I lived in and around London for 30 years. These videos are so important to me to see how it's all changing. I'll miss the Thistle! Anyway, thank you for your hard work on this, and all your other videos. I, like many others I'm sure, rarely comment but take it from us quieter ones that they are much appreciated.
Great video - shame they couldn't incorporate the old tube station into the new design. Almost time for that November visit to see how things are progressing...
London to Birmingham is phase one of HS2. Yes it does shave of 30 mins but when phase two comes in it will have an overall advantage over any current journey to Manchester and Leeds from London and ultimately Europe. With the Eurostar just down the road the connection will be better than Paris has to it's national rail network. It's all to do with investing in the country's infrastructure, something Spain has done a lot. Madrid has plans to connect all cities by high speed services so none are more than a few hours from the capital or each other. Still, read the Daily Heil and turn pink all you want but some of us have jobs to do that aren't in the same village.
And France is connecting Paris on the high speed TGV to Barcelona via Bordeaux and Toulouse. The national rail service from Paris is pretty good. TGV to Montpellier in under 4 hours.
Stephen Saunders .. the biggest White Elephant this country has EVER experienced .. it will NEVER come to fruition despite the billions that have already been spent - mark my words.
@@SteveInskip .. it's irrelevant when the work STARTS .. I can guarantee it'll never FINISH because of spiralling costs & environmental damage .. the whole project will be cancelled LONG before the expected completion date.
Thank you for doing this video. I will keep watching the updates. I’ve been to Euston/ Euston Square recently. You seem to have answered all the questions that have crossed my mind. I will look harder next time that I go.
I'm pleased to see that Euston can finally shrug off the 1960's brutalist architecture. It's such a depressing place. The access link to the Circle line is also welcomed, dodging traffic and getting soaked is no fun. As a fan of the railways, I personally think that HS2 is a great idea. More updates on the Euston project would be welcomed.
Best thing they could do with the old station facade would be to reinstate the facade of Camden Town tube station. Geoff, do you know someone to suggest that to?
As pointed out below by others, it’s been three and a half years since any updates on what’s going on at Euston station and surrounding areas; would you be doing one sometime in 2022?
Good news that Euston underground station will get its own entrance, so that you don't need to access the NR station first, hadn't realised that was being built. Sad to see the Bree Louise all boarded up though.
So excited for HS2! Great to see the country doing something ambitious. Glad also that Euston is getting a big makeover, that whole area is a sink hole for architecture and placemaking
Great! I reckon the project will run on budget and finish ahead of schedule. There will be high speed trains, no more power failures, signal failures, points failures or broken down trains etc. The trains and the infrastructure will be weather proof, no more delays due to heat or snow. I have complete faith in the project. Above all, there will no ticket lottery or over pricing because the fares will be the lowest in Europe. Can't wait.
@@sophiepoyser4731 32 minutes (81 minutes now to 49 minutes) for Birmingham (it's just shy of an hour for Manchester with phase 2b: 126 minutes to 68 minutes), but it's the capacity boost that's most important. Birmingham gets a minimum of another 1500 passengers/hour able to travel to London - which will mostly provide the knock on effect of more capacity for people of intermediate destinations like Coventry, Rugby, Milton Keynes and Watford to travel to London or Birmingham (and likewise for other cities).
I think it's more about adding capacity rather than making train journeys faster. And if you're going to build a new train line, you might as well build a high speed one.
Not forgetting of course that trains also operate to Birmingham from Marylebone where no doubt there is room for extra capacity. Not everyone wants to travel from Euston.
@@peterclark8408 There's room on the Chiltern Mainline? that's a big surprise. They are going to build a spur to OOC to boost the middle distance services as there's no space at Marylebone for expansion. The inner stations have the worst service in Greater London as there's not the paths for trains to there stop more often. About all you can do is make the trains less comfortable, in order to squeeze more in and perhaps add another carriage to them. 15-20% and you still don't really deal with Birmingham-London traffic getting in the way of more regional traffic to the two cities.
I think the main Advantage of new build lines in britain is they use the Standard european Clearance gauge that means on this lines they can use Standard Highspeed trains by Stadler Siemens or Alstom, at the Moment every company has to develope a new product for the british Market. Every country uses Standard Stadler Flirt trains with some adjustmens only britain needs different trains for the Great Eastern Mainline.
Cameron Bell Big Ben is a bell on not a building. You are referring to the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which was recently named the Elizabeth Tower.
They're going to demolish the tube station, which is a horrid thing and they are demolishing the Ibis. That was my favourite hotel!! Always stayed there when I was in London, was pretty pissed off when I found out.
they were dumped in a hole in the lee valley canel and found when dregring to deepenit for the olmypics as far as remember most have been found and are stored somewhere hopefuly someone at HS2 will see sence and put it back
This has been discussed and investigated many times. Most of the stones have been broken up and used as rubble for infill all over the place. A few were kept as garden ornaments.
Yeah, that hurt seeing that! The only authentic pub in the area. Oh you can walk a few metres and have a soul destroying Refinery visit. YAY! Hurrah for mediocrity.
@@OldUKAds The other decent pubs are the Euston Tap in the listed blockhouses outside Euston and the Exmouth Arms. There's also the Resting Hare round the corner. I'd recommend the Euston Tap (the original one over the East Lodge) which, TBH, I always preferred to the Bree Louise once the Tap had opened.
A tunnel to connect Eus Square and Euston -----> WOWEEEE! About 100 yrs late. After HS3 - 12, Marylebone Stn will need to be demolished to make way for new platforms 102 thru 139.
I would be really interesting if we could see some of the work as seen from Friends House (the Quaker building opposite Euston Station), it could put a different perspective on the work. The offices of Britain Yearly Meeting are the third floor so you could get a good view.
I think annually would be too long maybe every 6 months! Glad to see it go to be honest its nasty, has few redeeming qualities, the temp changes by network rail have made it even darker and im delighted to see the Grant thornton buildings come fdown those towers are hugly ugly - no one will miss them!
