King's Cross station

[evil_hippo]

From photographs of King's Cross station, there seems to be Evidence of an additional, unused tunnel exiting King's Cross. Is this the case? Were it possible to have an extra functioning Tunnel, it would seem that this would give potential to lengthen the platforms at King's Cross by simplifying the layout beyond the platforms that at present takes up the full space between the platforms and the tunnels.

Also, does anyone have figures for the precise length of the platforms at King's Cross?

 

[class 313]

There is a new platform being made at Kings Cross IIRC.

 

[Max]

There is a new platform being made at Kings Cross IIRC.

Yes, platform '0' in the old taxi rank area. Zoltan, I also remember seeing the tunnel you are talking about, and I'm sure that it comes out on the other side like the others. Not sure what it carries at the moment though.

 

[Bonemaster]

Nowt I believe it was used for Moorgate services from the ECML via York Road Curve until the current moorgate line from Finsbury park was taken over by BR from London Underground

 

[Oracle]

I kept quiet as I thought I was about to post gibberish! There were two tunnels, one that exited in the old Suburban platforms just after Hotel Curve on the Down Widened Lines, and another that was on the UP WL, just after York Road platform, with the York Road curve. I am sure that I read somewhere it is now used for cables?

 

[warriorofrovac]

The video125 production for the ECML mentioned those tunnels, can't remember what he said about them now, shall have to rewatch it.

 

[A0]

From photographs of King's Cross station, there seems to be Evidence of an additional, unused tunnel exiting King's Cross. Is this the case? Were it possible to have an extra functioning Tunnel, it would seem that this would give potential to lengthen the platforms at King's Cross by simplifying the layout beyond the platforms that at present takes up the full space between the platforms and the tunnels.

Also, does anyone have figures for the precise length of the platforms at King's Cross?

A number of posters have made reference to the old tunnels to the Widened Lines (aka Thameslink). I think the old southbound one is still visible, but the northbound isn't.

I'm guessing though you're talking about the right hand bore of Gasworks & Copenhagen tunnels (on the east side). I believe all three bores used to be in use until the electrification in the mid-70s. This led to widespread changes to the layout, including the building of the flyover between the tunnels to allow incoming suburban trains to end up on the west side of the station without interfereing with outgoing inter-city services.

These bores *could* in theory be brought back into use, but I'm not sure that would help since you'd be back to 4 running lines by Finsbury Park. I suspect in the days when there were more ECS / light engine movements they served a purpose but with the unit formations in use now they've much reduced.