Kings Cross V Euston

[SkinnyDave]

Had long weekend in London and on my way back up to Edinburgh via the ECML and we have traveled on both WCML( Harry apottet Studios )and ECML in last few days

Love the Pendolino trains but have to say in terms of station Kings Cross is far more impressive than Euston.
Euston seemed soul less to me but Kings Cross has so much more character!
Maybe I'm being a romantic but having now experienced both I thought I'd share my thoughts.

Popped into St Pancras to catch a glimpse of Eurostar leaving and its stunning but we only popped in for a minute-Trip to Paris next time

 

[yorksrob]

I adore the revitalised St Pancras and Kings Cross stations, although I have to say, I have a bit of a soft spot for the concourse at Euston. It is modern but fairly nicely designed in terms of being warm, has plenty of natural light and is easy to use. The platform area isn't so impressive though.

 

[DXMachina]

"Euston Station is like a great modern bathtub where passengers are swished around for a bit then flushed off down the plughole to their trains"

Michael Palin - probably not quoted exactly but that was the gist...

 

[yorksrob]

"Euston Station is like a great modern bathtub where passengers are swished around for a bit then flushed off down the plughole to their trains"

Michael Palin - probably not quoted exactly but that was the gist...

That is a good description. But I'd still say it's quite a nice bathtub.

 

[wintonian]

"Euston Station is like a great modern bathtub where passengers are swished around for a bit then flushed off down the plughole to their trains"

Michael Palin - probably not quoted exactly but that was the gist...

St Pancreas & the new bit of Kings Cross look nice, but I have to say I prefer almost any other terminal to St Pancrease its just so damn difficult to find anything like the relevant set of platforms, it also takes an age to get from one part to another and there is no where for me to use my bite card. :cry:

I do like Euston, though I find the concourse a bit overcrowded these days.

Having said that think I'll stick to Waterloo or Marylebone for a change when its quiet

 

[yorksrob]

St Pancrease its just so damn difficult to find anything like the relevant set of platforms, it also takes an age to get from one part to another and there is no where for me to use my bite card. :cry:

Well, it is a bit difficult to do St Pancreas on a budget admittedly, but you get used to the layout eventually

On the subject of the bite card, I was quite pleased to find out that the KFC at Leeds takes it !

 

[Windcutter]

For romance and nostalgia in steam days it must be Paddington

 

[Greenback]

I can't quite put my finger on why, but I have always preferred King's Cross to Euston.

My favourite London Terminal is Victoria, I think because of the glamour of the boat trains when I was young.

Parts of St Pancras are very nice, but the other areas leave a bit to be desired for me.

 

[yorksrob]

By a similar token, for romance and nostalgia in EPB days, it's got to be Charing Cross
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

My favourite London Terminal is Victoria, I think because of the glamour of the boat trains when I was young.

Yes, I've always liked Victoria as well. I know it's not unique, but I've always been intrigued by the double station layout.

 

[Greenback]

By a similar token, for romance and nostalgia in EPB days, it's got to be Charing Cross

Definitely! As a child we used to travel through Victoria to one set of relations in Croydon, and Charing Cross for another lot in Kent.

To a five year old coming from a railway less area, there seemed to be so many trains and railway lines in London!

 

[Windcutter]

The worst for me was Leeds central

 

[Lampshade]

Nothing beats Waterloo. Nothing.

 

[Jatos]

St Pancreas & the new bit of Kings Cross look nice, but I have to say I prefer almost any other terminal to St Pancrease its just so damn difficult to find anything like the relevant set of platforms, it also takes an age to get from one part to another and there is no where for me to use my bite card. :cry:

I do like Euston, though I find the concourse a bit overcrowded these days.

Having said that think I'll stick to Waterloo or Marylebone for a change when its quiet

Doesn't the Camden Food Company take it?

 

[yorksrob]

Definitely! As a child we used to travel through Victoria to one set of relations in Croydon, and Charing Cross for another lot in Kent.

To a five year old coming from a railway less area, there seemed to be so many trains and railway lines in London!

I know, I always found seeing the vast web of lines all around (and racing other trains as well) particularly exciting as a child. (I still do, to an extent - truth be known).

