BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

Network Rail's (NR's) King's Cross Station is currently undergoing a major programme to redevelop and refurbish the existing mainline station. This will provide increased capacity and passenger dispersal to support current demand and future growth. Work commenced in 2008 and the new Western Concourse is scheduled to open prior to the Olympics in 2012 and the redevelopment of the area in front of the station, known as the Southern Square, in 2013.

The new Platform 0, situated in the main part of King's Cross station, allows trains to continue to operate in parallel with the modernisation work on the existing platforms as part of the station refurbishment programme. The plan being that the island platforms (commencing with Platforms 2/3) will be closed sequentially to allow for the construction of new escalators and lifts linking it to the new western concourse. Trains will commence operation of the new Platform from Sunday 23 May when the new summer timetable starts.

In the longer term when the redevelopment works are complete, Platform 0 will provide long term additional capacity at King's Cross to improve train performance and allow for growth.

The new Platform has been delivered on time, and this is a positive sign with respect to the programme as a whole.

This is the second project milestone to be delivered on time. The first being the completion of the Great Northern Hotel (GNH) arcading works in December 2009. The GNH works integrate with the new Western concourse to open up this area thereby improving passenger dispersal.

The wider redevelopment work, which commenced in 2008, will deliver a new western concourse on the east side of the station and will allow the demolition of the current 1970s concourse.

The refurbishment element of the programme includes complete renovation of the train shed and roof, construction of new lifts and footbridges from the platforms to the new Western Concourse and the refurbishment of the office buildings on the east and western ranges.

The works as a whole contribute to the Olympic transport strategy by providing increased capacity to support access to the high speed Javelin service to/from Stratford during the games.

They also contribute to the regeneration of the area through improved accessibility to the new King's Cross Central property development and the new public realm area (the southern square) facilitated by the demolition of the current concourse.

The DfT has underwritten £227.5 million (at 2006 prices) as part of the Rail Regulator's Control Period (CP) 4 Network Rail settlement with the balance of the work being funded from Network Rail's renewals and enhancements budget.

Lines To Take

In the short term the new platform allows train services and capacity to be maintained. In the longer term when the redevelopment works are complete, Platform 0 will provide additional capacity at King's Cross to improve train performance and allow for growth.

When complete the redevelopment of King's Cross Station and the new Western Concourse will triple the size of space available for passenger circulation.

The redeveloped King's Cross Station will provide an excellent national and international travel interchange, and will assist regeneration of the area as a whole.

Q&A

What are the benefits?
In the short term the new platform allows train services and capacity to be maintained. In the longer term when the redevelopment works are complete, Platform 0 will provide long term additional capacity at King's Cross to improve train performance and allow for growth.

How much did this cost?
The new platform is a component of the estimated £ [Redacted] million cost of the project.

Are there any options available to reduce expenditure?
Funding arrangements have been approved by the Rail Regulator as part of NR's CP4 settlement - DfT therefore not directly funding works. Any changes to the programme would require consultation and agreement between DfT, Network Rail and the Rail Regulator. Note: Main contracts for work have been let and are underway - costs associated with stopping the project would be significant.

Has it been delivered on time?

Yes. The new platform will come into operation on 23 May when the new Summer timetable commences.

Is the new Western Concourse big enough to cope with the Olympics?
Yes, capacity is being increased to accommodate the additional demand during the Olympic Games.

Background

King's Cross Redevelopment Programme

The Western Concourse will be a new 3,000 sq metre concourse which is over three times the size of the existing one. The concourse will be located above the new London Underground Limited (LUL) Northern Ticket Hall and the two designs have been integrated.

Construction of the new Western Concourse started in September 2008 and the current aim is to complete the physical works in December 2011.

The project will also restore the Grade 1 listed façade of the station by demolishing the `temporary' current single-storey front to the station. The single-storey structure will be demolished after the Olympics when the new Southern Square will be created in front of the station.

Impression of interior of new Western Concourse (2012)

0x01 graphic

0x08 graphic
Artist's impression of future Western Concourse Project with King's Cross Central in the background (2013)

Costs

The total estimated costs of the above works are £ [Redacted] million with £ [Redacted] million spent to date. Funding is from two sources. The redevelopment works are funded from a £227.5 million (at 2006 prices) addition to the Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) in CP4 Rail Regulator's CP4 settlement for 09/10 to 13/14. The balance is funded from Network Rail's renewals and enhancement budget for CP4.

Budget Profile

	£m
COWD	FY10/11	FY11/12	FY12/13	FY13/14	AFC
[Redacted]	[Redacted]	[Redacted]	[Redacted]	[Redacted]	[Redacted]
COWD - Cost of work to date			AFC - Anticipated final cost

Train Operating Companies (TOCs)

The principal TOCs operating at King's Cross are First Capital Connect (FCC) and East Coast trains in addition to the two open access operators Grand Central Trains and First Hull Trains.

Principal parties to the King's Cross Redevelopment Programme

The new platform was designed by Corus and constructed by Carillion. For the remaining works the principal designer is Arup with Kier the contractor for the roof refurbishment works and Vinci Construction as the principle contractor for the remaining works.

London Underground new Northern Ticket Hall at King's Cross St. Pancras

DfT is also directly funding London Underground's new Northern Ticket Hall (NTH) at King's Cross St. Pancras at an estimated cost of £ [Redacted] million with £ [Redacted] million being spent to date. The new NTH together with the King's Cross station redevelopment works are complimentary and integrate with each other to create a world class transport hub.

The new NTH opened ahead of schedule in November 2009 to compliment the start of the High Speed Services from St Pancras. Serving 73,000 passengers in the morning peak each day, the NTH was required to address congestion and safety issues and provides the additional passenger capacity to address current issues and to meet HS1 international and domestic demand and growth.

The project creates a transport hub which provides a key interchange between London Underground's deep tube lines, King's Cross main line station and St Pancras International in addition to providing step free access to underground lines. The remaining works relate to the completion of the final mobility impaired lift which is scheduled to open to the public in September 2010.

King's Cross Central Development (KXC)

The land around King's Cross and St. Pancras stations presents one of the largest inner city redevelopment opportunities in Europe and proposals include a mix of new build and renovation. The anticipated development will end decades of blight and low quality land use. The London Boroughs of Camden and Islington have granted planning permission.

The Secretary of State owned some of the land, the ownership of which passed to London & Continental Railways (LCR) under the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Project in 2007. LCR has Argent and Exel as development partners.

[Redacted].