms on the City Widened Lines
were separated only by a newer wall from the site of the Underground
platforms, which may still be seen on the west side from Underground trains travelling between King's Cross St. Pancras
and Farringdon
stations.
The two platforms at King's Cross Thameslink were designated A and B, in contrast to the platform numbers used at most other stations. This avoided confusion with the platforms at nearby King's Cross, which may have been regarded as part of the same station complex. A similar situation exists at Waterloo East
station, an annexe of London Waterloo, and the use of platform letters has been continued on the new Thameslink platforms at St Pancras.
The Thameslink platforms were linked directly by stairs and a tunnel to the Victoria
and Piccadilly line
platforms at King's Cross St. Pancras, and via both sets of platforms to the Circle, Hammersmith & City
, Metropolitan
and Northern
lines.
In 1983 the station reopened as King's Cross Midland City, and in May 1988 it was renamed King's Cross Thameslink.
station at St Pancras could start that summer, and it was announced in September 2007 that the existing Kings Cross Thameslink station would close on 8 December 2007. The last train, the 23:59 from Haywards Heath
, called at Kings Cross Thameslink at 01:08 on Sunday 9 December 2007.
From 9 December 2007, Thameslink services started to call at new platforms built beneath the main station complex at St Pancras
. These are able to handle 12-car trains and will have sufficient capacity to serve the future Thameslink Programme
route (upgraded from the original Thameslink network). They also have better pedestrian links to the mainline platforms at both St Pancras and King's Cross.
The foot tunnel from King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
to the ticket office of the former Thameslink station remains open from 07:00 to 20:00 on Mondays to Fridays, to provide extra access to London Underground
platforms from Pentonville Road.
Reasons for replacing the station included substandard platform widths and lengths, lack of step-free access, lack of easily accessible fire escape routes, and a poor-quality passenger environment. The cost of upgrading the station to modern standards would have been in excess of £60 million. It would also have caused serious disruption to the nearby Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan LUL lines and nearby roads.
London TravelWatch recommended that the Thameslink station's entrance and concourse be retained as an entrance/exit for London Underground
passengers. London Underground agreed but stated that funding for the required modifications would need the agreement of the DfT; the DfT declined, stating that it was a matter for Transport for London
(TfL). Since 10 December 2007 (the day after Thameslink calls at King's Cross Thameslink were discontinued), the old station entrance has been retained as part of King's Cross St Pancras
.
Image:KingsXThameslink.jpg|Platforms
Image:KingsXtunnel.jpg|Looking south along Clerkenwell No.3 Tunnel
Image:Kings_cross_tunnel.jpg|Foot tunnel
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
, which served the Thameslink
Thameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
route. It was replaced by new Thameslink platforms at St Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
in December 2007. The last operator of the station was First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
. The site is on Pentonville Road, about 150 m (164 yd) from station.
The station occupied part of the original site of the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
's 1863 King's Cross
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
station. Its original street buildings were a little further west than the later station frontage and, though in poor repair, may still be seen. The Thameslink platforms on the City Widened Lines
Widened Lines
The Widened Lines is the name of a group of railway routes that currently form part of the Thameslink network leading from King's Cross/St...
were separated only by a newer wall from the site of the Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
platforms, which may still be seen on the west side from Underground trains travelling between King's Cross St. Pancras
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
and Farringdon
Farringdon station
Farringdon station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Clerkenwell, just north of the City of London in the London Borough of Islington...
stations.
The two platforms at King's Cross Thameslink were designated A and B, in contrast to the platform numbers used at most other stations. This avoided confusion with the platforms at nearby King's Cross, which may have been regarded as part of the same station complex. A similar situation exists at Waterloo East
Waterloo East railway station
Waterloo East station, also known as London Waterloo East, is a railway station in central London on the line from through London Bridge to Kent. It is managed by Southeastern and is in Travelcard Zone 1...
station, an annexe of London Waterloo, and the use of platform letters has been continued on the new Thameslink platforms at St Pancras.
The Thameslink platforms were linked directly by stairs and a tunnel to the Victoria
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
and Piccadilly line
Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
platforms at King's Cross St. Pancras, and via both sets of platforms to the Circle, Hammersmith & City
Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line is a subsurface London Underground line. It connects Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east, running through the northern part of central London. It is coloured salmon pink on the Tube map...
, Metropolitan
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
and Northern
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
lines.
History
In 1940 the Metropolitan and District services (today's Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith and City line services) ceased to call at the station due to bomb damage. Today's sub-surface underground platforms, further west, were opened in March 1941, but mainline services continued to use the original station until 1979.In 1983 the station reopened as King's Cross Midland City, and in May 1988 it was renamed King's Cross Thameslink.
Closure
In February 2006, the government announced additional funding of £63 million so that work to complete a new ThameslinkThameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
station at St Pancras could start that summer, and it was announced in September 2007 that the existing Kings Cross Thameslink station would close on 8 December 2007. The last train, the 23:59 from Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath railway station
Haywards Heath railway station serves Haywards Heath in West Sussex, England. It is on the Brighton Main Line and Thameslink north of Brighton, and train services are primarily provided by Southern and First Capital Connect...
, called at Kings Cross Thameslink at 01:08 on Sunday 9 December 2007.
From 9 December 2007, Thameslink services started to call at new platforms built beneath the main station complex at St Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
. These are able to handle 12-car trains and will have sufficient capacity to serve the future Thameslink Programme
Thameslink Programme
The Thameslink Programme, originally Thameslink 2000, is a £6 billion project in south-east England to upgrade and expand the Thameslink rail network to provide new and longer trains between a wider range of stations to the north and to the south of London without requiring passengers to change...
route (upgraded from the original Thameslink network). They also have better pedestrian links to the mainline platforms at both St Pancras and King's Cross.
The foot tunnel from King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
to the ticket office of the former Thameslink station remains open from 07:00 to 20:00 on Mondays to Fridays, to provide extra access to London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
platforms from Pentonville Road.
Reasons for replacing the station included substandard platform widths and lengths, lack of step-free access, lack of easily accessible fire escape routes, and a poor-quality passenger environment. The cost of upgrading the station to modern standards would have been in excess of £60 million. It would also have caused serious disruption to the nearby Circle/Hammersmith & City/Metropolitan LUL lines and nearby roads.
London TravelWatch recommended that the Thameslink station's entrance and concourse be retained as an entrance/exit for London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
passengers. London Underground agreed but stated that funding for the required modifications would need the agreement of the DfT; the DfT declined, stating that it was a matter for Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
(TfL). Since 10 December 2007 (the day after Thameslink calls at King's Cross Thameslink were discontinued), the old station entrance has been retained as part of King's Cross St Pancras
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
.
Gallery
Image:KingsXThameslink.jpg|Platforms
Image:KingsXtunnel.jpg|Looking south along Clerkenwell No.3 Tunnel
Image:Kings_cross_tunnel.jpg|Foot tunnel
See also
- St Pancras International stationSt Pancras railway stationSt Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
- First Capital ConnectFirst Capital ConnectFirst Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
- ThameslinkThameslinkThameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
- Thameslink TrainsThameslink (train operating company)Thameslink was a train operating company in the United Kingdom, run by Govia . It operated the London commuter railway line known by the same name...
- London UndergroundLondon UndergroundThe London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
- Kings Cross railway station
External links
- Disused Stations: Kings Cross Thameslink
- London's Abandoned Stations - Kings Cross Thameslink
- First Capital Connect website
- Information about the Thameslink 2000 work, from Camden London Borough CouncilCamden London Borough CouncilCamden London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...