Euston

London Euston
Main entrance to the station in 2009
Euston Location of Euston in Central London
Location	Euston Road
Local authority	London Borough of Camden
Managed by	Network Rail
Station code	EUS
Number of platforms	18
Accessible	[1]
Fare zone	1
OSI	Euston LU [2] Euston Square St Pancras King's Cross
National Rail annual entry and exit
2004–05	26.256 million[3]
2005–06	27.167 million[3]
2006–07	25.585 million[3]
2007–08	28.739 million[3]
2008–09	31.179 million[3]
2009–10	30.068 million[3]
2010–11	34.073 million[3]
2011-12	36.607 million[3]
20 July 1837	Opened
1849	Expanded
1962-1968	Rebuilt
Lists of stations	DLR Underground National Rail Tramlink
External links	Departures Layout Facilities Buses
London Transport portal UK Railways portalCoordinates: 51°31′42″N 0°07′59″W / 51.5284°N 0.1331°W / 51.5284; -0.1331

Euston railway station,^[4] or London Euston,^[5] is a central London railway terminus. It is the sixth-busiest rail terminal in London by entries and exits.^[6] It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail,^[4][7] and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line. It is the main rail gateway from London to the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and part of Scotland. Its most important long-distance destinations are Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.

It has been the prime rail gateway from London to Ireland via Holyhead and ferry to Dún Laoghaire, for Dublin. Historically, there was also a route to Belfast via Stranraer over the WCML as far as Carlisle, then via the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway, but this route was closed in the 1960s as part of the Beeching Axe reforms.

It is connected to Euston tube station and near Euston Square tube station on the London Underground. It is a short walk from King's Cross Station, the southern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, and St Pancras International Station for Eurostar services to France and Belgium. These stations are all in Travelcard Zone 1.

History [edit]

Euston was the first inter-city railway station in London. It opened on 20 July 1837 as the terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway.^[8] The original station was demolished in the 1960s, and replaced with the present station built in the international modern style.

The site was selected in the early 1830s by George and Robert Stephenson, engineers of the London and Birmingham Railway. At the time, the area was mostly farmland at the edge of the expanding city of London. The station was named after Euston Hall in Suffolk, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Grafton who were the main landowners in the area. Objections to the station by local farmers meant that when the Act authorising construction of the line was passed in 1833 the terminus was relocated to Chalk Farm. However these objections were overcome, and in 1835 an Act authorising construction of the station at its originally planned site was passed, and construction went ahead.^[8][9]

The station and railway have been owned by the London and Birmingham Railway (1837–1845), the London and North Western Railway (1846–1922), the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (1923–1947), British Railways (1948–1994), Railtrack (1994–2001) and Network Rail (2001–present)

Old building [edit]

An early print of Euston showing the wrought iron roof of 1837.

"Euston Arch": the original entrance to Euston Station (photo in 1896)

The original building was constructed by William Cubitt.^[10] It was designed by a well-known classically trained architect, Philip Hardwick,^[11] with a 200 ft (61 m) long train shed by structural engineer Charles Fox. Initially it had only two platforms, one for departures and one for arrivals. Also designed by Hardwick was a 72 ft (22 m) high Doric propylaeum, the largest ever built,^[12] which was erected at the entrance as a portico and became renowned as the Euston Arch.

The Great Hall, Euston Station

Until 1844, trains were pulled up the incline to Camden Town by cables because the London and Birmingham Railway's Act of Parliament prohibited the use of locomotives in the Euston area; this prohibition is said to have been in response to concerns of local prominent residents as to the noise and smoke emitted by locomotives toiling up the incline.^[13]

The station grew rapidly over the following years as traffic increased. It was greatly expanded in the 1840s, with the opening in 1849 of the spectacular Great Hall, designed by Hardwick's son, Philip Charles Hardwick, in classical style. It was 126 ft (38 m) long, 61 ft (19 m) wide and 64 ft (20 m) high, with a coffered ceiling and a sweeping double flight of stairs leading to offices at its northern end. Architectural sculptor John Thomas contributed eight allegorical statues representing the cities served by the line. The station was on Drummond Street, further from Euston Road than the front of the modern complex, which now terminates at the side of the station, but then ran across the front.^[14] A short road called Euston Grove ran from Euston Square towards the arch. Two hotels, the Euston Hotel and the Victoria Hotel, flanked the northern half of this approach.

