Euston concourse redevelopment by late 2015

[Cletus]

]Have this been mentioned? Perhaps its already started, haven't been in Euston for a while.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ore-space-and-choice-for-passengers-20f0.aspx

Passengers at Euston can look forward to a bigger, better station with more shops and a wider choice of food and drink as Network Rail begins a £12.5m development of the station this month.

More than 70m people use Euston station every year and passenger numbers are growing faster than any other London terminus. Network Rail’s scheme will create more space both inside and outside the station while giving passengers, local residents and people working in the area a better selection of shops as well as places to eat and drink.

Phase one of the scheme will see the piazza outside the station cleared of kiosks and replaced with ‘grab and go’ food units incorporated into the front of the station, providing more space and a more pleasant atmosphere. The new units will open from summer 2015.

Inside the station, an 8,000 sq ft balcony will be created, featuring a new bar, a selection of casual dining outlets and a comfy seating area overlooking the main concourse. The balcony will be fully accessible via escalators, stairs and a lift and is expected to open to the public in late 2015.

Phase two of the scheme will see the current station food court converted into an improved and expanded retail area, offering a range of quality brands. This should be complete by the end of 2015.

Hamish Kiernan, commercial retail director at Network Rail, said: “More than a million people use Euston station every week and this number is only set to grow further. Our plan for Euston will provide more space and a better atmosphere for passengers as well as an attractive mix of food, drink and shopping options for people travelling to or through the station.

“Our award-winning developments at King’s Cross and Waterloo showcase what can be achieved at our major stations and now as we move our focus to Euston, we are confident we can create a bigger, brighter station for everyone.”

Network Rail and its contractors have planned the work in order to minimise any disruption to station users during construction. The station will remain open throughout and train services will not be affected.

 

[user15681]

I do believe I have mentioned this once before on a thread asking about the works currently occurring at Euston, I'll search for it. There is a large fenced off area at the front of the station building, has been for a while now. What you've posted though is far more detailed, so thanks!

Edit - said thread... http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=95408
Gosh, that feels like ages ago. Back then I was just told a mezzanine/balcony, so good to see some specific details fleshed out.

 

[daccer]

I am interested to know how this investment can be made in light of the imminent redevelopment of the site for HS2. As the plans for Euston have not been finalised yet isn't there a chance that all this could be swept away within a few years.

 

[NotATrainspott]

The Euston concourse will last a good few years yet through the HS2 construction work as it will be demolished in the last stage of reconstruction. The HS2 platforms will be used for classic services (with temporary platform raiser structures as at Stratford International during the Olympics) while the classic platforms are being rebuilt.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Passengers at Euston can look forward to a bigger, better station with more shops and a wider choice of food and drink as Network Rail begins a £12.5m development of the station this month.

More than 70m people use Euston station every year and passenger numbers are growing faster than any other London terminus. Network Rail’s scheme will create more space both inside and outside the station while giving passengers, local residents and people working in the area a better selection of shops as well as places to eat and drink.

Can't help thinking that what Euston needs is not more shops but more seats for people to sit down while waiting for their train. The long-distance nature of many journeys made from Euston means lots of people tend to arrive up to half an hour before they can board their train, carrying lots of luggage (which precludes walking around shops). What those people need is somewhere to sit down. And some toilets that you don't have to pay for while waiting wouldn't go amiss
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I do believe I have mentioned this once before on a thread asking about the works currently occurring at Euston, I'll search for it. There is a large fenced off area at the front of the station building, has been for a while now. What you've posted though is far more detailed, so thanks!

Edit - said thread... http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=95408
Gosh, that feels like ages ago. Back then I was just told a mezzanine/balcony,

Btw the video that transmanche links to in post #13 of that thread is well worth watching in its entirety. As far as I can tell it seems to be an old training video produced 40 or so years ago. Worth watching both for the information on the problems of running a railway and for nostalgia value - loads of footage of what stations (including a near deserted Euston) and trains (well, a train), including inside the driver's cab.

 

[Yew]

Can't help thinking that what Euston needs is not more shops but more seats for people to sit down while waiting for their train.

Good luck with that.. It'll be developed as badly as the St Pancras Shopping Centre..

 

[Bald Rick]

Good luck with that.. It'll be developed as badly as the St Pancras Shopping Centre..

There's an awful lot of people who appear to like it...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Can't help thinking that what Euston needs is not more shops but more seats for people to sit down while waiting for their train.