Euston, the Penn Station of London. Though it's still slightly airier than rats (commuters) running around in tubes under an arena. Still disappointing getting off a Caledonian Sleeper and waking up to this.
@@ahqhue So many of the main Terminal stations are being developed to cater for such a huge increase in passenger numbers over the last 10 years or so. Waterloo, Kings Cross, St. Pancras, Euston all far too small or were using the space badly. Euston always feels huge when you go down onto the platforms, but the station concourse itself is like a shoe box.
@@ahqhue it is beyond a doubt the worst London Terminal. Even tiny Marylebone has character. It is definitely an opportunity missed not to rebuild the station. Close it for a month like they did with Waterloo.
Mat Samuel, You should take a trip to Euston Station and see how many people actually uses the station, it is packed, Even the Underground is at full capacity, We need a railway fitted for the 21st Century, so if it mean getting there much quicker, So be it , the HS2 is happening whether you like it or not.
I'm very happy about this. I live in the Midlands and I really hope this either brings big business back into Birmingham or makes commuting to London easier. I can afford a flat in Birmingham but the London prices are mind-boggling. Without HS2, I'd have to carry on paying ridiculously over the odds for Virgin's crappy 1hr 22min commute twice daily or bite the bullet and get a ridiculously big mortgage for a tiny flat. HS2 really helps solve that problem.
@@johnclark7065 Oh we meet again you boring delinquent, WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH BIRMINHAM MATE, Birmingham is a modern vibrant City full of charm and visitor attractions and is a diverse City in Culture, Sorry mate you have no proof of what you state as you don't even live in Brum, you just have a very small brain. 🤣👌✌😂 admit it you don't know anything about Birmingham so what is your problem
I have weird mixed feelings about this. I think we have to invest in our infrastructure, but seeing how it is scarring the local area which I know so well makes it feel harder. But then... this is what every major infrastructure is like. No one mourns all that was lost when Euston was originally built as we love our train station and connections. We really are always building for the future, in many ways.
Shame about the Leslie Green tube station. I realize there are a bunch of other ones but I think those are some of the most attractive buildings in London.
I think those blood-red stations are hideous. There are plenty more of them as they were a standard design. This one is a neglected and decrepit example. Just save its tiles for any repairs needed on the others.
I used to do the Euston commute everyday - depressing journey through that station, so glad there's some work taking place in the area. Is there a plan to do anything with the existing station? I know there have been grand plans at various points in time, but did any of them come to fruition?
Fantastic news. Long overdue. Intercity trains are packed as it is - extra capacity is much needed! And a much nicer Euston station + tube connections too! :D
The TREES want you to know that they have no suicidal thoughts or ideologies of burning them selves down. They wish you to know they are happy and intend to live a long and healthy live helping humanity breath clean air and making homes for wildlife and birds.
I'm glad Euston's being effectively rebuilt - I've used it off and on for over 4 decades and the way it just became more and more closed in was ridiculous. The 1970s new station wasn't great, but it's been made far worse to use over the time. OTOH, I think HS2 itself's a waste of money. Especially over recent doubts as to whether the northern expansion will ever happen. Improve the Chiltern line as said elsewhere, triple up and down tracks for the west coast, and bomb proof power lines and signals to avoid the frequent disruption that happens now. Cheaper than HS2.
Gary Walker I doubt what you say is actually cheaper. The Chiltern Main Line is restricted by Marylebone, which is much more expensive to expand, and would also require electrification, and tripling the WCML isn’t an option in many places due to the surrounding area, so all of that would actually be a similar cost
If by "they" you mean HS2, then no they won't. HS2 do not have the remit or the money to rebuild Euston beyond what is required to avail HS2. To rebuild the rest of the station (and any other redevelopment that might be considered worthy) the Mayor, Camden, Network Rail et al have to put a plan together and lobby for the funding (which I believe some or all of them are doing.)
Why not do Euston again when HS2 is completed and new platforms being built. And a new underground subway walkway linking Euston main line station with Euston Square underground station.
@0:28 when he refers to "West" (and which I think you are referring to), the map is conventionally oriented with North at the top. It would only need to be indicated if it were anything otherwise. The plan @0:24 does not have North to the top, but it is an architect's plan, not a map.
You will be pleasantly surprised. The project will run ahead of schedule, it will run under budget and will deliver a cheaper alternative to using cars , high speed service and the most reliable service in the world. I guarantee it.
@@onlinefriend3889 is crossrail 2 actually necessary though? If you restore the line between Bedford and Sandy then services from the North can terminate at Clapham Junction. Reducing cross-london journeys is surely a better use of resources.
I don't think Crossrail2 is even off the drawing board yet, certainly it hasn't secured funding. London haters will be positively apoplectic at the circa 35Bn price for Crossrail2 being spent "only in London."
@@davecardboard9567 £15 billion for Crossrail. But at least it serves a useful purpose. Crossrail2 is the bypass for the congested Victoria line which was the bypass for the congested Piccadilly line. Maybe we should look instead to making our existing lines 4 track?
@@hairyairey Or you could convert the Northern City line to tube tunnel and connect them to the Northern (Bank branch) line from north of Old Street or Moorgate. That way, there'll be better connection from ECML passengers at Finsbury Park. That's one of my several solution instead of Crossrail 2
If you mean "closed for X months/years for HS2 construction work" then no. If you mean "will there be some weekend/Xmas/etc. closures" then yes. Indeed there already have been as they rejigged some of the existing track in preparation, though often this was done in concert with closures for other (non-HS2) works. The basic plan is to build 6 new HS2 lines "offline" alongside (to the west) of the existing station negating the need for large numbers of closures, open the new HS2 platforms and transfer service to them, then close 5 of the existing western Euston platforms, clear them away and build another 5 HS2 platforms. It's unsure yet what will happen to the rest of the station (as it's not HS2's remit to redevelop the rest of the station) but the Mayor, Network Rail, et al are developing plans and lobbying for the money.
