Kim Howells, Minister of State, Department for Transport (DfT) in the UK, has asked for a review of the final phase of the planned development of the London Underground station at King’s Cross. The review could lead to the works being shelved.
Sources close to the project told T&TI that the contractor responsible for Phase II, Morgan Est, would be pulling off the site in March, pending review of the works. These mainly comprise of a new Northern Ticket Hall and connections, providing additional capacity for the future Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) terminus at St Pancras.
A spokesperson for Morgan Est told T&TI: “Until the outcome of this review we are unable to comment on the future of our tunnelling work at Kings [sic] Cross.”
King’s Cross opened in 1863 and has a history of extension and modification. Daily morning peak passenger flows are currently 55,000 and it has been estimated that this would increase to 70,000 over the next seven years. With the extra patronage from the CTRL passengers, the peak number is expected to swell to 82,000.
In a statement issued to key stakeholders, Howells said the Phase I works to improve the existing underground ticket hall and construct a new Western Ticket Hall are not included in the review.
The Phase II works are at a less advanced stage and with the cost doubling to the region of £250M (US$458M) since 1999, Howells has instructed Mott Parsons Gibb, as technical adviser, to review the case for proceeding with the works before further expenditure is undertaken.
Howells added that the DfT was hopeful a full report would be forthcoming by the summer.
