The Abandoned Metropolitan and Thameslink Platforms at Kings Cross

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Күн бұрын

You might be aware that there is a random back entrance to the tube at kings Cross St Pancras that used to have Thameslink platforms, but did you know it used to be the Metropolitan Line station? A handy diagram to explain the history.

Пікірлер: 92

@Ro99 2 жыл бұрын

I’m subbing simply because of these 3D station models. They are so cool. No comment

@Nooticus 2 жыл бұрын

they are so awesome, agreed!

@transportenthusiast11 Жыл бұрын

It's so nostalgic going through Kings Cross Thameslink and seeing the First Capital Connect poster telling customers about the new station

@ajasont 2 жыл бұрын

The work you do on these maps makes everything fantastically understandable.

@rjjcms1 2 жыл бұрын

I like these maps. My grandmother used Thameslink when coming over from Germany and gallivanting round the country sightseeing on one or more of her visits in the 80s/90s,but I don't think I've ever used it myself.

@thatguyshawzy 5 ай бұрын

back when i use to live like 1 minute away from here, i always use to convince my mother to use this side entrance as for some reason it was always open back when i lived there & the only reason i did this was so i could look into the old thameslink platforms which i was always intrigued by, everyday i would look into these platforms and i think I remember a FCC class 319 running through one time and i was so happy about it but that was the only time i saw a train run past, i’ve been researching this part of the plethora of kings cross railways since like 2022 and i learn more and more the more i research and it really puts myself at east knowing I’m answering an old childhood query and healing my inner-child doing what he loved most.

@ds1868 2 жыл бұрын

I used to use those old King's Cross Thameslink platforms in the early 1990s and I can tell you the platforms themselves were very narrow. There was also only one entry/exit which was located at the western end of each platform, this did not help the overcrowding at busy times. The only plus with the old station was a certain charm and atmosphere which the new station sadly lacks.

@huguenotgirl6432 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting how we view things differently. I used to use these old platforms when coming into London and I have to say I never found them charming. If the train was delayed it got very crowded and you were stuck as you couldn’t go anywhere because of the long walk to the underground and mainline stations. I thought any international visitors arriving via Luton or Gatwick would not be impressed. I much prefer the new station. Interesting to hear the origins of the station.

@danieleyre8913 Жыл бұрын

Somehow this charm was lost on me. Thought this station was a right hole.

@SFgaming007 2 жыл бұрын

I find it so much easier to retain information when I can visualise it so I find your videos incredibly helpful and informative. Please make more

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I have the same issue, which is why I started making these- much easier to understand what's happened when you can see it laid out

@ubergeekian Жыл бұрын

Finally! A clear explanation of what the hell the City Widened Lines are and why they were built. Many thanks.

@distractionbucket7454 Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@danieleyre8913 Жыл бұрын

I was briefly living in the Kings cross area in late 2007. And I used this station quite a few times in the days before it closed, completely unaware that it was about to get the chop. I rocked up at the station on a Monday morning in December and saw that the doors were locked and a sign saying “station closed”, and it made me late for work that morning. I remember that the stations was always crowded, the platforms were really narrow,and the station was generally run down with a lot of depressing 1980s architecture. But it was however very convenient for me. After it closed; I had to make a few hundred meters more pain in the arse walk to the kings cross st Pancras underground station and then make an interchange at Farringdon. Then I moved address.

@___-yy8ud 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent job! You could have added about how there was an entrance on King's Cross Bridge street which was turned into an emergency exit until demolished a few years ago for a glass building.

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting, must admit I didn't come across that in my research, but it would make total sense as the bridge is right above the old platforms

@kaysmith8992 2 жыл бұрын

Are you talking about that grotty entrance next to the Scala, by the bus stop? I don't know if that's the one you mean, it looks like the doors/windows haven't changed since the 70s and often graffitied, and inside looked grimly yellow and windy.

@highpath4776 2 жыл бұрын

@@kaysmith8992 Think that is a Northern Line entrance rather than Met

@speedonz 2 жыл бұрын

You mean the one that was at the back of the lighthouse building? That's the original KX Met station entrance.

@brianfretwell3886 2 жыл бұрын

At the start, some station LED indicators, south of the Thames, did refer to the new St Pancras station as St P box.

@johnroutledge9220 2 жыл бұрын

I remember using that station on the way to Gatwick airport as a child. It always felt weird to me stepping out of one station through the dingy streets just to step into another station just down the street. The tunnel underneath was much more fun.

@ExpoAviation 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting, I sort of knew the history regarding Thameslink but your map really helped put things into perspective.

@SpearmintCoolmint 2 жыл бұрын

Thameslink 2000 was actually the project to connect the GN route from Kings Cross to existing Thameslink route. The new St Pancras low level platforms were built as a result of the the station being the new terminus for Eurostar with subsequent redevelopment of the whole station, which was decided after the Thameslink 2000 project was announced, finally being completed 18 years late.