The money is being spent wisely for your benefit, all the profits will be reinvested in the railways for a golden tomorrow. Wait and see. You won't be disappointed.
They never have been. UK history is replete with incidences of old burial ground being moved (or simply ignored and just built over.). For a recent example look no further that Crossrail at Liverpool Street. Part of St James Gardens was previously moved when Euston was expanded in the past. This also isn't peculiar to rail scheme - roads, houses, schools, hospitals, shops, you name it, have impacted on old burial grounds.
Because serving those journeys with a high quality pedestrian link between Euston and St Pancras can be done for a fraction of the cost. And with the benefit of also improving stuff for some of the 95% of HS2 passengers who wouldn't travel through London on HS1 (eg connecting better with Thameslink), rather than penalising some of them by stealing an HS2 path from places like Stafford and Stoke and still not give central Birmingham, Liverpool, York, Newcastle, Preston or Scotland direct through services to Kent and France (where there would also be select destinations). Many of the 5% would find it better to make the change in London than use the through trains - take a frequent service to London from a wide number of Northern/Midlands destinations, change there for a full range of Kentish/Continental destinations also running frequently vs, if your city isn't one of the lucky ones, having to change onto an infrequent direct service at somewhere like Crewe or OOC, and then again at Stratford International or Lille if that end isn't one of the select destinations. Greengauge's model for a link had about a third of the passenger numbers walking Stratford-Stratford International (but assumed that the similar Euston-St Pancras distance was too far) despite the change available at Old Oak Common (they had people travelling from Canary Wharf via Stratford to HS2, rather than just taking the direct service to OOC), and a different rough third of traffic being Kent-OOC traffic that then went to destinations in the SE like Reading, Heathrow or Milton Keynes - they were clutching at straws trying to justify it. Or do you mean a death-trap Euston Cross? a vast cavern down deep that would still struggle to be large enough for the number of people boarding/alighting - not just in terms of crowd management, but also in terms of dwell times as most of a 500+ capacity intercity train disembarks and fills up again within the 5 minutes that a 6-platform layout would allow.
There is still the possibility of doing this at Old Oak Common so you can go direct from Birmingham to Paris. There just doesn't seem to be the demand for it though.
@@dgattenb you mean with the media cashing in on Brexit hype? There's plenty of companies setting up in business here, possibly because here they won't have to pay EU tariffs.
Just checked and the Bhelpuri restaurants we've been going to for over 25 years are still there (we both used to work in Euston Tower). I also stayed at that hotel with my future wife. I prefer Ravi's but my wife likes Chutney's. chutneyseuston.uk/ The pub on the corner that has now gone was dreadful. It's staff seemed to have a point system as to how many people it could get drunk by 12:00. Please keep us updated on progress!
What there needs to be are decent rail lines along the South coast. As it is if you want to go from Kent to Dorset you have to go up to London and then back down - it's ridiculous. HS2 is just stupidly ambitious. It requires far too much demolition, construction and alteration.
i completely agree, if i want to go from Ashford (Kent) to Brighton or Portsmouth i have to wast soo much time going North to London just to come back down south again at an angle.. if they upgraded the lines between Ashford and Eastbourne and started using proper Trains and not these bumpy *and frankly useless at peak time* 2 car DMUs we could improve the south East - West connection allowing access to Kent from Hampshire Via Sussex without going via London's overcrowded network.. all by upgrading a short section of track
the west coast mainline and euston station are absurdly inadequate for the amount of people that constantly use it. it’s such trash when you compare it to the rail services to other parts of the uk
Grade status isn't set in stone - it only means you need to get more people to agree before you can alter it (demolition being an extreme form of alteration)
Geoffrey Lee They’re recovering the tile work for use on other tube stations in the same style (of which there are many), there isn’t exactly anywhere else it can go
Pretty exactly the same station exists in many other places. It was a standard design. Used at Edgware Rd, Oxford Circus, Green Park, Lambeth North, E&C, Holloway Rd, Caledonian Rd, York Rd, Russel Sq, Aldwych, Kentish Town ... the list goes on, about twenty more. Try "Leslie Green" in Wikipedia. Thye are all ugly anyway.
In fairness, current plans for the first tranche of rolling stock are that it is all going to be "Conventional Compatible" so that it can run off HS2 at Lichfield onto the existing lines an onward to destinations further north.
Sure but when the project starts to role, you will see how efficiently it works out i.e. under budget, ahead of planned opening, world class signalling and high speed trains that won't keep breaking down and will get a power supply that won't keep breaking down either. In short, you can expect a cheap alternative to using cars, better than Japanese, Chinese or German reliability and above all, the trains won't be affected by heat or snow. I'm excited, you should be too 🙌
I don't see why ST. Pancras was not used for this line north? Requiring only a short twin tunnels to meet the HS2 line near Euston. This would have allowed straight running to the north for trains coming in from Europe. Platform capacity should be adequate, especially if every second train was diverting north. So now, if you're from the north, you have to get off at St. Pancras, and tube or taxi or walk to Euston, the far side of Euston. Not properly thought out.
The original scheme had a single tunnel between St Pancras (roughly end of HS1) to Old Oak Common. They "deleted" it from the scheme because they reckoned there was not enough passenger demand for trains to/from Europe to/from north of London, it saved them a bit of money and appeased a load of Camden residents. It also means trainsets from Europe do not need to be compatible with the signalling system planned for HS2 (or vice versa.)
@@davecardboard9567 If the new line HS2 is all 'new' then surely it would be compatible with HS1 and therefore all signalling [which is in cab], would be the same. Enginering consistency, trainsets and signalling, should be compatible as used on all HS networks in Europe. Population of Greater London say 12M, but combined up north population is much more. Otherwise it seems a shame not to have straight through running. Many thanks for your information.
