And under new proposals this could be achieved without the need to lower and rebuild all the existing platforms.
Euston Station will be the terminus for High Speed Two, but further work done by HS2 Ltd to look at the best way to accommodate high speed trains has found most of the benefits for Euston could be achieved without having to knock down and rebuild the entire station.
In January 2012, the Government published plans for the first phase of High Speed Two (HS2) between London and the West Midlands. This plan envisaged a complete rebuild of Euston Station, including all existing platforms.
However, further work on design and engineering has found the project can deliver wide-ranging opportunities and improvements on time but without the disruption caused by lowering all of the platforms into the ground, and in doing so achieve best value for money for taxpayers.
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This option, developed partly in response to concerns from the community about the potential disruption caused by redevelopment that would have taken more than a decade, would obviate the need to rebuild all the existing platforms. This would lead to less disruption for passengers as the station – the sixth busiest on Britain’s rail network – could continue to operate mostly as normal rather than having to move services from old platforms to new ones while platforms are being progressively demolished and rebuilt.
The proposals would still see the station revitalised for passengers and with potential for new homes, offices and shops above. Completing construction by 2026 will unlock the line-wide benefits as soon as practicable.
The revised proposal features:
• Potential opportunities for over-station development – with the possibility of being used for future homes, open space and businesses.
• The capacity needed for high speed and conventional trains
• New platforms and facilities for the high-speed trains
• New, improved facilities for all passengers in a redeveloped, integrated station with a new, combined concourse and façade
• Better connections with the Underground, including a new Underground ticket hall
• A sub-surface pedestrian link between Euston and Euston Square Tube
• East-west pedestrian routes across the station, helping to link communities on either side of the station.
This revised option will be included in the draft environmental statement for the first phase of HS2, which will be published in the next couple of months, and be subject to public consultation before any decision is made.
HS2 Ltd acknowledges the work done into the potential of the area around and above Euston as part of Camden Council's Euston Area Plan which shows there is considerable demand for locations immediately around and above the Euston area with significant employment and training opportunities. An economic report prepared for the Euston Area Plan found commercial development would be viable in the Euston area.
(CD)
