Department for Transport

Thameslink passengers to get new station at St Pancras
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date 8 Feb 2006 00:00
source Department for Transport
type Press release

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has today announced the decision to fit out the new Thameslink station at King's Cross St Pancras, which should be ready to take its first passengers at the end of 2007.

The first phase of the station construction was completed in May 2005, when an eight-month blockade of the line allowed the construction of a station "box" under the new St Pancras station site. This second phase will prepare the station for operational use, including laying flooring, fitting seven escalators and two lifts, and will cost in the region of £50m. A further £10-15m will be spent on signalling work and to transfer services from the current station at Pentonville Road.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said:

"I have agreed to the proposal to fit out the new Thameslink station at King's Cross St Pancras.

"This new station will provide an excellent interchange between Thameslink and national and international services. It will also provide better access to passengers who use the Olympic Javelin service from St Pancras to Stratford during the 2012 Games."

Notes to Editors

1. The work fitting out the station will start in the early summer of 2006 and will take approximately 20 months. It is envisaged the new station will start operation in December 2007.

2. The extensive sub surface programme of works to fit out the station includes:

- laying an area of 4,600 square metres of flooring;
- laying 40km of cable and ducting
- fitting seven escalators and two lifts
- installation of a state-of-the-art CCTV security system

This work will require 24 hour shift working while a live railway is running through the middle of the site. Fitting out the station will cost in the region of £50m at 2003 prices, while a further £10-15m will be spent on the rail network to permit trains to stop at the new station and make safe the existing station at Pentonville Road

3. The fitting out of the new Thameslink station will take place separately from, and in advance of, the wider Thameslink 2000 project, which involves a programme of infrastructure works to enable the increase of train frequency through the central section of the Thameslink Network, as well as extending platforms to allow 12 car trains to operate to a wide variety of destinations. That project was the subject of a re-opened public inquiry between September and December 2005 and the Inspector's report is currently awaited.

4. In December the DfT announced details of the new Thameslink/GN franchise from April 2006, including £40m investment over the first three years. First Group will run the new franchise and there is provision in the franchise for an effective transfer to the Thameslink 2000 project if it is approved.

Railhub Archive ::: 2006-02-08 DfT-001