Now everyone is different, but, I must have made nearly 500 long distance trips from Euston in the last twenty years, most with some luggage, and not once have I thought "I have a 2-3 hour journey sat on a train coming up, what I really need before that is a sit down".

Or is it just me?

 

[NickBucks]

Looks as if it is turning into a Heathrow T1/2/5 clone like Waterloo & St Pancras. Focus on premium shopping and expensive food outlets. Passengers come a poor second.

 

[WCML]

They're not really making a lot of progress with this at all. They started work several months ago and all they've managed so far is a bit of asbestos removal from the windows and labelling of some ACMs by the escalators and first class lounge. Tie Rack has closed as well as the information kiosk and there's a large fenced off section, but work seems to have stopped.

Frankly, the place looks a right mess and there's even less space for the crowds to loiter before charging down onto the platforms.

 

[dk1]

Looks as if it is turning into a Heathrow T1/2/5 clone like Waterloo & St Pancras. Focus on premium shopping and expensive food outlets. Passengers come a poor second.

It's all a business these days but you rarely here a single criticism of St.Pancras. Must admit to loving the place myself. An Eton Mess by day & beer by night at The Betjaman Arms are a must for me.

 

[edwin_m]

Sacrificing a few shops at St Pancras would have produced a much quicker access to the East Midlands platforms.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Now everyone is different, but, I must have made nearly 500 long distance trips from Euston in the last twenty years, most with some luggage, and not once have I thought "I have a 2-3 hour journey sat on a train coming up, what I really need before that is a sit down".

Or is it just me?

lol, I guess that does indeed show how different people are. The first thing I normally look for is somewhere to sit down while I'm waiting!

 

[VauxhallandI]

Quite, so do I.

Some people end up sprawled over the floor and the place begins to look like Sangatte

 

[deltic]

Sacrificing a few shops at St Pancras would have produced a much quicker access to the East Midlands platforms.

Maybe but the £250m annual revenue from Network Rail property rental income helps may for a lot of station improvements

 

[fgwrich]

They're not really making a lot of progress with this at all. They started work several months ago and all they've managed so far is a bit of asbestos removal from the windows and labelling of some ACMs by the escalators and first class lounge. Tie Rack has closed as well as the information kiosk and there's a large fenced off section, but work seems to have stopped.

Frankly, the place looks a right mess and there's even less space for the crowds to loiter before charging down onto the platforms.

Although to be fair to them, I cant help but think that Tie Rack's closing was more to do with the companies financial difficulties and subsequent administration than anything to do with Network Rail. However, if the issue is with the unit being turned around to another tenant in time then who knows?

It's all a business these days but you rarely here a single criticism of St.Pancras. Must admit to loving the place myself. An Eton Mess by day & beer by night at The Betjaman Arms are a must for me.

Same here, For me the one aspect that does let St Pancras down is the MML side of the station feeling like a little bit of an afterthought and having the 222s and HSTs fill that end of the station and blacken it's roof with exhaust (not so fun on a warm day with no wind as I found out last week!) rather than the retail space in the undercroft - Just out of question, why is there so much hatred for that? It's a smart use of space that would otherwise have remained closed off, and provides a nice range of choices to both the domestic and international traveller, yes the prices are pricey in some places but given St Pancras's status these days it's what id come to expect - Afterall, your not going to find a five-star Renaissance London Hotel attached to an adjoining Mc Donald's are you? Now what is annoying is Network Rail's new lover affair of redeveloping stations and converting useful space into retail units - like on Reading Stations Bridge/Transfer Deck or Platforms or wedging as much into the Birmingham New Street redevelopment for example, that I find annoying!

 

[6Gman]

Euston ... seating ... seating ... Euston ....

Now that's a combination that will take some understanding.

 

[infobleep]

What they need to do is copy the designers at Waterloo. They talked of creating more space. May be they did but they also stuck a building on platform 11 and 12, making it difficult for people to get from platform 11 to the subway and underground. Perhaps they could do something similar around platforms 8 to 11 at Euston.

 

[moggie]

Euston feels like a worn out aka Birmingham german christmas market without the santa claus, beer keller and bratwurst. Bloody awful and a place to avoid. Badly needs the open space put back and keep the retail 'opportunities' somewhere peripheral to where those who are there to catch a train need to be. And yes - some seats please without the need to make a 'purchase' - thankyou!