Brent Cross West Station is Now Open

Britain's newest station is now open! Welcome to Brent Cross West servied by Thameslink services, it's station number 2580 on the National Rail network.
#BrentCross #BrentCrossWest
It’s been built to serve the new Brent Cross Town development to the east of the station, at a cost of £419 million. This is government funding secured by Barnet Council from the Department of Levelling Up.
Alongisde the 7000 square foot station, hundreds of metres of tracks were reconfigured, and new modern railway sidings delivered, to allow Brent Cross West to be built.
You can download the new December 2023 Tube Map here : tfl.gov.uk/maps/track/tube
CORRECTIONS:
1:10 this is a test

[@geofftech2]

The station code for Brent Cross West by the way is ‘BCZ’ and not the more obvious ‘BCW’ which is not in use elsewhere! Does anyone know why?

[@Farleigh1050]

or it could be because it was also planned for it to be called Brent Cross Thameslink or Brent Cross Cricklewood and they made the code before thst

[@kr46428]

It stands for Brent Cross Zest, as in "the thing that Geoff has" after visiting Brent Cross West.

[@jackallstations]

BCW is indeed in use as "Blaencwm", a bus location in Wales it seems! BCR is also taken as the combined "Bicester Stations" Maybe BCX would've been best haha

[@Farleigh1050]

@@jackallstations bus and trains cant have the same codes? i didnt know that but BCX wouod mean Brent Cross 2 (in which it is) because X usually means 2 in station codes

[@jackallstations]

@@Farleigh1050 well if it had the same code then both Blaencwm and Brent CW would show up in journey planners if "BCW" was entered. X doesn't have to mean 2 either as in the following cases: Buxton - BUX Buxted - BXD New Cross - NWX New Cross Gate - NXG Charing Cross (London) - CHX However, I've no idea if Blaencwm is actually used for anything, seems to be a small village near Treherbert

[@nathanielrosa1]

Thank god they've built toilets! Really important moving forward in public infrastructure (and its *insane* we have to spell this out)

[@davexxx316]

Also,... public toilets are a rarity in public transport infrastructure these days

[@chelseacomps829]

Especially after the Elizabeth Line saga a couple days ago.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

The only problem with toilets on stations with little or no staff is they frequently get vandalised by scum!

[@anianii]

@@chelseacomps829What happened?

[@fin720s]

​@@davexxx316New tube stations are built with them like Battersea ps

[@SteelPanTrust]

Big thanks for capturing our performance at Brent Cross West Station! Your video beautifully showcases this historic moment and the energy of our steel pan music. We're really glad to have this memory preserved and shared with everyone. 💚💚💚

[@Simonm9020]

You sounded really good 😁

[@SteelPanTrust]

@@Simonm9020 thanks so much!

[@danwiddon3854]

Big thanks for confirming it was the four of you entertaining the crowd in celebration of BCZ being opened. I'm not in SE England, but could do with more of your steel pan skills so have subscribed and wonder where else we might find you online.

[@rogink]

So were you responsible for Whamgeddon? Apparently it's a popular game - that no one had heard about a couple of weeks ago!

[@timothyrider1127]

As it happens, Brent Cross West is now the southernmost MML station where you can see trains exceed 100mph; fast lines are 110mph. At present anything electric can only do 100mph (222s are diesel) because of the 1980s OLE spec, but some of today's engineering works will eventually enable the EMR trains - both 360s and upcoming 810s - to reach full linespeed on the juice.

[@andyyu5957]

After Cricklewood, the track curves rather sharply to the left and then enters a tunnel immediately beyond West Hampstead Thameslink (where I believe trains cannot travel at full speed even if the track is straight), so probably southbound trains travelling at 110mph need to slow down soon after passing Brent Cross West?

[@SamSitar]

what is MML?

[@Jhickson92]

@@SamSitarMidland Main Line👍

[@timothyrider1127]

@@andyyu5957 That's correct; it's 95mph through Cricklewood. Also, the lower limit in the Belsize Tunnels (80mph) is probably due to ventilation and/or proximity to St Pancras.

[@EWLad15]

Geoff! I was the mechanic you met outside Edgware Station last night, shame I couldn't come along, Station looks fantastic. Been watching your content for years, hope you have a happy Christmas you legend!

[@geofftech2]

haaaa, that was you!! hello! we'd all met up the night before for dinner and were then Tube home. you work on the buses? nice, also a legend!!