I’m in no hurry to get to Birmingham . It seems a lot of work and a Lot of Buildings have to go , just for this . I think it’s a Piss take take demolish the Old tube station. Why can’t they incorporate it somehow ?
nasty nick It’s on top of where the platforms are meant to be. It’s more to do with capacity, so you can actually make it on the train, not just get there faster
The site of this old tube station (closed in 1907) and all the other buildings in that locale are essentially about to become a big hole in the ground into which HS2 platforms and service basement are going to be constructed. It's simply impractical to try and "build round it." They could maybe save to street level facades and relocate them, but no one is stepping up to buy it (yet.) There's plenty of other examples of the same architecture in London (both abandoned and still in use.)
No contracts have been placed yet, but the plan is to have at total of about sixty trains, of two types - a "captive" type built to the full HS2 loading gauge to run between London and the Birmingham branch, and a "classic compatible" type to allow operation on to Manchester etc. (compare the original class 373 Eurostars which had to be capable of operating on the legacy network, and the later class 374s which are confined, in the UK, to HS1). The latter may also have tilt. Who knows what new technology will be available in eight years' time? - eight years ago the latest things were class 378 and 380, both obsolete designs now. (Overground now has 710s on order, Scotrail has its 385s)
Unless it has changed recently, I read that all the phase 1 rolling stock is going to be "Conventional Compatible" - there won't be any dedicated GC gauge "HS2 only" stock. The latter isn't being entertained until phase 2 (and then probably phase 2B.) One wonders whether someone in future will come up the idea of having a "single type" fleet and give up on HS2 dedicated stock if the budgets are looking tight. I guess there's a good few years yet for that to all play out.
I thought "they" had decided (at this stage) not to bother with any tilting stock as it isn't necessary on the HS lines and the extra mass and reduced cabin space to accommodate tilt would (respectively) increase the operating costs and decrease the seating capacity. I recall a debate where someone then complained that as a result, when HS2 CC stock ran onto the existing WCML, there would be places where it would be running at slower speeds that the existing Pendelino's!
I lived in and around London for 30 years. These videos are so important to me to see how it's all changing. I'll miss the Thistle! Anyway, thank you for your hard work on this, and all your other videos. I, like many others I'm sure, rarely comment but take it from us quieter ones that they are much appreciated.
It's almost three years since this piece was filmed. Will there be an update this November?
The sheer vastness of this is mind-boggling.
Great video - shame they couldn't incorporate the old tube station into the new design. Almost time for that November visit to see how things are progressing...
London to Birmingham is phase one of HS2. Yes it does shave of 30 mins but when phase two comes in it will have an overall advantage over any current journey to Manchester and Leeds from London and ultimately Europe. With the Eurostar just down the road the connection will be better than Paris has to it's national rail network. It's all to do with investing in the country's infrastructure, something Spain has done a lot. Madrid has plans to connect all cities by high speed services so none are more than a few hours from the capital or each other.
Still, read the Daily Heil and turn pink all you want but some of us have jobs to do that aren't in the same village.
And France is connecting Paris on the high speed TGV to Barcelona via Bordeaux and Toulouse. The national rail service from Paris is pretty good. TGV to Montpellier in under 4 hours.
Stephen Saunders .. the biggest White Elephant this country has EVER experienced .. it will NEVER come to fruition despite the billions that have already been spent - mark my words.
James Monks construction work starts tomorrow!
@@SteveInskip .. it's irrelevant when the work STARTS .. I can guarantee it'll never FINISH because of spiralling costs & environmental damage .. the whole project will be cancelled LONG before the expected completion date.
James Monks I should have a bet on that if I was that confident. You might get good odds.
Thank you for doing this video. I will keep watching the updates. I’ve been to Euston/ Euston Square recently. You seem to have answered all the questions that have crossed my mind. I will look harder next time that I go.
I'm pleased to see that Euston can finally shrug off the 1960's brutalist architecture. It's such a depressing place. The access link to the Circle line is also welcomed, dodging traffic and getting soaked is no fun. As a fan of the railways, I personally think that HS2 is a great idea. More updates on the Euston project would be welcomed.
Really interesting, it's quite a mammoth project! I remember staying in that ibis hotel a number of times when I visited London as a kid!
Best thing they could do with the old station facade would be to reinstate the facade of Camden Town tube station. Geoff, do you know someone to suggest that to?
Geoff, tell me they let you lob a toilet out the window. "Drop zone" sounds like so much fun! Bonus points if you nail a pigeon.
Fast forward to July 2021. Is there any other videos following up on this activity?
But where's the Kaboom? I was expecting an earth-shattering Kaboom!
As pointed out below by others, it’s been three and a half years since any updates on what’s going on at Euston station and surrounding areas; would you be doing one sometime in 2022?
Good news that Euston underground station will get its own entrance, so that you don't need to access the NR station first, hadn't realised that was being built. Sad to see the Bree Louise all boarded up though.
I've only used Euston a handful of times but each time I've had a suitcase and then used the tube so I'm glad of the new entrance to Euston East!
I really like these kind of videos! Thanks Geoff 👍🏻
4:34 So Geoff is going to Euston station this coming week?
So excited for HS2! Great to see the country doing something ambitious.
Glad also that Euston is getting a big makeover, that whole area is a sink hole for architecture and placemaking
Updating this for November 2019 - as promised at the end of this video??
And now add in November/December 2020 as well?
Great! I reckon the project will run on budget and finish ahead of schedule. There will be high speed trains, no more power failures, signal failures, points failures or broken down trains etc. The trains and the infrastructure will be weather proof, no more delays due to heat or snow. I have complete faith in the project. Above all, there will no ticket lottery or over pricing because the fares will be the lowest in Europe. Can't wait.
That taxi rank under Euston station is one of the most toxic, polluted, grim places I've ever been to in my life. And I've lived in Wales.
Is there any point to HS2? You can already get to Birmingham from London by train. They seem to be destroying a lot of history to do it.
@Thegamer2000 How much quicker is it? From what I've heard it isn't much.
