Euston tube station
Encyclopedia
Euston tube station is a London Underground
station served by the Victoria Line
and both branches of the Northern Line
. It directly connects with the Euston mainline station
above it. The station is in Travelcard
Zone 1
.
On the Bank branch of the Northern Line, the station is between Camden Town
and King's Cross St Pancras
. On the Charing Cross
branch it is between Mornington Crescent
and Warren Street
. On the Victoria Line
it is between Warren Street and King's Cross St. Pancras.
. Below ground, the station followed the standard C&SLR configuration of a single island platform with tracks on each side in a large tunnel. The station building was located on Eversholt Street to the east of the London and North Western Railway
mainline station and was connected to the platforms by lifts
and stairs to the west end of the platform.
, Archway
(then called Highgate) and Golders Green
.
Original plans for the route were for it to bypass Euston on a straight alignment to Camden Town. However, the wisdom of bypassing a busy railway station and the large number of customers that it would provide was soon questioned, and the route was revised to serve the mainline station. The station building was constructed to the west of the mainline station with the characteristic red glazed terra cotta
elevations of the stations Leslie Green
designed for the CCE&HR.
At the same time, another passageway was created, leading from the connecting passage to a new set of lifts (and emergency stairs) which surfaced within the mainline station itself. Though the companies continued to maintain their own separate entrances and lifts, it soon became clear that maintaining three entrances so close to each other was unnecessary. The station buildings were closed leaving the entrance within the mainline station to serve both routes. The original exits continued to exist for ventilation reasons; however, the elaborate Moroccan design of the C&SLR building was demolished for a building project.
, already owners of the CCE&HR, took over the C&SLR. Plans were made before World War I
to extend both lines and provide additional connections at Camden Town and Kennington
so that trains could run from either of the two northern termini via either branch to the southern terminus.
Works to modernise and enlarge the C&SLR tunnels which had been originally constructed to a smaller diameter than the CCE&HR closed the line between Moorgate and Euston from 8 August 1922 to 20 April 1924. The new link to Camden Town was opened with the rebuilt C&SLR tunnels. The extensions to Edgware in 1923/24 and to Morden in 1926 lead to the combined line adopting the name Morden-Edgware Line. This changed to the Northern Line in 1937.
To the east of Euston is a connecting tunnel from the northbound Bank branch (formerly known as the City branch, after the City & South London Railway) to the northbound Piccadilly Line
tunnel just south of King's Cross St. Pancras
. Via this connection, called the "King's Cross Loop", a train in the northbound Piccadilly Line platform at King's Cross St. Pancras can run south and enter the northbound Bank branch platform at Euston. Alternatively, via a junction, called the "Euston Loop", between the old section of the northbound Bank branch and the southbound Bank branch, trains can enter the southbound platform.
This exchange between lines can be operated in both directions and was created when the C&SLR became part of the Underground group in 1913 to facilitate train stock transfers. At that time the C&SLR had no surface depot and train carriages were lowered into the subterranean depot at Stockwell
by a large lift. Originally the junctions concerned were controlled from a signal cabin sited over the headwall of platform 6 (southbound Northern line on the Bank branch); this cabin still exists, but is now operated remotely as an interlocking machine room from the Northern Line control centre at Cobourg Street though facilities remain for manual control of the signals. Presently the junctions are used during train reversals and to facilitate the passage of engineering trains between the Northern and Piccadilly lines.
Use of the Kings Cross and Euston Loops is considered a movement into and out of sidings according to the London Underground Working Reference Manual, and as such is done without passengers on board. However, until relatively recently, trains terminating northbound at Euston did carry passengers from Kings Cross to Euston via the loop line. Now, any such trains detrain passengers at Kings Cross, and then proceed empty to Euston. This may also have been done to prevent passenger confusion, as the northbound terminating train would arrive in the southbound platform at Euston, having passed through the loop. The northbound and southbound platforms on the city branch are not adjacent at Euston, and so any passenger wishing to continue northbound would have to endure a lengthy walk to reach the northbound platform. When there is a scheduled service suspension north of Euston, trains do still proceed to Euston via the loop with passengers, since this is still a passenger signalled move. Once at Euston, they can change to other services.