[@GreenIcing1]

Was lovely meeting you here today Geoff! I was very impressed with how (possibly needlessly) capacious it was.

[@geofftech2]

Capacious! Great word :-)

[@QPRTokyo]

Built for the future. A railway station should always be so.

[@sofiaviolet23]

I kept expecting you to trot out your favorite word - "capacious!" I'm surprised (and impressed) that they went ahead and built the express platforms right away, instead of just leaving space for them. That seems like a vote of confidence in the area's development and in Thameslink's service levels.

[@jimrobinson6362]

Excellent and only 47yrs late The Brent Cross Shopping Centre was opened in 1976, used to go there in the summer of 76 to cool off, the only place with air conditioning

[@Oofhixd]

As someone who often uses the 326 bus (I live in Totteridge) I’m so happy it’s being rerouted as now I have the 251 to connect to Totteridge and whetstone, Arnos Grove, MH Broadway, burnt oak and Edgware and now the 326 to Brent Cross west, Hendon central, West Finchley and Finchley central I now bc have another connection though I promised myself to come here today but I forgot…

[@LUtrainwizard]

Who doesn't love a brand new capacious station? What you didn't mention (which I don't blame you for, it's not confirmed) is the provision for a future platform on the west side for the proposed West London Orbital overground service.

[@markholttum]

Good to see it finished, I visited some time ago while it was being built. Well done to the VolkerFitzpatrick team.

[@sianwarwick633]

That is a pretty wild development, rail station, Geoff. I lived near Hendon/Brent Cross and it was a wasteland. Now it's a lifeland.

[@TomBradfordUK]

I've heard the phrase "First new mainline station in London for a decade" passed around quite a bit, But everyone seems to be overlooking Meridian Water. As much as it technically "Replaced" Angel Road which was an existing station, It's an entirely new building on an entirely new site with a new name. I'd count it.

[@BenKata23]

I was about to comment that. I was confused why all the news are saying that

[@AndreiTupolev]

If Thameslink is mainline rather than suburban, why isn't the Lizzo Line, which is served by a very similar style of service,?

[@Nooticus]

Exactly. IanVisits seems to strongly disagree though, I had a little twitter argument with him about it 🤷‍♂️

[@jennythescouser]

I'm so glad to see that there's an eastern entrance too. That'll be hand for me to go to the Tesco Superstore nearby and the Wing Yip Supermarket on Edgeware Road via the other entrance (I live in Kings Cross and a lot of the supermarkets are dinky metro ones). The last shot confirms the need for boarding ramps for us wheel chair users ;)

[@miles_thomas]

Sadly still not that close to the big Tesco, which quite a walk from the station. If you need to access a big supermarket from the Kings cross area the big Sainsbury's in Camden or at the o2 Centre Finchley road may be easier to get to (the latter also has an smaller Aldi on site and a Waitrose nearby and a M&S food a little further away, the former has a good Aldi and a M&S nearby)

[@jennythescouser]

@@miles_thomas No worries, I use an electric wheelchair with a 12mile range, so cutting through Clitterhouse Lane (childish giggle) would be a 5 minute ride. I use my local Waitrose in the Brunswick Shopping Center, mainly. But Tesco main stores do stuff like nduja.

[@miles_thomas]

@@jennythescouser You do know that you will have to request a boarding ramp for Brent cross West, sadly level boarding wasn't practical. Sounds like you have managed to get to that Tesco before so you already know the other challenges to get there

[@customtransport2777]

I’m glad I was able to attend the very beginning of a station opening for the first time and it was finally nice getting to see you today! 😀

[@ClaudiaOfTheWorld]

I have been waiting for this station to be built for YEARS. Trundling through it on morning thameslink services as the months it was supposed to be ready by passed. So great to see it finally completed.

[@alessandrarossetti3742]

Nice to see what a brand new station could look like. Here in Haringey we look forward to the incoming refurbishment of Alexandra Palace Station, with lift access to the platforms. Sadly no plans for a concourse like Brent Cross or a canopy to shelter the footbridge from rain and flooding . But who knows, it may happen.... look forward to that video...

[@bossfight6125]

I really like the looks of this station. With all the features from the modern infrastructure and the dual platforms. Hope the 2024 stations look just as good as Brent Cross West. Also we should be hitting station number 2600 in 2025-26

[@EoRdE6]

Its a shame that new stations not funded and tied to private developments will never be this nice but its good that we're capitalizing on the opportunity to get a nice station when development is happening

[@Soyosan22]

The station is also already live on Google maps and live departure times are available.