@@sophiepoyser4731 32 minutes (81 minutes now to 49 minutes) for Birmingham (it's just shy of an hour for Manchester with phase 2b: 126 minutes to 68 minutes), but it's the capacity boost that's most important. Birmingham gets a minimum of another 1500 passengers/hour able to travel to London - which will mostly provide the knock on effect of more capacity for people of intermediate destinations like Coventry, Rugby, Milton Keynes and Watford to travel to London or Birmingham (and likewise for other cities).
I think it's more about adding capacity rather than making train journeys faster. And if you're going to build a new train line, you might as well build a high speed one.
Not forgetting of course that trains also operate to Birmingham from Marylebone where no doubt there is room for extra capacity. Not everyone wants to travel from Euston.
@@peterclark8408 There's room on the Chiltern Mainline? that's a big surprise. They are going to build a spur to OOC to boost the middle distance services as there's no space at Marylebone for expansion. The inner stations have the worst service in Greater London as there's not the paths for trains to there stop more often. About all you can do is make the trains less comfortable, in order to squeeze more in and perhaps add another carriage to them. 15-20% and you still don't really deal with Birmingham-London traffic getting in the way of more regional traffic to the two cities.
I think the main Advantage of new build lines in britain is they use the Standard european Clearance gauge that means on this lines they can use Standard Highspeed trains by Stadler Siemens or Alstom, at the Moment every company has to develope a new product for the british Market. Every country uses Standard Stadler Flirt trains with some adjustmens only britain needs different trains for the Great Eastern Mainline.
why demolish the old euston road station i would take it down brick by brick and rebuild it somewhere else
Why not get your wallet out and make HS2 an offer?
let's just demolish big ben while we're at it to install some new toilets.
@@ijulesy Demolished Big Ben?? That an iconic listed building, London be dead without the clock and also I beleive it going digital soon.
Cameron Bell Big Ben is a bell on not a building. You are referring to the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which was recently named the Elizabeth Tower.
@@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819 I believe he was being sarcastic...
I've been meaning to go there for months and take photos of the area as I used to work nearby. Definitely going this Sunday.
Cool: Put your pics up on Flickr. :-)
Love your content. Can you do a video explaining what the whole plans are? And is the old tube building being demolished?
I was wondered what happened to IBIS hotel near Euston station. I wanted to book a room there but it was disappeared.
They're going to demolish the tube station, which is a horrid thing and they are demolishing the Ibis. That was my favourite hotel!! Always stayed there when I was in London, was pretty pissed off when I found out.
An ideal time to rebuild the doric arch perhaps, as the stones are still in existence somewhere.
Most of them were dumped in a canal I believe. Several others missing.
they were dumped in a hole in the lee valley canel and found when dregring to deepenit for the olmypics as far as remember most have been found and are stored somewhere hopefuly someone at HS2 will see sence and put it back
@@goodwood-rc4nx There was also quite a lot stored in the demolition contractors garden !
Oh dear god. While not rebuild cholera while we're at it.
This has been discussed and investigated many times. Most of the stones have been broken up and used as rubble for infill all over the place. A few were kept as garden ornaments.
2:19 The Bree Louise RIP
Yeah, that hurt seeing that! The only authentic pub in the area. Oh you can walk a few metres and have a soul destroying Refinery visit. YAY! Hurrah for mediocrity.
I am best mates with the owners' son, and my family know them very well. Many happy memories in that place 😥
@@jordansclancy I was there on the last day they were open a few years ago. That was a fine pub!
@@OldUKAds The other decent pubs are the Euston Tap in the listed blockhouses outside Euston and the Exmouth Arms. There's also the Resting Hare round the corner. I'd recommend the Euston Tap (the original one over the East Lodge) which, TBH, I always preferred to the Bree Louise once the Tap had opened.
Great video as usual and great to meet you in Park Lane a few weeks ago!
A tunnel to connect Eus Square and Euston -----> WOWEEEE! About 100 yrs late.
After HS3 - 12, Marylebone Stn will need to be demolished to make way for new platforms 102 thru 139.
I would be really interesting if we could see some of the work as seen from Friends House (the Quaker building opposite Euston Station), it could put a different perspective on the work. The offices of Britain Yearly Meeting are the third floor so you could get a good view.
is a year since this video hopefully geoff does what he said about doing yearly update is coming soon
I remember passing through Euston station in the '60's when they did the last rebuild !
I think annually would be too long maybe every 6 months! Glad to see it go to be honest its nasty, has few redeeming qualities, the temp changes by network rail have made it even darker and im delighted to see the Grant thornton buildings come fdown those towers are hugly ugly - no one will miss
them!
much like the old British Rail extension at the front of King's Cross did
@@alexhardiman8582 which apparently was temporary. 50 years or so I wouldn't call temporary!
Euston, the Penn Station of London. Though it's still slightly airier than rats (commuters) running around in tubes under an arena. Still disappointing getting off a Caledonian Sleeper and waking up to this.
@@ahqhue So many of the main Terminal stations are being developed to cater for such a huge increase in passenger numbers over the last 10 years or so. Waterloo, Kings Cross, St. Pancras, Euston all far too small or were using the space badly. Euston always feels huge when you go down onto the platforms, but the station concourse itself is like a shoe box.
@@ahqhue it is beyond a doubt the worst London Terminal. Even tiny Marylebone has character. It is definitely an opportunity missed not to rebuild the station. Close it for a month like they did with Waterloo.
I'm pretty interested in how they're going to fit the over site development in around the Hampstead Heath sight lines.
And when HS2 is scrapped?
Rest in Peace Leslie Green tube station.
Geoff it’s almost time for you to go and visit Euston again! It’s the end of October 2019
There's a near identical tent and archeological dig on the Curzon Street site at the Birmingham end of the line too.
Geoff, you'll have grey hair before this is finished!
Geoff you should have called it what it is, 'The HS2 White Elephant'.
Mat Samuel That’s not what it is though
And they should call you "Mat 'Lacks Vision' Samuel".