, and the construction of the new Euston main line railway station above, the station was substantially expanded and remodelled to cope with the increase in passenger numbers. The route of the Victoria Line was designed to provide the maximum number of connections to existing services and to relieve some of the pressure on those other lines by giving an alternative route through central London. As such, interchanges were designed to facilitate quick transfers between lines by the use of cross-platform interchange
s where possible. At Euston the single island platform on the Northern Line Bank branch was suffering from dangerous congestion, so a new Bank branch northbound platform was constructed some way to the south and the old northbound track was removed to provide a wider southbound platform. Two new platforms for the Victoria Line were excavated between and parallel to the original and the new Bank branch tunnels to which they were directly linked. This arrangement results in an unusual feature of the station: a passenger changing from the Victoria Line to Northern Line Bank branch or vice versa will find that trains on adjacent platforms travel in opposite directions even though both are either northbound or southbound.
A new ticket hall was constructed below the concourse of the mainline station with two sets of escalators replacing the lifts. The escalators provide access to and from an intermediate circulation level which, in turn, gives access to the Northern Line Charing Cross branch platforms and two further sets of escalators; one set each serving the northbound and southbound Victoria and Northern Line Bank branch platforms. Interchanges between the northbound and southbound Victoria and Northern Bank Line platforms are made via a passageway at the lower level so as to avoid the need to use the escalators. An emergency stair to the intermediate interchange level is located midway along it. On 1 December 1969 the whole new interchange system was opened and the old passages were closed off. Many of the old passages remain in use as ventilation shafts.
is just 250 m away and is served by the Circle, Hammersmith & City
and Metropolitan
lines. In December 2005 Network Rail
announced plans to create a subway
link between the station and Euston station as part of the re-development of Euston station. This will create a direct link for users of heavy rail services which terminate at Euston. These plans would also be pursued during a rebuilding for High Speed 2
. Some plans see a direct connection being made as part of a new transport interchange project (though alternative plans have Euston Square connecting to Warren Street, which is also nearby).
There are also plans to rebuild the interchange level as part of a mobility impairment accessibility project, possibly restoring use of some of the disused lower level interchange passageways.
The planned segregation of Northern line services into two separate lines could help reduce confusion between the two Northern line platforms by renaming one (or both) of the lines (e.g. giving a "Northern line" and a "City & Southern line").
If the High Speed 2
line, which would terminate at Euston, goes ahead then Transport for London
(TfL) plan to change the safeguarded route for the proposed Chelsea–Hackney line to include Euston between Tottenham Court Road and Kings Cross St. Pancras.
routes serve Euston (frequency are for Monday to Friday off-peak, correct as at 11 June 2006)
Night Buses:
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
station served by the Victoria Line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
and both branches of the Northern Line
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
. It directly connects with the Euston mainline station
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
above it. The station is in Travelcard
Travelcard
The Travelcard is an inter-modal travel ticket for unlimited use on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, London Buses and National Rail services in the Greater London area. Travelcards can be purchased for a period of time varying from one day to a year,...
Zone 1
Travelcard Zone 1
Fare zone 1 is the central zone of Transport for London's zonal fare system used for calculating the price of tickets for travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and, since 2007, on National Rail services. For most tickets, travel through the zone is charged...
.
On the Bank branch of the Northern Line, the station is between Camden Town
Camden Town tube station
Camden Town tube station is a major junction on the Northern Line and one of the busiest stations on the London Underground network...
and King's Cross St Pancras
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
. On the Charing Cross
Charing Cross tube station
Charing Cross tube station is a London Underground station at Charing Cross in the City of Westminster with entrances located in Trafalgar Square and The Strand. The station is served by the Northern and Bakerloo lines and provides an interchange with the National Rail network at station...
branch it is between Mornington Crescent
Mornington Crescent tube station
Mornington Crescent is a London Underground station in Camden Town in north west London, named after the nearby street. The station is on the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line, between and...
and Warren Street
Warren Street tube station
Warren Street tube station is a London Underground station, located at the intersection of Tottenham Court Road and Euston Road. It is on the branch of the Northern Line, between and , and the Victoria Line between and Euston. It is in Travelcard Zone 1 and is the nearest tube station to...
. On the Victoria Line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
it is between Warren Street and King's Cross St. Pancras.