[@twyfordlion]

Geoff, your reports are the highlight of KZbin and always cheer me up. Keep up the good work.

[@QPRTokyo]

Thank you Mr Marshal. I love seeing new railway stations and upgraded stations. 😃 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@glenncooney3959]

The late Phil Sayer lives on in the Brent Cross West lifts. Great video and lovely looking new station.

[@JamieBoy-ij2ri]

I love that network rail are keeping him and Celia Drummond’s memories alive

[@flowermeerkat6827]

Waistcoat guy is brilliant!

[@CornishGardenTeam]

Nice station, and another great video Geoff.

[@mablem487]

I actually counted 2,577 stations. But I don’t currently count Stanlow and Teeside since they’re suspended.

[@mikestravelshow]

We all appreciate your efforts geoff 👏

[@timothyleberl1202]

Fantastic video as always Geoff, great seeing you around, amazing videos throughout the whole of this year, can't wait to see more from you in 2024! Have a great Christmas & a great New Year too 😊

[@hamwicbi1265]

God im so envious of the rest of London with all these new train lines and stations, spare a thought for us mugs in South West London where we're just lucky to have a bus

[@walkingtheboogie]

Looks great. Loving the wide footbridge. Hopefully, someday they will be avkw to add another footbridge at Wimbledon Station. The existing one and stairs are everything up wide for the nunbers using it.

[@Professor_sckinnctn]

Great video. I almost came out for the opening this morning (looks like a great time!), but was headed to Canterbury already instead.

[@zhangarts6030]

Was great seeing you today and getting my book signed!!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Good to see Brent Cross West open. I visited today, walking to Brent Cross Shopping Centre is a bit of a challenge but I suppose the clue is in the name, its somewhat west of Brent Cross. Looking forward to seeing Brent Cross Town develop.

[@zak23]

Great video Geoff! At 0:43 you can see Gladstone Park on the map, which I would visit regularly when I was a kid, and still do to this day! It's great that they've decided to transform the area with a new station. I used to live nearby, and it never has been the nicest area in London, so nice to see that they're trying to upgrade it!

[@Denzelsworld]

Nice meeting you!!!

[@IanFarquharson2]

Nice project by the looks of it. Hope it stays looking this nice for a long time.

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

Thank you for the video Geoff that was really great information.

[@jackreed4271]

The station is the best looking one yet in my opinion and it was worth coming to see it in all its glory and was great to see you today is well Geoff

[@robertwilson2416]

The rules state that only the original version of Last Christmas counts, so nobody was taken out there. Great vid Geoff!

[@JudsonMatt88]

Great station. I'm sure it will get so much use once the new homes are built and businesses set up around Brent Cross with a good link in to London.

[@Nooticus]

Amazing station, I visited it last week. Loved all the music and steel pans in this opening video. Proud of my borough is an understatement!! Barnet Forever! 🧡

[@Arghans]

Nice to see a new station not done on the cheap which is key to actually attracting passengers. Wide platforms, proper canopy coverage, covered footbridge, toilets, waiting rooms and decent accessibility.

[@kirstenmorrison1194]

Been waiting for this for decades! Nice to meet you in Costa’s. Thanks for the film!

[@geofftech2]

ha ha! HELLOOOO that was yoU! nice to meet you. we'd arrived and was so busy, we snuck out for a coffee, and then went back to do the video. lovely to meet you!

[@michellebell5092]

Yes I was mighty impressed with the station . And I love what they are doing on the Barnet side , Brent Cross Town.and great to meet you too.

[@oysterfarescentral]

Great video, Geoff. Easily the best ive seen today, well worth the wait.

[@travelswithjess]

Fantastic video Geoff! Can’t wait to visit Brent Cross West for myself sometime. 😀

[@ajwells1172]

Wonderful to see Giles Round's vitreous enamel artwork - 7 minutes in. Beautiful project to work on!

[@richardsingh5827]

Looks great

[@kaliou6645]

🎄☃️🧸I can imagine Geoff doing a series about a Unique Feature of each Tube Station in London🚂Happy Christmas to everyone!

[@anderslarsen6009]

Have you seen his secrets of the underground series. Its just might what you are looking for.

[@SunshineGaming69]

I love Thameslink trains, they are just beautiful, another great video Geoff 👍

[@user-tm4ev3kv8u]

Looks impressive.

[@betoborrela]

It looks pretty impressive! London is an amazing city!