Mat Samuel, You should take a trip to Euston Station and see how many people actually uses the station, it is packed, Even the Underground is at full capacity, We need a railway fitted for the 21st Century, so if it mean getting there much quicker, So be it , the HS2 is happening whether you like it or not.
I'm very happy about this. I live in the Midlands and I really hope this either brings big business back into Birmingham or makes commuting to London easier. I can afford a flat in Birmingham but the London prices are mind-boggling. Without HS2, I'd have to carry on paying ridiculously over the odds for Virgin's crappy 1hr 22min commute twice daily or bite the bullet and get a ridiculously big mortgage for a tiny flat. HS2 really helps solve that problem.
Birmingham is a boring shithole nothing special about the segregated city with no character or charm or sense of community.
@@johnclark7065 Oh we meet again you boring delinquent, WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH BIRMINHAM MATE, Birmingham is a modern vibrant City full of charm and visitor attractions and is a diverse City in Culture, Sorry mate you have no proof of what you state as you don't even live in Brum, you just have a very small brain. 🤣👌✌😂 admit it you don't know anything about Birmingham so what is your problem
The cost of HS2 became too high when we lost the Bree Louise.
Not had a better pie in London than that place.
Couldn't agree more. Great pub booze and great pies, sadly now gone :-(
Only decent pub in that area 😢
What about restoring the Arch?
A tunnel connecting Euston Sqaure to Euston? Hussah!
Shame they can't keep that old station building. I'm quite fond of it.
it better be taken down brick by brick rather than a wrecking ball. That is a valuable irreplaceable shell that could be rebuilt somewhere else.
This is the continual march for progress, let’s hope they will build a better Euston station than the one we’ve got with nicer architectural design.
Cant wait for 2019 video!!!
I have weird mixed feelings about this. I think we have to invest in our infrastructure, but seeing how it is scarring the local area which I know so well makes it feel harder. But then... this is what every major infrastructure is like. No one mourns all that was lost when Euston was originally built as we love our train station and connections. We really are always building for the future, in many ways.
Not just a future, a better future for all. I can see sunny days coming, hope you can too.
I'm surprised that there was so much wood and bricks in the structure of a concrete Brutalist hotel building.
I did like staying at the Thistle, remember being just outside on the concrete ramp nearby watching the last total solar eclipse!
Shame about the Leslie Green tube station. I realize there are a bunch of other ones but I think those are some of the most attractive buildings in London.
It is, but let's be frank it's been an abandoned building with some red tiles on. It's not a tube station, and hasn't been for ages.
I think those blood-red stations are hideous. There are plenty more of them as they were a standard design. This one is a neglected and decrepit example. Just save its tiles for any repairs needed on the others.
Is the former Tube entrance now ventilation shaft still accessible or has the street been closed to pedrestrians already...?
Closed north of Drummond Street when I was there, may be further south now.
Used to work in that hotel. I really wanted to attend the demolition day! 😂
Any chance of he arch being reconstructed?
No
There have been some proposals, but it's not part of the current plans
I used to do the Euston commute everyday - depressing journey through that station, so glad there's some work taking place in the area. Is there a plan to do anything with the existing station? I know there have been grand plans at various points in time, but did any of them come to fruition?
Pretty sure the HS2 plans rebuild the whole station rather than just bolting a bit onto the side
Fantastic news. Long overdue. Intercity trains are packed as it is - extra capacity is much needed!
And a much nicer Euston station + tube connections too! :D
So, no update in 2 years ?
Because this is going to be a new platform at Euston station for HS2
Funny how HS2 had a huge thing about it not being built but low and behold what’s happened now?
The TREES want you to know that they have no suicidal thoughts or ideologies of burning them selves down. They wish you to know they are happy and intend to live a long and healthy live helping humanity breath clean air and making homes for wildlife and birds.
Does anyone know where exactly those 40,000 exhumations are going to reburied?
in your back garden.
I was there yesterday. Just visiting London.
I'm glad Euston's being effectively rebuilt - I've used it off and on for over 4 decades and the way it just became more and more closed in was ridiculous. The 1970s new station wasn't great, but it's been made far worse to use over the time.
OTOH, I think HS2 itself's a waste of money. Especially over recent doubts as to whether the northern expansion will ever happen. Improve the Chiltern line as said elsewhere, triple up and down tracks for the west coast, and bomb proof power lines and signals to avoid the frequent disruption that happens now. Cheaper than HS2.
Gary Walker I doubt what you say is actually cheaper. The Chiltern Main Line is restricted by Marylebone, which is much more expensive to expand, and would also require electrification, and tripling the WCML isn’t an option in many places due to the surrounding area, so all of that would actually be a similar cost
Ah, the Bree Louise. That was a great pub.
I understand that they will not redo the Main bldg. of Euston Station. Is that True.?
If by "they" you mean HS2, then no they won't. HS2 do not have the remit or the money to rebuild Euston beyond what is required to avail HS2. To rebuild the rest of the station (and any other redevelopment that might be considered worthy) the Mayor, Camden, Network Rail et al have to put a plan together and lobby for the funding (which I believe some or all of them are doing.)
Hey Geoff congrats on making the evening standard today with the tube world cup. I think?
I stayed at the Thistle hotel
Why not do Euston again when HS2 is completed and new platforms being built. And a new underground subway walkway linking Euston main line station with Euston Square underground station.
Sorry to be pedantic, but how are we meant to know which way is West on the map at the start when we don't have a way of knowing which was is north?
@0:28 when he refers to "West" (and which I think you are referring to), the map is conventionally oriented with North at the top. It would only need to be indicated if it were anything otherwise. The plan @0:24 does not have North to the top, but it is an architect's plan, not a map.
@@dukenukem5768 Then I stand corrected and withdraw my comment above :)
What's the estimated date of completion of all this (to the point where HS2 is up and running)?
