Euston station

From Freepedia

**Euston**
Image:Euston station facade.jpg
Management
Managed by	Network Rail
Location
Place	Euston Square
Local authority	Camden
Statistics
Annual entry/exit	27.787 million
Zone	1
Platforms in use	18
History
Key dates	Opened 1837

Euston station, also known as London Euston, is a major railway station to the north of central London and in the London Borough of Camden. It is one of seventeen UK railway stations managed by Network Rail, whose main offices are above the station.

It is connected to Euston tube station and near to Euston Square tube station of the London Underground. All stations are in Travelcard Zone 1.

1 Services
2 History
3 London Underground
4 External links

Services

The station is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line with express trains to and from Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Holyhead and Glasgow as well as local stopping services. Train services are operated by Virgin Trains and Silverlink. First ScotRail also operate overnight sleeper train services to Scotland.

History

Although the present station building is in the International Modern style, Euston was the first inter-city railway station to be built in London.

Old building

Image:Euston Station showing wrought iron roof of 1837.jpg Image:Euston Station - The Great Hall.jpg

Image:Euston Station - 1851 - from Project Gutenberg - eText 13271.jpg

Image:Euston station concourse.jpg

Image:Euston platforms.jpg

The original station was opened on July 20, 1837, as the terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway constructed by Robert Stephenson. It was designed by a well-known classically trained architect, Philip Hardwick, with a 200ft (61m) long engine shed by structural engineer Charles Fox. Initially it had only two platforms, one for departures and one for arrivals. A 72 foot (21.9 m) high Doric arch - designed by Hardwick - was erected at the station's entrance to serve as a portico; this became renowned as the Euston Arch.

Until 1844, trains had to be pulled up the hill to Camden Town by cables as they did not have enough power to get there under their own steam.

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), built in classical style. It was 125 feet long, 61 feet wide and 62 feet high (38.1 by 18.6 by 18.9 m), with a coffered ceiling and a sweeping double flight of stairs leading to offices at the northern end of the hall. The station was situated further from Euston Road than the front of the modern complex; it was on Drummond Street, which now terminates at the side of the station, but then ran all the way across the front it. A short road called Euston Road ran from Euston Square towards the arch. Two hotels called the Euston Hotel and the Victoria Hotel flanked the northern half of this approach.

The station and the railway that it served experienced several changes in management, being owned in turn by the London and North Western Railway (1846–1922), the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (1923–1947), British Rail (1947–1994), Railtrack (1994–2001) and Network Rail (2001–)

New building

In the early 1960s it was decided that the old building was no longer adequate and needed replacing. Amid much public outcry the old station building (including the famous Euston Arch) was demolished in 1962 and replaced by a new building, which opened in 1968.

The loss of the original station helped galvanize the environmental conservation movement in Britain, which had previously been focused on preserving aristocratic power houses, picturesque vernacular architecture and unspoilt landscapes. The loss of the original New York Penn Station in the United States has been referenced as comparable.

The modern station is very much a creation of 1960s architecture. It is a long, low structure with a frontage of some 647 feet. Part of the station building includes two office towers which look out onto adjacent Melton Street and Eversholt Street, and are home to Network Rail. All of these buildings are in a functional style and the main facing material is polished dark stone, which is complemented with white tile, exposed concrete and plain glazing. The station itself has a single large concourse populated with the usual assortment of shops and eateries, which is separate from the train shed. A couple of small remnants of the older station were kept, close to Euston Road, but were hardly an effective sop to those offended by the loss of the former building. The frontage of the station building itself is hidden behind office buildings and a bus station.

Criticism

Euston is widely regarded as the ugliest and the most unpleasant of all of the Central London rail termini. The ramps which passengers have to descend from the concourse down to platform level seem claustrophobic to many and the trainshed is low-ceilinged, making no attempt to match the airy style of London's major 19th century trainsheds. The exterior of the shed is windowless and monotonous dark brick and corrugated metal, more typical of an industrial estate than a major metropolitan building. The concrete-adorned square outside the front entrance is a popular stamping ground for beggars (who also frequent the station concourse itself), and rough sleepers.

Privatisation

Following privatisation of the railways in the 1990s, train services were taken over by private companies, on a franchise. The station itself was taken over by Railtrack and was subsequently transferred to Network Rail. As of 2005 Network Rail is 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 "airspace rights" above the platforms, but there are many major office projects in London at a more advanced stage of planning, so this project is unlikely to proceed for many years.

London Underground

Main article: Euston tube station

Main article: Euston Square tube station

Euston station is directely connected to, and above, Euston tube station which is served by the Victoria Line and Northern Line City Branch of the London Underground.

Euston Square tube station on the Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line and Metropolitan Line is a short walk from the station along Euston Road.

Preceding station		Following station
Terminus	Virgin Trains West Coast Main Line	Watford Junction
Terminus	First ScotRail West Coast Main Line	Carlisle
Terminus	Silverlink West Coast Main Line	Harrow & Wealdstone
Terminus	Silverlink Metro DC Lines	South Hampstead