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Nothing beats Waterloo. Nothing.

I love Waterloo- was always a fan of southern locos 73s, 33s. Loved it in 1987/88 when there were regular double headed 73s working to Bournemouth -ahrr those were the days

 

[EM2]

St Pancreas & the new bit of Kings Cross look nice, but I have to say I prefer almost any other terminal to St Pancrease its just so damn difficult to find anything like the relevant set of platforms, it also takes an age to get from one part to another and there is no where for me to use my bite card. :cry:

Camden Food take it.

 

[Windcutter]

I love Waterloo- was always a fan of southern locos 73s, 33s. Loved it in 1987/88 when there were regular double headed 73s working to Bournemouth -ahrr those were the days

Sorry but third rail spoilt it, mind you seeing the Golden Arrow leave on Southern lines was special.

 

[asylumxl]

Parts of St Pancras are very nice, but the other areas leave a bit to be desired for me.

Amen. Shopping centre with a few platforms, most of which are badly attatched in leaky "extensions".

 

[Mojo]

I think St Pancakes is already starting to look a bit tired, especially the floor where numerous repairs have been made, showing the joins and completely different shades of floor; presumably because some are newer than the other.

 

[asylumxl]

I think St Pancakes is already starting to look a bit tired, especially the floor where numerous repairs have been made, showing the joins and completely different shades of floor; presumably because some are newer than the other.

Not to mention the obvious difference in upkeep between the LU and NR areas.

 

[wintonian]

Amen. Shopping centre with a few platforms, most of which are badly attatched in leaky "extensions".

Well put.

Its nice to have facilities at major termini like a reasonable selection of outlets for food & drink on the go, a coffee shop, a express style supermarket, a public house and perhaps even a newsagent or book store, but do you really need any shops that sell fashion accessories? Its not like most people think; "I know what I need while I wait for the train - a new pair of earnings".

 

[jon0844]

I still think they've got a way to go with the signs at St Pancras too. And the signs for the lift to take you up to the HS1 platforms seem to point in completely the wrong direction.

That and the stupidity of the departure boards which are grouped by the platforms (International, HS1, low-level and upper-level). Why should the average visitor know or care which section their train goes from when seeking the departure times?

I can fully accept splitting the International trains, but don't understand why someone has to walk the whole length of the boards (or stand miles back) to find their train and then the platform. What's wrong with the system used at other stations, including King's Cross over the road? Then you make sure that somewhere along the same wall of screens you explain which way to go to the relevant platforms.

But to get back on topic, Euston is not a beautiful station but it is functional and that's probably all that matters.

King's Cross is nicer, but you can sometimes wait until the last few minutes before a platform is announced and then have a long way to go to get the train (God help you if you're not able to walk fast). While all EC trains will go from 0-8, FCC trains could go from any platform at any time during the day. I realise why some trains have to be announced late, but it's still a nightmare at times.

 

[wintonian]

I can fully accept splitting the International trains, but don't understand why someone has to walk the whole length of the boards (or stand miles back) to find their train and then the platform. What's wrong with the system used at other stations, including King's Cross over the road? Then you make sure that somewhere along the same wall of screens you explain which way to go to the relevant platforms.

I keep looking at the FCC boards wondering why I can't find my EMT/ HS1 departure on there. Its not like anywhere else (that I know of) has departure boards grouped by TOC in different parts of the station. :roll:

 

[asylumxl]

I keep looking at the FCC boards wondering why I can't find my EMT/ HS1 departure on there. Its not like anywhere else (that I know of) has departure boards grouped by TOC in different parts of the station. :roll:

To be honest I could understand splitting by say HS1/MML services but definitely not by TOC. It'd be useful for people going to Luton or Bedford as they'd be able to see the EMT services amongst the TL services and make their decision on what service to get with more ease.

 

[philjo]

King's Cross is nicer, but you can sometimes wait until the last few minutes before a platform is announced and then have a long way to go to get the train (God help you if you're not able to walk fast). While all EC trains will go from 0-8, FCC trains could go from any platform at any time during the day. I realise why some trains have to be announced late, but it's still a nightmare at times.