70humdinger 2026 Phase 1, 2033 Phase 2
You will be pleasantly surprised. The project will run ahead of schedule, it will run under budget and will deliver a cheaper alternative to using cars , high speed service and the most reliable service in the world. I guarantee it.
The future looks good.
will crossrail2 be ready in time?
Construction for it hasn't begun, but it might be in the future. If HS2 opens, Crossrail 2 opens. Crossrail 1 is for the same reason: to serve HS1.
@@onlinefriend3889 is crossrail 2 actually necessary though? If you restore the line between Bedford and Sandy then services from the North can terminate at Clapham Junction. Reducing cross-london journeys is surely a better use of resources.
I don't think Crossrail2 is even off the drawing board yet, certainly it hasn't secured funding. London haters will be positively apoplectic at the circa 35Bn price for Crossrail2 being spent "only in London."
@@davecardboard9567 £15 billion for Crossrail. But at least it serves a useful purpose. Crossrail2 is the bypass for the congested Victoria line which was the bypass for the congested Piccadilly line. Maybe we should look instead to making our existing lines 4 track?
@@hairyairey Or you could convert the Northern City line to tube tunnel and connect them to the Northern (Bank branch) line from north of Old Street or Moorgate. That way, there'll be better connection from ECML passengers at Finsbury Park. That's one of my several solution instead of Crossrail 2
Will Euston Railway station be temporary closed for HS2 works?
If you mean "closed for X months/years for HS2 construction work" then no.
If you mean "will there be some weekend/Xmas/etc. closures" then yes. Indeed there already have been as they rejigged some of the existing track in preparation, though often this was done in concert with closures for other (non-HS2) works.
The basic plan is to build 6 new HS2 lines "offline" alongside (to the west) of the existing station negating the need for large numbers of closures, open the new HS2 platforms and transfer service to them, then close 5 of the existing western Euston platforms, clear them away and build another 5 HS2 platforms. It's unsure yet what will happen to the rest of the station (as it's not HS2's remit to redevelop the rest of the station) but the Mayor, Network Rail, et al are developing plans and lobbying for the money.
But remember, a small sacrifice for a better tomorrow.
The money is being spent wisely for your benefit, all the profits will be reinvested in the railways for a golden tomorrow. Wait and see. You won't be disappointed.
Nothing is sacred not even the dead
They never have been. UK history is replete with incidences of old burial ground being moved (or simply ignored and just built over.). For a recent example look no further that Crossrail at Liverpool Street. Part of St James Gardens was previously moved when Euston was expanded in the past. This also isn't peculiar to rail scheme - roads, houses, schools, hospitals, shops, you name it, have impacted on old burial grounds.
Yes that’s true.
@3:58 those are really big buildings to be demolishing!
Thank god Geoff is back! I was almost going to unsubscribe from Londonist before this vid!
Its strange that the construction is much slower than the original railway back in 1838, even with latest technologies
Will the old euston being taken out
Look like c
London tears too many things down. It's a shame. For instance 1:22 : Why did they tear down the building on the right?
isnt moving burial plots tecnically disturbing the remains??
Technically, yes. Your point?
@@OldUKAds and what do you mean by ''your point ''
Harry Jmcandrew Yes, just like the Titanic.
why oh why did they not link hs2 up with hs1 .. been saying that for years .. that was the original plan ..
Because serving those journeys with a high quality pedestrian link between Euston and St Pancras can be done for a fraction of the cost. And with the benefit of also improving stuff for some of the 95% of HS2 passengers who wouldn't travel through London on HS1 (eg connecting better with Thameslink), rather than penalising some of them by stealing an HS2 path from places like Stafford and Stoke and still not give central Birmingham, Liverpool, York, Newcastle, Preston or Scotland direct through services to Kent and France (where there would also be select destinations). Many of the 5% would find it better to make the change in London than use the through trains - take a frequent service to London from a wide number of Northern/Midlands destinations, change there for a full range of Kentish/Continental destinations also running frequently vs, if your city isn't one of the lucky ones, having to change onto an infrequent direct service at somewhere like Crewe or OOC, and then again at Stratford International or Lille if that end isn't one of the select destinations.
Greengauge's model for a link had about a third of the passenger numbers walking Stratford-Stratford International (but assumed that the similar Euston-St Pancras distance was too far) despite the change available at Old Oak Common (they had people travelling from Canary Wharf via Stratford to HS2, rather than just taking the direct service to OOC), and a different rough third of traffic being Kent-OOC traffic that then went to destinations in the SE like Reading, Heathrow or Milton Keynes - they were clutching at straws trying to justify it.
Or do you mean a death-trap Euston Cross? a vast cavern down deep that would still struggle to be large enough for the number of people boarding/alighting - not just in terms of crowd management, but also in terms of dwell times as most of a 500+ capacity intercity train disembarks and fills up again within the 5 minutes that a 6-platform layout would allow.
There is still the possibility of doing this at Old Oak Common so you can go direct from Birmingham to Paris. There just doesn't seem to be the demand for it though.
@@hairyairey with the Brexit farce and xenophobia, I don't think the two lines will ever be connected. Shame , a lost opportunity
@@dgattenb you mean with the media cashing in on Brexit hype? There's plenty of companies setting up in business here, possibly because here they won't have to pay EU tariffs.
@@hairyairey oh boy
23 people who disliked were staying in the thistle hotel.
Just checked and the Bhelpuri restaurants we've been going to for over 25 years are still there (we both used to work in Euston Tower).
I also stayed at that hotel with my future wife. I prefer Ravi's but my wife likes Chutney's.
chutneyseuston.uk/
The pub on the corner that has now gone was dreadful. It's staff seemed to have a point system as to how many people it could get drunk by 12:00.
Please keep us updated on progress!
What an amazing project. To build a new railway within existing infrastructure is a massive undertaking.
What there needs to be are decent rail lines along the South coast. As it is if you want to go from Kent to Dorset you have to go up to London and then back down - it's ridiculous.
HS2 is just stupidly ambitious. It requires far too much demolition, construction and alteration.