@josephj9828 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video! I had heard about the abandoned Thameslink station before I visited London, so I made sure to look for it on my way to Camden from Gatwick. It was interesting to see a decade old frozen station as we passed by. Looking forward to the next diagram video. May I suggest some crazy, convoluted station that will add an Elizabeth line stop as your next video? Maybe Paddington?

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers, I had been wondering about doing an Elizabeth Line station, Paddington might be an interesting idea as it's already all over the place for historical reasons- like having two separate circle line stations to confuse tourists

@josephj9828 2 жыл бұрын

@@distractionbucket7454 It is! When we went to Windsor, we took the circle line to Paddington to catch a GWR train. My wife didn't realize we'd have to leave Paddington to cross the street to get to Paddington! 😆

@ds1868 2 жыл бұрын

@@distractionbucket7454 Regarding Crossrail, it would be worth covering the history and the redevelopment of the Connaught Tunnel. That is a fascinating piece of engineering and the amount of work involved to get it back into use is really quite amazing. Despite the cost, Crossrail is an incredible engineering feat and one of the most amazing aspects of this is the re-invigoration of the Connaught Tunnel.

@highpath4776 2 жыл бұрын

@@josephj9828 where did you start from ?

@josephj9828 2 жыл бұрын

@@highpath4776 what do you mean? For my Paddington to Paddington story? We started at Kensington Palace. I think we took High Street Kensington to Praed Street.

@707stian 2 жыл бұрын

Great video and animation! Really helps map out the stations.

@francesconicoletti2547 2 жыл бұрын

I’m fairly sure all that tunnelling under Kings Cross St Pancreas is the inspiration for the idea some urban fantasy novels have that there is another entire buried city under London. The first time I came in to Kings Cross and tried to catch the underground I end up somewhere in the tunnels having a decent dinner before trekking on to the underground station.

@ds1868 2 жыл бұрын

London has the oldest railway system and the oldest underground system in the world. There is always bound to be a degree of 'myth' with such an old system. Still, at least the Brits gave the world the train and the underground metro.

@kaysmith8992 2 жыл бұрын

That's exactly how I feel about Charing Cross underground station, the corridors go on for ages like giant wormholes, I'm not at all surprised the horror film _Creep_ takes place below there. That said, the Paris Metro also has a sort of 'subterranean market' feel.

@highpath4776 2 жыл бұрын

@@kaysmith8992 Charing Cross of course being the connection of three stations. Jubilee (disused), Bakerloo (originally Trafalgar Square) and Northern (originally Strand). I suggest exiting at Embankment if on the Northern and walking up Villers Street as a more pleasent (less unpleasant?) experience

@z00h 2 жыл бұрын

Can I be honest with you? Content 10/10, audio levels -10/10.

@marcusrashid 2 жыл бұрын

I was waiting for this and a quality video is provided. Love it

@ianbennett4909 2 жыл бұрын

You've answered a query i had when in London last week and noticed another underground station further up Pentonville Road, didnt go looking at it but did wonder if another entrance to KX underground.

@ds1868 2 жыл бұрын

This is a really good presentation. Have subscribed!

@burgerpommes2001 2 жыл бұрын

Please upload a fly around of your Bank Model or do a video how the station entrances connect to the station

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

Might do that soon, as several people have requested it!

@burgerpommes2001 Жыл бұрын

@@distractionbucket7454 do you still plan to do it

@MrRandomdancer 2 жыл бұрын

I've been wondering about that for years! Thanks.

@jacksugden8190 2 жыл бұрын

I used to use the old Pentonville Rd platforms, it was an inconvenience moving them away from that road, as then needed to get home by bus to Highbury Barn.

@moaningpheromones Жыл бұрын

I don't care that much about the story but I'll watch anything explained with cool graphics on a map. Really well done.

@ladiorange 2 жыл бұрын

I used to use kings cross thameslink a lot when it was open.

@Andrewjg_89 2 жыл бұрын

At 2:42 as the Thameslink Class 700 train passes through the old former King's Cross Thameslink station platform. I can just make out "First Capital Connect" poster which FCC once operated both Thameslink and Great Northern services before they were taken over by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) in 14 September 2014. Which it now has been replaced by St. Pancras International low level platforms underneath St. Pancras International station.

@nicowilson 2 жыл бұрын

Good video. Thanks

@marvintpandroid2213 2 жыл бұрын

Good stuff, great graphics !

@chrishartley1210 Жыл бұрын

Isn't it great to know that in the 70's they closed the link at King's Cross and moved it to Finsbury Park, where the InterCity trains don't stop. And then moved the remaining station to the far side of St Pancras where it is again no use to InterCity trains coming into King's Cross. Lots of lovely joined up thinking. And they wonder why London has transport problems.

