The “glass pasty”, the “string vest”, the “eyelid” – the station’s new concourse will not be open for business until next Monday – but it has already acquired several nicknames to describe its curved roof and lattice of steelwork.
From the morning of 19 March, passengers will enter the station from the west side instead of the front, into the cavernous space. Arguably no one will miss craning their neck to keep an eye on the departures board in the old concourse area, crammed between the platforms and WH Smith. It will begin closing after the Olympics.
Tom Fernley, a retail delivery manager for Network Rail, remarked on the particular challenges of the project: “We liken it to open heart surgery on a person; we’re having to get into the station while it’s still functioning and everything’s still working, and pull it apart and fundamentally reconfigure it.” Unlike St Pancras, most of the platforms stayed open during the years of construction work.
The £550m of improvements, which include restoring the roof of the1852 train shed, step up to the bar set by St Pancras next door. Major train stations are now being treated as destinations, not places to leave as soon as possible, and the slew of high street food and clothing shops reflect this.
Harry Potter pilgrims, possibly disappointed by the loss of the atmospheric Victorian grime after the roof restoration may be placated by a dedicated new shop. The Platform 9 and 3/4 trolley “shrine” will stop moving after seven years and rest permanently in the new concourse near the passageway into the old station.
Also opening next week and nestled away in the old Grade I-listed station is a new pub, fashioned from the old parcel office and themed with suitcases, tickets and other rail memorabilia.
The removal of the green corrugated iron canopy and the completion of the square at the front of the station are due for September 2013.
I think the new concourse looks amazing. With st Pancras and the University of the Arts theres now a cluster of Victorian buildings that have been given a new lease of life. Built to last, but flexible enough to be used in the 21st century – its what architecture should be about.
Thanks very much for your comments Rob, looking forward to seeing how everything pans out on Monday and beyond.