London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The report highlights that Euston and Euston Square Tube stations urgently require upgradation to avoid overcrowding and safety issues, with no clear plan in place to address these critical concerns including fire regulations.
According to the report, the gatelines and rows of ticket turnstiles, at both stations are regularly closed to keep the stations safe.
The report added, “there is no clear direction” to address these issues and revealed that Euston Square does not meet fire safety regulations.
Transport for London (TfL) has assured that it would “never allow a situation where a TfL-run station was unsafe.”
The March 2024 report, Euston London Underground Way Forward, was compiled by engineers with a combined experience of more than 10 years in managing design projects for both the London Underground and Crossrail 2 at Euston.
Highlighting the issues at both stations, the report names Camden Council, Transport for London (TfL), and Network Rail as the key stakeholders.
The findings pointed out that the Euston Square station’s outdated design does not meet modern fire regulations and continues to operate under “grandfather rights” due to its age.
A key safety concern highlighted in the report is that if a small fire occurs on a train it would be directed to the station to allow passengers to disembark and be evacuated enabling staff and emergency services to manage the incident.
The report obtained by BBC London added, “Passengers on the platform should be warned to evacuate before the train arrives. However, the incident may prevent safe egress (exit) for passengers on the ‘dead end’ side of the incident (either those waiting or those detraining) ‘trapping’ them in an enclosed space with no safe means of egress.”
“This configuration would not be permitted as part of a new build station.”
Euston and Euston Square stations were planned for major upgrades and expansion as part of the HS2 projects rebuilding of the mainline station for high-speed services, but the Conservative government suspended work on the project in 2023.
As reported by the Independent news, the project managers of this project stated, “Work to construct the HS2 station at Euston was paused on 9 March 2023 due to inflationary pressure and the need to find a more affordable design.”
A tunnel linking HS2 Euston and Euston Square underground stations was once considered as part of the project.
London Euston station ranks as the seventh-busiest rail terminus in the UK. It serves as a major hub for the West Coast main line, connecting the capital to the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales, and southern Scotland.
The station handles approximately 86,000 passengers daily, a rise from the 30,000 expected when the station was reopened by the Queen in 1968.
One month ago, Network Rail, in collaboration with the Department for Transport (DfT), announced a “five-point plan” to improve the functioning of Euston station.
Network Rail’s route director for West Coast South, Gary Walsh said, “Our five-point plan will help improve things for passengers in the short term by creating more space, providing better passenger information, and working as an industry to improve the reliability of train services on the West Coast Main Line.”
A five-point plan announced by Network Rail aims to enhance Euston station, including a review of information systems, improving passenger flow during disruptions, expanding concourse space, upgrading facilities like toilets, and boosting reliability across the station’s infrastructure and services.
Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, stated, “For too long, Euston station simply hasn’t been good enough for passengers.”
He added, “That’s why I’ve tasked Network Rail with coming up with a clear plan to immediately improve conditions for passengers. This includes a shutdown of the advertising boards from today to review their use.”