London St Pancras (STP) / St Pancras International (SPX)
London St Pancras is one of the great railway termini of London, and as the terminus of Eurostar services from the Continent a gateway into the country. Due to these services the station is also known as St Pancras International.
Information
Type:
National Rail
(Midlands Main Line, High Speed 1,
Eurostar, Thameslink)
Station code:
STP/SPX/SPL (low-level station)
Opened:
1868
Platforms:
15
The station was first opened in 1868 as the London terminus of the Midland Railway. It is adjacent to London Kings Cross and only a short walk from London Euston. The station takes it's name from the St Pancras area of London where it is situated. The station was built on the site of a former slum with the single arch, the base of which was built just over six metres above ground level (this was due to the approach lines having to cross the nearby Regent's Canal).
This allowed lines to be built underneath in a lower level of the station. Originally this was used for freight including beer bought down from Burton-on-Trent on the Midland Railway but now this space is used for passenger services including Thameslink services.
Even before the advent of Eurostar St Pancras was used for international services with boat trains operated by the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway. After the "Big Four" grouping St Pancras went through a period of decline as Euston was the principal terminus of the LMS. By the 1960s there were proposals to close St Pancras or replace it with a modern structure like Euston though these were resisted and the arch was Grade I listed, though work had to be done on the arch to prevent it's collapse in the 1970s. However by the 1980s the station was virtually derelict however things picked up with the start of Thameslink services.
The focus for the regeneration of London St Pancras was Eurostar. The station was extensively rebuilt including an extension to the original arch. Eurostar services switched from London Waterloo in 2007, the station being renamed St Pancras International. New low-level platforms for Thameslink were opened later the same year.