History
On 12 May 1907 the City and South London Railway (C&SLR, now the Bank branch of the Northern Line) opened a station at Euston as the terminus of a new extension from its existing station at AngelAngel tube station
Angel tube station is a London Underground station in The Angel, Islington. It is on the Bank branch of the Northern Line, between Old Street and King's Cross St. Pancras stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. The tube stop serves as a portal to several Off West End, or fringe theatre, venues,...
. Below ground, the station followed the standard C&SLR configuration of a single island platform with tracks on each side in a large tunnel. The station building was located on Eversholt Street to the east of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
mainline station and was connected to the platforms by lifts
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
and stairs to the west end of the platform.
Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway
On 22 June 1907, the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway (CCE&HR, now the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line) opened between Charing CrossCharing Cross tube station
Charing Cross tube station is a London Underground station at Charing Cross in the City of Westminster with entrances located in Trafalgar Square and The Strand. The station is served by the Northern and Bakerloo lines and provides an interchange with the National Rail network at station...
, Archway
Archway tube station
Archway tube station is a London Underground station in north London, underneath the Archway Tower, at the intersection of Holloway Road, Highgate Hill and Junction Road in the area known as Archway....
(then called Highgate) and Golders Green
Golders Green tube station
Golders Green tube station is a London Underground station in Golders Green, north London. The station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line between Hampstead and Brent Cross...
.
Original plans for the route were for it to bypass Euston on a straight alignment to Camden Town. However, the wisdom of bypassing a busy railway station and the large number of customers that it would provide was soon questioned, and the route was revised to serve the mainline station. The station building was constructed to the west of the mainline station with the characteristic red glazed terra cotta
Glazed architectural terra-cotta
Glazed architectural terra-cotta is a ceramic masonry building material popular in the United States from the late 19th century until the 1930s, and still one of the most common building materials found in U.S. urban environments...
elevations of the stations Leslie Green
Leslie Green
Leslie William Green was an English architect known especially for his design of iconic stations constructed on the London Underground railway system in central London during the first decade of the 20th century....
designed for the CCE&HR.
Making an interchange
Although built and initially operated as two separate stations by the two companies, the C&SLR and the CCE&HR platforms were sufficiently close together that a deep level interchange was constructed between platforms shortly after opening. A passage was built from near the C&SLR lifts to the east end of the CCE&HR platforms. Unusually this led up from the lifts as the C&SLR platforms were lower than those of the CCE&HR.At the same time, another passageway was created, leading from the connecting passage to a new set of lifts (and emergency stairs) which surfaced within the mainline station itself. Though the companies continued to maintain their own separate entrances and lifts, it soon became clear that maintaining three entrances so close to each other was unnecessary. The station buildings were closed leaving the entrance within the mainline station to serve both routes. The original exits continued to exist for ventilation reasons; however, the elaborate Moroccan design of the C&SLR building was demolished for a building project.
Northern Line
In 1913 the two lines came under joint ownership when the Underground GroupUnderground Electric Railways Company of London
The Underground Electric Railways Company of London Limited , known operationally as The Underground for much of its existence, was established in 1902. It was the holding company for the three deep-level "tube"A "tube" railway is an underground railway constructed in a circular tunnel by the use...
, already owners of the CCE&HR, took over the C&SLR. Plans were made before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to extend both lines and provide additional connections at Camden Town and Kennington
Kennington tube station
Kennington tube station is a London Underground station in Newington/ Walworth on Kennington Park Road, on both the Charing Cross and Bank branches of the Northern Line. Its neighbours to the north are Waterloo on the Charing Cross branch and Elephant & Castle on the Bank branch; the next station...
so that trains could run from either of the two northern termini via either branch to the southern terminus.
Works to modernise and enlarge the C&SLR tunnels which had been originally constructed to a smaller diameter than the CCE&HR closed the line between Moorgate and Euston from 8 August 1922 to 20 April 1924. The new link to Camden Town was opened with the rebuilt C&SLR tunnels. The extensions to Edgware in 1923/24 and to Morden in 1926 lead to the combined line adopting the name Morden-Edgware Line. This changed to the Northern Line in 1937.
