Kings cross thameslink + question

[Class377/5]

I think it is probably worth keeping because at the eventual 24 tph through the core section, a serious incident (something major immobilising a train) at Farringdon or St Pancras LL could easily leave trains stuck between stations. They'll be about 2.5 mins apart, and the running time between the two stations is somewhat longer as it's still a relatively slow route. If my theory is right trains could easily be at Blackfriars, City T/L, Farringdon, in the tunnel south of the old station and at St Pancras all at the same time. Similarly southbound.

I doubt they'd provide an emergency evacuation point if it wasn't already there, but they might as well keep it.

Its a very useful function. The new signalling upgrades means the trains will be able to be alot closer than now by the end of the year. Having somewhere to get people out is always a good thing.

Ive seen train at Blackfriars, City, Farringdon, one outside Farringdon, one at Kings Cross, one at St Pancras and two in the tunnel between St Pancras and the tunnel opening. Add in the also doubling of trains and Kings Cross Thameslink becomes a 'get out of jail' card in case of evacuation.

 

[swt_passenger]

If you look very carefully (and know what you're looking for) from Circle/H&C/Met line trains, you can see not only into Kings Cross Thameslink, but also the remains of the platforms that used to be on the Underground lines at that location- much much longer since they were moved though.

It's noteworthy that the back wall of the down (westbound) Thameslink platform is very near the edge of the old Kings Cross Met outer rail (eastbound) platform - another reason I've just remembered why the station couldn't be modernised on the original site.

In the fourth photo here, the right hand side of the view is the back of the narrow Thameslink platform:

http://www.abandonedstations.org.uk/Kings_Cross_station.html

 

[ChrisCooper]

Interesting to see from those photos that the old Met&Circle station is also still an operational Intervention Point, so could be used for evacuation too.

I presume various other disused underground stations are still able to be used for access and evacuation.

The old Kings Cross Thameslink Northbound platform was originally a (presumably fairly narrow) island with the Eastbound underground line, and when the Underground station moved they just stuck a wall down one side of the island.

 

[swt_passenger]

The old Kings Cross Thameslink Northbound platform was originally a (presumably fairly narrow) island with the Eastbound underground line, and when the Underground station moved they just stuck a wall down one side of the island.

I don't think it was quite as fast as that! I reckon there was well over 40 years between the Underground closure in 1941 (a bit before my time) and the wall going up - and that's assuming it was done for the original 'Bedpan' improvements...

More pics here - note the 1976 view with the wire mesh fence on the back of the platform:

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/k/kings_cross_thameslink/index.shtml