This once-in-a-generation scheme, designed to future proof King’s Cross station and radically improve services for passengers has been completed
The King’s Cross scheme involved a wholesale replacement of the over 40-year-old tracks and track layout on the 1.5-mile approach into the station as part of the £1.2bn East Coast Upgrade.
It also saw the reopening of a disused tunnel after 44 years to add two additional lines into the station from the north.
The scheme has seen the replacement of:
- Over 6km of new track
- Over 30 new sets of points
- Over 50 new signals
- Over 20km of new overhead wires
The new ‘King’s Uncrossed’
At the same time as the King’s Cross work, Network Rail engineers have been continuing work on a new tunnel and 1.9 miles of new line at Werrington, north of Peterborough, so that slower moving freight trains will no longer cut across the East Coast Main Line, helping to unlock capacity on the route.
This new tunnel is due to open in the Autumn.
These upgrades will deliver improved reliability and punctuality for passengers, as well as ensuring the route has the capacity to deal with future passenger volumes.
Cross industry working
Rob McIntosh, managing director for Network Rail’s Eastern region, said: “To complete such an ambitious scheme that will bring so many important benefits to passengers, whilst at the same time working hard to keep disruption to a minimum, is testament to the dedication and teamwork of the many different professionals who have worked on it.
“I want to put on record my thanks to all our industry partners, including those operators who, while not directly impacted by the King’s Cross work, have helped to ensure our passenger handling plans were thorough and were able to deal with all eventualities. This has been a truly fantastic example of cross industry working.
“Finally, I want to say a big thank you to our passengers for their patience and understanding, especially during those periods when it was necessary to close the station or reduce services.”
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, added: “Passengers tell us that they like to know in advance when works will be taking place, so they can plan around it.
“We were pleased to work with Network Rail and train operators throughout the planning stages of the east coast upgrade.
“We stressed the importance of putting passenger needs at the heart of the engineering arrangements. The final plans delivered as many journeys as possible, included replacement services and had detailed communications to keep passengers informed.”