To the east of Euston is a connecting tunnel from the northbound Bank branch (formerly known as the City branch, after the City & South London Railway) to the northbound Piccadilly Line
Piccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
tunnel just south of King's Cross St. Pancras
King's Cross St. Pancras tube station
King's Cross St. Pancras is a tube station in the London Borough of Camden, on the London Underground network, serving both King's Cross and main line stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. It is the fourth busiest station on the system and serves more lines than any other...
. Via this connection, called the "King's Cross Loop", a train in the northbound Piccadilly Line platform at King's Cross St. Pancras can run south and enter the northbound Bank branch platform at Euston. Alternatively, via a junction, called the "Euston Loop", between the old section of the northbound Bank branch and the southbound Bank branch, trains can enter the southbound platform.
This exchange between lines can be operated in both directions and was created when the C&SLR became part of the Underground group in 1913 to facilitate train stock transfers. At that time the C&SLR had no surface depot and train carriages were lowered into the subterranean depot at Stockwell
Stockwell tube station
Stockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more...
by a large lift. Originally the junctions concerned were controlled from a signal cabin sited over the headwall of platform 6 (southbound Northern line on the Bank branch); this cabin still exists, but is now operated remotely as an interlocking machine room from the Northern Line control centre at Cobourg Street though facilities remain for manual control of the signals. Presently the junctions are used during train reversals and to facilitate the passage of engineering trains between the Northern and Piccadilly lines.
Use of the Kings Cross and Euston Loops is considered a movement into and out of sidings according to the London Underground Working Reference Manual, and as such is done without passengers on board. However, until relatively recently, trains terminating northbound at Euston did carry passengers from Kings Cross to Euston via the loop line. Now, any such trains detrain passengers at Kings Cross, and then proceed empty to Euston. This may also have been done to prevent passenger confusion, as the northbound terminating train would arrive in the southbound platform at Euston, having passed through the loop. The northbound and southbound platforms on the city branch are not adjacent at Euston, and so any passenger wishing to continue northbound would have to endure a lengthy walk to reach the northbound platform. When there is a scheduled service suspension north of Euston, trains do still proceed to Euston via the loop with passengers, since this is still a passenger signalled move. Once at Euston, they can change to other services.
Victoria Line
In 1967, in line with the opening of the Victoria LineVictoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
, and the construction of the new Euston main line railway station above, the station was substantially expanded and remodelled to cope with the increase in passenger numbers. The route of the Victoria Line was designed to provide the maximum number of connections to existing services and to relieve some of the pressure on those other lines by giving an alternative route through central London. As such, interchanges were designed to facilitate quick transfers between lines by the use of cross-platform interchange
Cross-platform interchange
A cross-platform interchange is a type of interchange between different lines in a metro system. The term originates with the London Underground; such layouts exist in other networks but are not commonly so named...
s where possible. At Euston the single island platform on the Northern Line Bank branch was suffering from dangerous congestion, so a new Bank branch northbound platform was constructed some way to the south and the old northbound track was removed to provide a wider southbound platform. Two new platforms for the Victoria Line were excavated between and parallel to the original and the new Bank branch tunnels to which they were directly linked. This arrangement results in an unusual feature of the station: a passenger changing from the Victoria Line to Northern Line Bank branch or vice versa will find that trains on adjacent platforms travel in opposite directions even though both are either northbound or southbound.
A new ticket hall was constructed below the concourse of the mainline station with two sets of escalators replacing the lifts. The escalators provide access to and from an intermediate circulation level which, in turn, gives access to the Northern Line Charing Cross branch platforms and two further sets of escalators; one set each serving the northbound and southbound Victoria and Northern Line Bank branch platforms. Interchanges between the northbound and southbound Victoria and Northern Bank Line platforms are made via a passageway at the lower level so as to avoid the need to use the escalators. An emergency stair to the intermediate interchange level is located midway along it. On 1 December 1969 the whole new interchange system was opened and the old passages were closed off. Many of the old passages remain in use as ventilation shafts.
