PLATFORM ALTERATION FOR HOGWARTS EXPRESS AS KING’S CROSS UPGRADE STEPS UP A GEAR: King's Cross station

Tuesday 17 Feb 2009

PLATFORM ALTERATION FOR HOGWARTS EXPRESS AS KING’S CROSS UPGRADE STEPS UP A GEAR

Region & Route:
| North West & Central

Harry Potter fans on their way to catch the Hogwarts Express will have to take a slightly different route after the famous Platform 9¾ was temporarily moved to allow important work on the £450m upgrade of King’s Cross station.

The cast-iron “Platform 9¾” sign and disappearing luggage trolley have been moved from their home in the suburban building containing platforms 9 and 10 to a new location at the north end of platform eight. The move is necessary to allow Network Rail to start work on the new western concourse, which will have three times more space than the current concourse at the front of the station and will mean a lighter, brighter environment for passengers.

Ian Fry, King's Cross Project Director, said: “We’ve had to move the secret platform while we work our magic on the redevelopment of King’s Cross station. Fans of Harry Potter will be pleased that they can still try to catch the Hogwarts Express, albeit from a slightly different location. We thank everyone for their patience while we carry out our work to deliver a bigger, better station for passengers.”

By 2013, passengers will experience a completely rejuvenated King's Cross station with more capacity, an additional platform for extra services and improved links with international and domestic services from St Pancras and the London Underground.

The Grade 1 listed façade will also be restored to its former glory by demolishing the current single-storey concourse extension, creating a stunning new open piazza larger than Leicester Square at the front of the station.

Notes to editors

The majority of the station redevelopment will be completed by 2012 in time for the Olympics with the transformation complete by 2013. Network Rail is investing over £450m in redeveloping King’s Cross station. Once completed, 50million passengers will use the new station each year – 10million more than today. An additional platform, increasing reliability and capacity at the station will be built The new station will include integrated transport links with international and domestic services from St Pancras and the London Underground The Grade 1 listed façade will be restored to its former glory by demolishing the current single-storey extension to the station A new open piazza in front of the station, larger than Leicester Square, will be created

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