KINGS CROSS (THAMESLINK)

(1866-2007)

 

The Metropolitan line's station at Kings Cross was originally opened at a point eastward of the one that exists today. Links were built through to the Great Northern Railway at Kings Cross and the Midland Railway at St Pancras. The subsequent heavy traffic (goods & passenger) necessitated an extra two tracks being built from Kings Cross to Moorgate (known at the Widened Lines) and extra platforms were added at all of the intermediate stations.

The Metropolitan Line's station was moved slightly west in 1941 to facilitate better interchange between it, the deep level lines, and the main line station itself. The Widened Lines part of the old station continued in use until 1979 when it was closed to allow the line to be upgraded as part of the north-south Thameslink line. It reopened in 1983 as Kings Cross Thameslink.

The arrival of Eurostar at St Pancras and the general rebuilding of the Kings Cross station complex, saw the Kings Cross Thameslink station closed permanently in December 2007 and the St Pancras International replacement station opened at the north-east corner of St Pancras.

(This page deals only with the Widened Lines / Thameslink part of the station. The Metropolitan line side is dealt with on its own page).

 

1930s map showing the location of the first station. Also visible are the links to Kings Cross (single tracks either side of it) and to St. Pancras, the ones in use today.



 

View of the station looking northward.
Prior to the Metropolitan Line's station being moved westward in 1941, their services shared the centre platform seen here (eastbound Metropolitan & northbound Widened lines).

(Photo: Paul Hepworth. © 2015)

 

 

View of the station being rebuilt for Thameslink services. The old Metropolitan Line station is on the left.

 

 


Building work commencing on the construction of the Kings Cross Thameslink station building, around 1979 or so.
Move your cursor over the image to see the same view more than a quarter of a century later in November 2007.

 

 

 


Kings Cross Widened Lines platforms before the Thameslink conversion and (moving your cursor over the image) the same view a quarter of a century later in November 2007.

The Metropolitan/Circle Line platforms of its own Kings Cross disused station are to the left behind the fencing.

 

 

 


Kings Cross Widened Lines platforms before the Thameslink conversion looking east from the eastbound platform. More or less the same view from December 2007 can be seen by moving your cursor over the image.

 

 

The Widened Lines platforms with a northbound service arriving.

(Photo: Paul Hepworth. © 2015)

 

 

Looking in an easterly direction.

The Widened Lines platforms are on the left. The tracks on the right now are part of the Hammersmith & City / Circle lines.
Note that the Widened Lines platforms are slightly askew: the eastbound one extends further than the northbound one. This is explained fully further below.

(Photo: Paul Hepworth. © 2015)

 

 

 

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Surface level in the station building on Pentonville Road. The station building and its pedestrian tunnel to the deep level tube lines will be retained for additional tube access. Note the large announcement on the left advertising the relocation of the station.

(photo: Dec 2007)

 

 

 

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The access from the pedestrian tunnel to Kings Cross deep level tube lines.

(photo: Dec 2007)

 

 

 

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The station had a strange split-personality: the section here with the overall roof being much smarter and modern-looking than the exposed section. The platform width was quite narrow, especially on the northbound side, and caused much congestion in the rush hours.

(photo: Dec 2007)

 

 

 

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The origins of the station are more apparent here: the original brickwork is visible on the left hand (southbound) platform. The brick wall to the right of the northbound platform dates from the Thameslink conversion in the early 1980s and separates the station from the original Metropolitan line tracks (and station) behind it.

The Widened Lines part of the station originally had platforms slightly askew. The southbound platform on the left is original but the northbound platform that the photographer is standing on, is a platform extension that was only built during the Thameslink conversion. The original northbound platform was an island one shared with the southbound Metropolitan line that extended into part of the tunnel at the western end of the station. That section was retained by London Underground for street level access to its old station, so an extension was built at the end seen here.

(photo: Dec 2007)

 

 

 

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The station was more photogenic at night.

This is the southbound platform looking toward the Farringdon direction.

(photo: Nov 2007)

 

 

 

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The southbound platform looking south-east.

(photo: Nov 2007)

 

 

 

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View north-westwards taken from the southbound platform.

(photo: Nov 2007)

 

 

 

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The long awaited replacement station at St Pancras International.

(photo: Dec 2007)

 


 

Farringdon / Barbican / Moorgate

 

 

Photos taken between 1977 and 1981, except where stated.