My experience at Kings Cross recently is that they tend to announce the FCC services with plenty of time to get to the platform - it is a lot better than before the new concourse opened when you didn't know whether to go to the suburban & then find you had a minute to get from there to platfrom 0.

2 out of my last 3 departures from KX - the train was announced about 20 minutes before departure but I had to wait at least 10 minutes on platform 0 before the train turned up!

In hot weather I find Euston concourse to be hot & airless for waiting in, as was the old one at Kings Cross - the new one at Kings Cross is a vast improvement.

 

[QJ]

Nothing beats Waterloo. Nothing.

Agreed. Though it has lost a bit of its old magic with the abolition of the North Sidings, the Armstrong Lift, the cinema and now the offices where I used to work (turned into a trendy shopping area - yeuk).

It also now gets locked up at night (no - not me the station). No mail and newspaper trains, BRUTES and the odd round the world slammer anymore at night these days.

Saint Pancras does have some brownie points in remaining open during the nocturnal hours these days even on a Saturday night / Sunday morning. And the coffee shop stays open. A reminder of the good old days when major stations up and down the country had buffet facilities stay open all night.

I am amused by platform 9 3/4 at the Cross though. The queues of tourists taking photos of a piece of wall with a sawn off shopping trolley attached to it. Tourists can't wait to get out of Euston (unless the wires are down).

 

[transmanche]

I can fully accept splitting the International trains, but don't understand why someone has to walk the whole length of the boards (or stand miles back) to find their train and then the platform. What's wrong with the system used at other stations, including King's Cross over the road?

Although that's just how the departure boards at Kings Cross worked until the opening of the new concourse. Back in the day it was InterCity on the left and Network SouthEast on the right - with the columns labelled as such. In later years you were left to guess the which was which yourself.

At St Pancras it would be better if the various boards were labelled; e.g. International, service to East Midlands, etc.

King's Cross is nicer, but you can sometimes wait until the last few minutes before a platform is announced and then have a long way to go to get the train (God help you if you're not able to walk fast).

At least you now have the option of waiting on the 'bridge', so you can see the departure board and you have a shorter walk to coaches A, B & C.

 

[jon0844]

My experience at Kings Cross recently is that they tend to announce the FCC services with plenty of time to get to the platform - it is a lot better than before the new concourse opened when you didn't know whether to go to the suburban & then find you had a minute to get from there to platfrom 0.

At certain times of the day they are, especially at night where they might be announced 30-60 minutes ahead of departure.

The problem mainly arises during the day when there are two 3-car or 4-car trains on the same platform. Only one can be open for boarding, so the one to go first is announced. The one behind might be 'ready' but it isn't shown, and if the train ahead is delayed - it leaves very little time to board.

It is better than it was. In fact, it can be better to stand upstairs where you can quickly go down the escalators to 9-11 or walk via the bridge to 0-8.

 

[LE Greys]

My experience at Kings Cross recently is that they tend to announce the FCC services with plenty of time to get to the platform - it is a lot better than before the new concourse opened when you didn't know whether to go to the suburban & then find you had a minute to get from there to platfrom 0.

2 out of my last 3 departures from KX - the train was announced about 20 minutes before departure but I had to wait at least 10 minutes on platform 0 before the train turned up!

In hot weather I find Euston concourse to be hot & airless for waiting in, as was the old one at Kings Cross - the new one at Kings Cross is a vast improvement.

It takes a heck of a lot longer to turn round a MkIV set than a 365, and turn-round times are tight at The Cross because those sets are worked hard and often arrive late by WTT (not PTT) because of delays at Hitchin, Welwyn or the approaches with no recovery time available. Like many other things, the Hitchin Flyover should help with that.

The old Euston was as much an archetectural gem as either King's Cross or St Pancras, we all know about the Doric Arch and the Great Hall, but the train shed was every bit as ornate as the old one at Rugby.

http://www.oldstratforduponavon.com/images/euston_a_.jpg

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The worst for me was Leeds central

Now trumped by the new Leeds (City)
Nothing so gloomy as p16 where the sun never shines, and there are no facilities.
How could they design a new station with so little natural light?