@baker607102 6 ай бұрын

did you ever do anything on the old Hotel Curve platform? I once got out there as a teenager when the suburban line platforms were blocked prior to it closing. Does any of it still exist?

@thatguyshawzy 5 ай бұрын

Im very curious about this as this is news to me, i had no idea this existed

@Foremarkex Жыл бұрын

You can look down in to the station from the nabouring premier inn.

@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. ☺️

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers 🙂

@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333 Жыл бұрын

@@distractionbucket7454 Ur welcome. ☺️

@carlteacherman194 11 ай бұрын

The old entrance in Pentonville Road has now closed and has been boarded up.

@thatguyshawzy 5 ай бұрын

I’m very sad this has happened, i found out recently and it really upset me as i don’t know if you saw my comment but it was a childhood thing to me

@Joe90V 2 жыл бұрын

Packed full of information and although the delivery is rather fast, several viewings and lots of pausing can help to work out the detail.

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers. And thanks for the feedback- still developing my "narrator voice"

@francesconicoletti2547 2 жыл бұрын

So your telling me there is a spot quiet close to St Pancreas that has platforms for the underground and northlink right next to each other and the entire thing is closed. So people have to trek for miles at the existing setup to make a connection.🤔

@highpath4776 2 жыл бұрын

Well the Met Platforms closed years ago, The thameslink ones indeed were more useful (as was the connection to the GNR Kings Cross Lines) , but its called progress by some people

@highpath4776 2 жыл бұрын

The Metropolitan Platforms are still visible too on the approach from the east to KXSP Met Station ?

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

The westbound sort of is, though it's harder to spot. The eastbound was walled off because (I think) it was used as extra space for the adjacent Thameslink platform instead while that was open- so mostly what you can see is a wall that looks out of place where the platform was.

@highpath4776 2 жыл бұрын

@@distractionbucket7454 yep, for some reason I only ever travel westbound on the Met into Kings Cross, looking to my left Always seem to take a different line travelling west - think its my pattern of visiting relations (Ahh, I know - Work in Moorgate - Off to KX for travel up north at the weekend, then its back to London flat sunday night which is off the Piccadilly !)

@thomasday3256 2 жыл бұрын

So what's happened to the abandoned tunnels running to Kings Cross? Presume they're still down there

@DT-hg7te 2 жыл бұрын

You can still see the southbound one lit up, it's an access tunnel (not for rail) and can be seen from the approach into Kings Cross itself and on the Thameslink to the left of a southbound train. The northbound one is gone, but you can see where it met the Thameslink tunnels if you pay attention.

@benjya Жыл бұрын

@distractionbucket7454 can I please ask where you got the photo at 1:56 of the old KX Thameslink form from? Pretty sure I can see myself on it!

@distractionbucket7454 Жыл бұрын

wow, that's cool. I found it via the Wikipedia article on the Kings Cross Thameslink Station

@davidlally592 Жыл бұрын

Mm I remember the long tunnel between the old Thames link station and the rest of KX.Does anyone remember that on the pedestrian tunnel wall (above yr head as you walked) at first an unintelligible logo. But on looking closer it said something like "smile"!!

@petermichaelgreen 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting that they removed the link from the city widened lines (now thameslink) to the Great Northern lines, in the 1970s, only to build a new one in the 2010s.

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

Indeed, it was only when researching the video I realised how short a time it was between the link being removed and a new one reinstated- though the removal did free up space at Kings Cross. I think I'm right in saying platform 0 is in the space where the old link was.

@farmersteve129 2 жыл бұрын

Platform 0 is the old taxi rank, the southbound tunnel was slightly further back from the end of the station building & the entrance can still be seen on the approach, the tracks went under York Way adjacent to Whafedale Road (A5203) with the "Kings Cross York Road" platform extending northwards immediately from the portal. The northbound line came up via "Hotel Curve" on the west side & the platform was roughly adjacent to the suburban extension platforms shed (9/10 & 11).

@highpath4776 2 жыл бұрын

Is there a link to the great northern lines now (thought Thameslink went somewhere up to cambridge but didnt work out where the connection was (ahh I see its north of SP International thameslink station !)

@petermichaelgreen 2 жыл бұрын

@@highpath4776 Yeah, the link is north of St Pancras thameslink station, but before the thameslink lines join the midland main line. The link is apparently even notable enough to have it's own wikipedia article. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Tunnels

@srfurley 3 ай бұрын

The old tunnels could not have been used by modern trains due to them being too tightly curved; the old BR Mk 1 non-gangwayed suburban coaches were charter. I’m also not sure if there would have been room for overhead wires in them. The Hotel Curve Tunnel was used to re-route a large gas pipe.

@jaymarlon7460 2 жыл бұрын

Is that station still there is so they should make it as a tfl rail/ Elizabeth line

@distractionbucket7454 2 жыл бұрын

There is another part of the widened lines that's been abandoned and has had various suggestions for new lines that it could be used for, but that's for a future video...