[@DanMunteanuAtipic]

thank you, Geoff

[@happyfrenchfries]

It was great meeting you today :) You really made our day!

[@geofftech2]

you're welcome. it was a busy day but great to see people!

[@brianfretwell3886]

Just my luck opening when the Sutton loop where I live is ouot of action for the weekend! Therefore even more thanks for this video.

[@ReecesTrains]

I've seen this on some other enthusiast's channels, looks like a really nice and modern station inside!

[@justmeajah]

This morning I see the news, then I checked that you haven't had any video uploaded. So I expect in the next few weeks. Wow it's here!

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Excellent video Geoff so exciting to watch. We play the Wham! game every year.

[@KakairoC21]

Those overhead heaters are very familiar to me as a Chicagoan, we huddle under those standing on windy platforms all winter!

[@jdbrinton]

Its quite unexplainable why I like this channel so much.

[@MggW]

Really well done in getting the film out so quickly ... but ... no shot lying on the floor!

[@luisstransport]

Great video Geoff

[@cuppacharly]

Any idea WHY the platforms aren't level boarding? Also I'd like to see them re-vamp Hendon next to bring it in line with nearby stations. Side note: does it count as getting whamaggedoned if you sing it in your own head?

[@andrewhead6267]

Great looking station, with more space than Watford Junction. Which pre covid was an 8.5 million passengers a year station. This station shows how to use above track space to create great access and circulation space. Dingy subways should be a thing of the past. Platforms with decent length canopies too!

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Great video, Geoff! I’ll check it out at some point.

[@pafawag5b6b5b]

where i live in warsaw they also opened a station today, the first train was at 4:23 am and of course i was waiting for it there. the station is very much unfinished but they already opened it so it could serve people and they're gonna finish it "later" as they always say

[@apuldram]

Or perhaps call it “Sheffield South” 😱

[@user-xo4fg7yj7p]

Great video as always; I understand they have left room for platforms 5 & 6 should the West London Orbital line ever get sorted.

[@GuyChapman]

That’s a really nicely presented station. I hope it doesn’t get trashed.

[@johnwhite3568]

Lucky you, and everyone else, managed to get there, as no trains running early morning due to overhead line damage repair taking place further along line...

[@ricequackers]

Wonderful! It'll be nice to visit both the Brent Cross shopping centre and the Wing Yip Chinese supermarket from out of London without either having to drive in + fight for a parking space, or contend with a really long walk from either Hendon or Cricklewood.

[@benjya]

Might visit it tomorrow!

[@Farleigh1050]

Great video, saw you there today but didnt have time to see you and also it was very chaotic

[@englishmaninmarktredwitz2228]

Great video. Good to see investment in new infrastructure. Something we need here in Germany on the railways. DB spend a fortune on compensation for late trains. Just been to Prague for the weekend on a wonderful Czech Railways express from just across the border in Cheb. Our connecting train (DB) back home worked but it was scheduled to return to Cheb but was just canceled without apology or explanation!

[@detudoumpouco9959]

❤beautiful station

[@Sim0nTrains]

Epic video Geoff. At least Brent Cross West isn't a cookie cutter station! But impressive!

[@rayob9131]

Geoff, thanks for another informative vid. Having visited on 13th December 2023 I would concur with the positive first impression you gained. It is encouraging that, as part of the wider and ambitious development plans by the local council, a bespoke station design was created incorporating essential functional elements such as the very wide bridge, four platforms etc. I noted too that designs now include emergency facilities such as emergency egress signage; Reading Green Park is another example with an emergency exit route from the northbound platform. Furthermore, incorporating timber sections by the stairs made that area more attractive than plain panels or concrete sections though that can work well e.g. Crossrail; the use of planting also softened the steel and concrete. I also liked the artwork which added a splash of colour and used a work with a connection to a local person. Clearly, there was the ability and rationale here to construct a station that was not an Airfix kit style such as Inverness Airport or East Linton and it appears to be a great success in terms of accessibility and passenger environment - and, I’d hope, suitability for station operators and those who maintain it.

[@kevg707]

lnot often a fan of new stations as i prefer the character of older ones however for a modern one this looks a seriously good station..cant wait to tick this one off

[@rikufryderyk]

Hiya Geoff, it was a pleasure to meet you today, hope you had a great time :)

[@Oofhixd]

You’re the person who recorded all the overground stations!

[@RobinPalmerTV]

I'm so glad other parts of London are getting some money rather than just the "money" areas.

