Kings Cross station is to get a 'hot cash injection' of £400m in order to "help cut congestion" and "boost the Olympic bid".
Of course, work on a overhaul of the Northern Ticket Hall started back in 2004, but was halted due to rising costs and the complete lack of a looming Olympic bid.
The new project is due to be completed in 2009 and will include:
- a new concourse, which will be three times bigger than the existing one (we're not told how many football pitches that is but I'm sure it's only a matter of time);
- new "integrated transport links" from St Pancras, as well as London Underground. What do you think a non-integrated transport link would look like? A railway track off the edge of a cliff maybe?
- restoration of the listed façade as well as the roof; and
- a new open piazza, "larger than Leicester Square". Because everyone likes to relax in the middle of King's Cross railway station. It's the views you know.
So by 2009 expect King's Cross to look a lot like central Paris, only with more 'adult video stores'. And if they even think of building a station numbered 9 3/4 we hereby promise to leave the city.