As traffic grew, the station required further expansion. Two more platforms were added in the 1870s with new service roads and entrances, and four in the 1890s, bringing the total to 15, with one reserved for parcels traffic.^[8]

Apart from the lodges on Euston Road and statues now on the forecourt, few relics of the old station survive. The National Railway Museum's collection at York includes a commemorative plaque and E.H. Bailey's statue of George Stephenson, both from the Great Hall; the entrance gates; and an 1846 turntable discovered during demolition.

• 

  The Great Hall

• 

  Euston Arch (ca 1851)

• 

  LNWR War Memorial

• 

  LNWR Portland stone entrance lodge

• 

  Euston train shed in 1962.

1930s rebuilding proposals [edit]

By the 1930s the station had become congested, and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) who owned the station at the time looked into the possibility of rebuilding it. They appointed the Welsh architect Percy Thomas to produce some designs. Thomas proposed a new American inspired station, which would involve removing or re-siting the arch. However World War II intervened and the proposals were shelved.^[15]

New building [edit]

The exterior and entrance in 2012

The concourse in 2012

In the early 1960s it was decided that the old building was no longer adequate, and a new larger station was required. Because of the restricted layout of track and tunnels at the northern end, the enlargement could only be accomplished by expanding southwards over the area occupied by the Great Hall and the Doric Arch.^[9] Amid much public outcry, the station building including the Euston Arch was demolished in 1961-2 and replaced by a new building. Its opening in 1968 followed the electrification of the West Coast Main Line, and the new structure was intended to symbolise the coming of the "electric age". The contract to build the station was awarded to Taylor Woodrow Construction Ltd, in 1961,^[9] with the design carried out by BR's architects in consultation with Richard Seifert & Partners, who were responsible for the second phase of the complex in the late 1970s, which saw a bus terminal and three office towers constructed to the south of the station plaza.

The modern station is a long, low structure with a frontage of some 197 m (646 ft). The second phase, built in the late 1970s, consists of a bus terminal and three low-rise office towers that look look out onto Melton Street and Eversholt Street. The offices were occupied by British Rail, Railtrack, and then Network Rail, which has now vacated all but a small portion of one of the towers. These buildings are in a functional style and the main facing material is polished dark stone, complemented by white tiles, exposed concrete and plain glazing. The station has a single large concourse with the usual assortment of shops and food outlets, and is separate from the train shed. A few small remnants of the older station remain: two Portland stone entrance lodges and a war memorial. A statue of Robert Stephenson by Carlo Marochetti, which previously stood in the old ticket hall, now stands in the forecourt.

There is a large statue by Eduardo Paolozzi named Piscator dedicated to German theatre director Erwin Piscator at the front of the courtyard. Other pieces of public art, including low stone benches by Paul de Monchaux around the courtyard, were commissioned by Network Rail in the 1990s.

Euston handles an intensive train service and a high volume of passengers while providing extensive facilities. It has catering units and shops, a large ticket hall and, despite a central London location, an enclosed car park with over 200 spaces.^[16]

The screening-off and positioning of platforms away from a spacious main concourse results in a waiting area that is protected from the elements, while areas in front of the intercity platforms allow passengers to queue without obstructing passenger flow in the main body of the station. Passenger flow is further aided by the positioning of the main departure indicator board to encourage passengers to gather away from platform entrances, and by a walkway under the main concourse that provides a direct link from commuter platforms 8 to 11 to the Underground station.

The lack of daylight on the platforms compares unfavourably with the glazed trainshed roofs of traditional Victorian railway stations, but the use of the space above as a parcels depot^[17] released the maximum possible space at ground level for platforms and passenger facilities.

The station has 18 platforms: Platforms 8 to 11 are used primarily for London Overground and London Midland commuter services, and have automatic ticket gates. Two platforms are extra long in order to accommodate the 16-car Caledonian Sleeper.

• 

  The present-day trainshed

• 

  Platform 8 looking to buffers

• 

  Station signage

• 

  Euston station and associated offices

Architectural controversy [edit]

Euston's 1960s style of architecture has been variously described as "hideous",^[18] "a dingy, grey, horizontal nothingness"^[19] and a reflection of "the tawdry glamour of its time", entirely lacking in "the sense of occasion, of adventure, that the great Victorian termini gave to the traveller".^[20] Writing in The Times, Richard Morrison stated that "even by the bleak standards of Sixties architecture, Euston is one of the nastiest concrete boxes in London: devoid of any decorative merit; seemingly concocted to induce maximum angst among passengers; and a blight on surrounding streets. The design should never have left the drawing-board — if, indeed, it was ever on a drawing-board. It gives the impression of having been scribbled on the back of a soiled paper bag by a thuggish android with a grudge against humanity and a vampiric loathing of sunlight".^[21]

Access to parts of the station is difficult for the disabled. The ramps from the concourse down to platform level are too steep for unassisted wheelchairs, but the introduction of lifts in May 2010 made the taxi rank and underground station easily accessible from the concourse.