Future plans
Unlike its neighbour, King's Cross St. Pancras, and most of the other London mainline termini, Euston is not served by the Circle line. Euston Square tube stationEuston Square tube station
Euston Square is a London Underground station at the corner of Euston Road and Gower Street, just north of University College London and within walking distance of Euston railway station. It is between Great Portland Street and King's Cross St. Pancras on the Circle, Hammersmith & City and...
is just 250 m away and is served by the Circle, Hammersmith & City
Hammersmith & City Line
The Hammersmith & City line is a subsurface London Underground line. It connects Hammersmith in the west with Barking in the east, running through the northern part of central London. It is coloured salmon pink on the Tube map...
and Metropolitan
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
lines. In December 2005 Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
announced plans to create a subway
Subway (underpass)
In England and Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong and some Commonwealth countries , the term subway normally refers to a specially constructed underpass for pedestrians and/or cyclists beneath a road or railway, allowing them to reach the other side in safety.The term is also used in the...
link between the station and Euston station as part of the re-development of Euston station. This will create a direct link for users of heavy rail services which terminate at Euston. These plans would also be pursued during a rebuilding for High Speed 2
High Speed 2
High Speed 2 is a proposed high-speed railway between London and the Midlands, the North of England, and potentially at a later stage the central belt of Scotland. The project is being developed by High Speed Two Ltd, a company established by the British government...
. Some plans see a direct connection being made as part of a new transport interchange project (though alternative plans have Euston Square connecting to Warren Street, which is also nearby).
There are also plans to rebuild the interchange level as part of a mobility impairment accessibility project, possibly restoring use of some of the disused lower level interchange passageways.
The planned segregation of Northern line services into two separate lines could help reduce confusion between the two Northern line platforms by renaming one (or both) of the lines (e.g. giving a "Northern line" and a "City & Southern line").
If the High Speed 2
High Speed 2
High Speed 2 is a proposed high-speed railway between London and the Midlands, the North of England, and potentially at a later stage the central belt of Scotland. The project is being developed by High Speed Two Ltd, a company established by the British government...
line, which would terminate at Euston, goes ahead then Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
(TfL) plan to change the safeguarded route for the proposed Chelsea–Hackney line to include Euston between Tottenham Court Road and Kings Cross St. Pancras.
Transport connections
The following London BusesLondon Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
routes serve Euston (frequency are for Monday to Friday off-peak, correct as at 11 June 2006)
- 10London Buses route 10London Buses route 10 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
(Hammersmith Broadway Bus Station-Kings Cross Station) every 7 minutes - 18London Buses route 18London Buses route 18 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
(Sudbury Sudbury Inn-Euston Station) every 6 minutes - 30London Buses route 30London Buses route 30 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:Route 30 commenced operation on 8 May 1911 between Kings Cross and Fulham Cross...
(Hackney Wick Eastway-Marble Arch) every 10 minutes - 59London Buses route 59London Buses route 59 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
(Streatham Hill Telford Avenue-Euston Station) every 8 minutes - 68London Buses route 68London Buses route 68 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
(West Norwood Knights Hill-Euston Station) - 73London Buses route 73London Buses route 73 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London...
(Seven Sisters Station-Victoria Station) every 5 minutes - 91 (Crouch End Tottenham Lane-Trafalgar Square) every 7–8 minutes
- 168 (Hampstead Heath South End Green-Old Kent Road Tesco) every 8 minutes
- 205London Buses route 205London Buses route 205 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.-History:...
(Whitechapel Station Royal London Hospital-Paddington station) every 10 minutes - 253London Buses route 253London Buses route 253 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:Route 253 was introduced in 1961 to replace replace Trolleybus 653....
(Euston Station-Hackney Central Station) every 6 minutes - 390 (Archway Station-Notting Hill Gate) every 8 minutes
- 476 (Northumberland Park-Euston) every 8 minutes
Night Buses:
- N5 (Trafalgar Square-Edgware station) every 15 minutes from 0027-0523
- 10London Buses route 10London Buses route 10 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
(24 hour service on same route as daytime) runs every 30 minutes - N20 (Barnet Church-Trafalgar Square) every 30 minutes from 0016-0546
- N73 (Walthamstow Central Station-Victoria Bus Station) every 30 minutes from 0027-0459
- N91 (Trafalgar Square-Cockfosters) every 30 minutes 0058-0528
- N253 (Aldgate Station-Tottenham Court Road station) every 20 minutes from 0035-0455
- 390 (24 hour service on same route as daytime) runs every 30 minutes