[@Busesincroydon]

Nice Video Geoff, the station looks lovely

[@solsticepilgrim]

Another great video from Geoff. No need to permanently close the ticket office here, when one wasn't opened in the first place! Finally, I thought there was some provision was going to be made for the proposed West London Orbital line, although I could be wrong?

[@williamwildcat]

Hey Geoff you probably won’t see this but it’s William and i want to say thank you to you for the selfie

[@geofftech2]

you're welcome, it was so busy with a lot of people, but great to meet people!

[@williamwildcat]

@@geofftech2 thank you for replying it was awesome to be there on the first day!

[@maherhamadouch2005]

I was there today morning, there could be a good reason to use this as the start of the West London Orbital for the Overground to Hounslow, better than Hendon

[@johnlladron735]

Thanks for another great video, Geoff. I wonder if the "exciting retail outlets" will really excite, or just be the identikit chain outlets, because they aren't exciting.

[@TomikaArome]

This was exciting to me as it's in my general local area, it's not everyday a new London station opens, especially within walking distance! Had a look round this morning. It does feel very large and modern, although slightly barren for the time being among all of the worksites and empty lots that surround it. I can't help but look forward to what the area will feel like once Brent Cross Town has been fully developed! Also, I'd imagine the additional platforms might be in preparation for the proposed West London Orbital Overground line. We may one day see Overground trains passing through Brent Cross West.

[@bfapple]

Passing through? I thought Brent Cross West would be a terminus for London Overground.

[@timothyrider1127]

If you mean the platform 3/4 island, no chance. Typical frequency on the fast lines is 10tph (non-stop) each way off-peak Mon-Sat (maybe slightly less on Sundays), and at least that much in the peak hours too. If the WLO comes to fruition, I imagine there'll be a third platform island on the adjacent Hendon lines and a footbridge connecting it to where the stairs meet on platforms 3/4.

[@TomikaArome]

@@bfapple Last I saw the proposal said two northern termini, one at West Hampstead, and one at Hendon passing through Brent Cross. At least that seems to be shown on the October 2021 pdf on the tfl website.

[@GeorgeChoy]

Love the waistcoat, thanks Geoff.

[@RainhamRailEnthusiast]

Another quality video Geoff, and it is a lovely station in my opinion.

[@princessdaisy6]

the new tube map was in kenton this morning!

[@harrybell3250]

Was lovely to see you in person today but was too shy to say hello

[@fToo]

@11:18 i spot Decathlon! very handy station to access that big shop.

[@toppersailor96]

Imagine bing a student at Hallam based around Ecclesall Road & being told you have an exam on the London campus. A Why is SHU putting a campus in London?

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

Im impressed 😎

[@AnthonyBrown12324]

This could possibly be nearer to my house than Brent Cross tube which is probably Brent Cross East . my nearest station . I don't travel so much now as not working but this could be quicker to Kings Cross assuming you don't miss a train just after it leaves . More pleasant than riding on the tube too .

[@markcf83]

Think they said it would take about twelve minutes to get to St Pancras from there,so much quicker than the Misery line.

[@splittieful]

I when to Brent cross west. But when I started to trainspot a class 66 dad told me that his breaks was dragging, so we told a staff member to stopped the class 66 to avoid it to catch fire.

[@tedcopple101]

Perfect snapshot of the north south divide sadly. Oop north its a platform built from scaffolding and pallets with a token bus shelter if you're lucky. In London its a future proofed cathedral of railway architecture. I'm sure the new one in Scotland will be as equally magnificent 🙄. But any new infrastructure is always a good thing.

[@petebrooksbank]

You laugh but compare this to the value engineered nonsense they tossed up on the same MML up at Ilkeston...

[@apc108]

It seems like the future-proofing for Brent Cross West includes accommodation for the Dudding Hill line. The West London orbital plan seems to be moving along nicely.

[@darganx]

OK so to the west side of the station is the 316 bus on the A5 Edgware Rd.. that's only two stops off Cricklewood Garage. The east side is more challenging, will be interesting to see how the walkway gets from the station to Claremont/Clitterhouse Road.

[@gh1851]

Geoff, you never counted the stairs of the newest 15 storey building that is Brent Cross West. I'm disappointed in you for not doing this 😅

[@michaelhaile4994]

It would be great to do a video about how it connects to local infrastructure, amenities and where it is in relation to things like the shopping centre 😊

[@maxeylifetv2676]

I might do one