The demolition of the old building in 1962 has been described as "one of the greatest acts of Post-War architectural vandalism in Britain" and is believed to have been sanctioned by the then Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. The new train shed featured a low flat roof, making no attempt to match the airy style of London's major 19th century train sheds. The attempts made to preserve the earlier building, championed by the later Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman, led to the formation of The Victorian Society and heralded the modern conservation movement.^[22] This loss may have saved the nearby high Gothic St. Pancras Station when faced with demolition by British Rail in 1966, as the actions of the conservation movement ultimately led to its being renovated in 2007 as the terminus of the high-speed route to the Continent.

The demolition of the original building is often compared to the 1964 demolition of New York's Pennsylvania Station, as it alerted preservationists in both cities to the importance of saving historic buildings.

1973 IRA attack [edit]

Extensive but superficial damage was caused by an IRA bomb that exploded close to a snack bar at approximately 13:10 on 10 September 1973, injuring eight people. The Metropolitan Police had received a three-minute warning but were unable to evacuate the station completely before the device exploded. Nevertheless, the British Transport Police were able to evacuate much of the area just prior to the explosion, thereby reducing casualties. In 1974, the mentally ill Judith Ward was convicted of this and other crimes despite the evidence against her being highly suspect. She was acquitted in 1992, and the actual culprit has not been apprehended.^[23]

Privatisation [edit]

Ownership of the station transferred from British Rail to Railtrack plc in 1994, passing to Network Rail in 2002 following the failure of Railtrack.

In 2005 Network Rail was reported to have long-term aspirations to redevelop the station, removing the 1960s buildings and providing a great deal more commercial space by utilising the "air rights" above the platforms.

In December 2005 Network Rail announced plans to create a subway link to Euston Square tube station as part of the re-development, creating a direct link between the two Euston stations, currently separated by a five-minute walk along Euston Road.^[24]

2007 rebuilding announcement [edit]

On 5 April 2007, British Land announced that it had won the tender to demolish and rebuild the station, spending some £250m of its overall redevelopment budget of £1bn for the area. The number of platforms will increase from 18 to 21.^[25] Media reports in early 2008 hinted that the old Euston Arch could be rebuilt.^[26]

Sydney & London Properties, project manager to the Euston Estate Limited Partnership, launched a Vision Masterplan in May 2008 with the aim of stimulating debate about the future of the station and the surrounding neighbourhood.^[27]

2011 redesign announcement [edit]

In September 2011 plans for demolition were cancelled and Aedas was appointed to give the existing terminus a makeover instead.^[28]

High Speed 2 [edit]

Proposed footprint

On 11 March 2010, the Secretary of State for Transport announced that Euston was the preferred southern terminus of the proposed High Speed 2 line to Birmingham and the north.^[29] This would require expansion to the south and west to create new, sufficiently long platforms. These plans, if taken forward, would preclude the 2007 reconstruction from going ahead and would entail complete reconstruction, involving the demolition of 220 Camden Council flats, with half the station providing conventional rail services and the new half high-speed trains. The Command Paper suggests rebuilding the Euston Arch and an "artist's impression" includes it.^{[citation needed]}

The station would have 24 platforms serving both high-speed and classic lines. These would be at a low level while the flats demolished by the extension would be replaced by significant building work above. The underground station would also be rebuilt and connected to Euston Square tube station. When High Speed 2 is extended beyond Birmingham, the Mayor's office believes it will be necessary to build the Chelsea–Hackney line via Euston to relieve the pressure of the 10,000 extra passengers.^{[30][31][32][33]}

In order to relieve pressure on Euston during and after the rebuilding for High Speed 2, HS2 Ltd has proposed the withdrawal of London Overground trains between Euston and Queen's Park, and the diversion on to Crossrail of eight London Midland trains per hour from Milton Keynes.^[34]

Services [edit]

Four train operating companies use Euston:

Virgin Trains operates an express network from Platforms 1-7 and 12-18. In trains per hour:

• 3 to Birmingham New Street, with at least one extended to Wolverhampton, two per day of which are combined with Birmingham New Street to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley trains
• 3 to Manchester Piccadilly (two via Stoke-on-Trent and one via Crewe)
• 1 to Liverpool Lime Street via Stafford
• 1 to Chester, with some extended along the North Wales Coast Line to Bangor and Holyhead for ferries to Dún Laoghaire and Dublin Port, or Wrexham General, all via Crewe
• 1 to Glasgow Central via Preston

London Midland operates long-distance commuter and outer suburban services, from Platforms 8 to 11, 12-15 and 17.

• 2 to Tring
• 1 to Milton Keynes Central
• 1 to Northampton
• 2 to Birmingham New Street via Northampton
• 1 to Crewe via Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent (avoiding Northampton)

London Overground operates local commuter services, usually from platform 9.

• 3 to Watford Junction via local stations in North West London.

First ScotRail operates two daily Caledonian Sleepers to Scotland.

• Highland sleeper to Aberdeen via Kirkcaldy and Dundee, Fort William via Dalmuir, and Inverness via Stirling and Perth.
• Lowland sleeper to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley via Carlisle.

Preceding station		London Overground		Following station
South Hampstead towards Watford Junction		Watford DC Line		Terminus
	National Rail
Watford Junction		First ScotRail Lowland Caledonian Sleeper		Terminus
Crewe		First ScotRail Highland Caledonian Sleeper (southbound)		Terminus
Origin		First ScotRail Highland Caledonian Sleeper (northbound)		Watford Junction
Watford Junction		London Midland London — Crewe		Terminus
Harrow & Wealdstone		London Midland London - Birmingham		Terminus
Watford Junction		Virgin Trains WCML Birmingham Branch		Terminus
Tamworth		Virgin Trains West Coast Main Line		Terminus
Milton Keynes Central		Virgin Trains WCML Chester/Holyhead/Wrexham Branches		Terminus
Watford Junction		Virgin Trains WCML Liverpool Branch		Terminus
Watford Junction		Virgin Trains WCML Manchester Branch		Terminus
Watford Junction		Virgin Trains WCML Wolverhampton Branch		Terminus
	Future services
Old Oak Common		TBA High Speed 2		Terminus

London Underground [edit]

Euston station is directly above and connected to Euston tube station, on the Victoria Line and the Northern Line (both Bank and Charing Cross branches) of the London Underground. Euston Square tube station on the Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line and Metropolitan Line is a five-minute walk along Euston Road.

If High Speed 2 goes ahead Transport for London (TfL) plans to change the safeguarded route for the proposed Chelsea–Hackney line to include Euston between Tottenham Court Road and King's Cross St Pancras.^[35] As part of the rebuilding work for High Speed 2, it is proposed to integrate Euston and Euston Square into a single tube station.^[31]

Preceding station		London Underground		Following station
Great Portland Street towards Hammersmith		Circle line Transfer at: Euston Square		King's Cross St. Pancras towards Edgware Road (via Aldgate)
		Hammersmith & City line Transfer at: Euston Square		King's Cross St. Pancras towards Barking
Great Portland Street towards Amersham, Chesham, Uxbridge or Watford		Metropolitan line Transfer at: Euston Square		King's Cross St. Pancras towards Aldgate
Mornington Crescent towards Edgware, Mill Hill East or High Barnet		Northern line Charing Cross branch Transfer at: Euston		Warren Street towards Kennington or Morden (via Charing Cross)
Camden Town towards Edgware, Mill Hill East or High Barnet		Northern line Bank branch Transfer at: Euston		King's Cross St. Pancras towards Morden (via Bank)
Warren Street towards Brixton		Victoria line Transfer at: Euston		King's Cross St. Pancras towards Walthamstow Central

See also [edit]

• Curzon Street railway station - the Birmingham counterpart of the original Euston
• Pennsylvania Station (New York City) - a station similarly demolished and replaced

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Euston station

• Station information on Euston railway station from Network Rail
• Euston Station and railway works - information about the old station from the Survey of London online.
• Euston Station Panorama
• Euston Arch Trust - the campaign for the return of the Euston Arch to the station with detailed history and gallery.
• The New Euston Station 1968 - 1968 British Rail information booklet about the rebuilt Euston station. Also includes historical information.

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