Thomas Sturges-Allard Compared to the disruption without it, it’s nothing
Even worse by road along the South Coast.
i completely agree, if i want to go from Ashford (Kent) to Brighton or Portsmouth i have to wast soo much time going North to London just to come back down south again at an angle.. if they upgraded the lines between Ashford and Eastbourne and started using proper Trains and not these bumpy *and frankly useless at peak time* 2 car DMUs we could improve the south East - West connection allowing access to Kent from Hampshire Via Sussex without going via London's overcrowded network.. all by upgrading a short section of track
the west coast mainline and euston station are absurdly inadequate for the amount of people that constantly use it. it’s such trash when you compare it to the rail services to other parts of the uk
Rather than just look sheepish, the guy should have offered an apology to pulling down the Leslie Green tube building.
Such a shame it won't be saved. No grade status?
Even if it did, the HS2 Phase 1 Act of Parliament would have dis-applied it's listed status, as elsewhere on the route.
Grade status isn't set in stone - it only means you need to get more people to agree before you can alter it (demolition being an extreme form of alteration)
Don’t sure why I’m here or so interested. But I am.
Bastards closed the Bree Louise...
Saving the exterior of that tube station for somewhere else would be done in Toronto.
Geoffrey Lee They’re recovering the tile work for use on other tube stations in the same style (of which there are many), there isn’t exactly anywhere else it can go
Pretty exactly the same station exists in many other places. It was a standard design. Used at Edgware Rd, Oxford Circus, Green Park, Lambeth North, E&C, Holloway Rd, Caledonian Rd, York Rd, Russel Sq, Aldwych, Kentish Town ... the list goes on, about twenty more. Try "Leslie Green" in Wikipedia. Thye are all ugly anyway.
4:16 iiiiittss time for tubenews
I Think the class 800 "*IEP*" Is going To be on the HS2
Not very likely - new bespoke trains are planned, whose design is not constrained by having to run on 19th century infrastructure.
In fairness, current plans for the first tranche of rolling stock are that it is all going to be "Conventional Compatible" so that it can run off HS2 at Lichfield onto the existing lines an onward to destinations further north.
it took 15 years to actually start building?
HS2 got royal assent only 2 years ago
Sure but when the project starts to role, you will see how efficiently it works out i.e. under budget, ahead of planned opening, world class signalling and high speed trains that won't keep breaking down and will get a power supply that won't keep breaking down either. In short, you can expect a cheap alternative to using cars, better than Japanese, Chinese or German reliability and above all, the trains won't be affected by heat or snow. I'm excited, you should be too 🙌
I don't see why ST. Pancras was not used for this line north? Requiring only a short twin tunnels to meet the HS2 line near Euston. This would have allowed straight running to the north for trains coming in from Europe. Platform capacity should be adequate, especially if every second train was diverting north. So now, if you're from the north, you have to get off at St. Pancras, and tube or taxi or walk to Euston, the far side of Euston. Not properly thought out.
The original scheme had a single tunnel between St Pancras (roughly end of HS1) to Old Oak Common. They "deleted" it from the scheme because they reckoned there was not enough passenger demand for trains to/from Europe to/from north of London, it saved them a bit of money and appeased a load of Camden residents. It also means trainsets from Europe do not need to be compatible with the signalling system planned for HS2 (or vice versa.)
@@davecardboard9567 If the new line HS2 is all 'new' then surely it would be compatible with HS1 and therefore all signalling [which is in cab], would be the same. Enginering consistency, trainsets and signalling, should be compatible as used on all HS networks in Europe. Population of Greater London say 12M, but combined up north population is much more. Otherwise it seems a shame not to have straight through running. Many thanks for your information.
I’m in no hurry to get to Birmingham .
It seems a lot of work and a Lot of Buildings have to go , just for this .
I think it’s a Piss take take demolish the Old tube station. Why can’t they incorporate it somehow ?
nasty nick It’s on top of where the platforms are meant to be. It’s more to do with capacity, so you can actually make it on the train, not just get there faster
The site of this old tube station (closed in 1907) and all the other buildings in that locale are essentially about to become a big hole in the ground into which HS2 platforms and service basement are going to be constructed. It's simply impractical to try and "build round it." They could maybe save to street level facades and relocate them, but no one is stepping up to buy it (yet.) There's plenty of other examples of the same architecture in London (both abandoned and still in use.)
Dave Cardboard
I just think it’s a Shame that’s all
3:27 San-tander instead of San-tan-dare ?
Cool story bro.Also he pronounced it right, the region is called San-tender. I think it's been weirdly anglicised with the dare.
@@OldUKAds look it up on forvo, every speaker says it the other way.
Why demolish so many buildings ?
What trains are going to run this route?
No contracts have been placed yet, but the plan is to have at total of about sixty trains, of two types - a "captive" type built to the full HS2 loading gauge to run between London and the Birmingham branch, and a "classic compatible" type to allow operation on to Manchester etc. (compare the original class 373 Eurostars which had to be capable of operating on the legacy network, and the later class 374s which are confined, in the UK, to HS1). The latter may also have tilt. Who knows what new technology will be available in eight years' time? - eight years ago the latest things were class 378 and 380, both obsolete designs now. (Overground now has 710s on order, Scotrail has its 385s)
Norbiton Flyer Although after Phase 2 is completed Manchester and Leeds services will use the captive type trains
Unless it has changed recently, I read that all the phase 1 rolling stock is going to be "Conventional Compatible" - there won't be any dedicated GC gauge "HS2 only" stock. The latter isn't being entertained until phase 2 (and then probably phase 2B.)
One wonders whether someone in future will come up the idea of having a "single type" fleet and give up on HS2 dedicated stock if the budgets are looking tight. I guess there's a good few years yet for that to all play out.
I thought "they" had decided (at this stage) not to bother with any tilting stock as it isn't necessary on the HS lines and the extra mass and reduced cabin space to accommodate tilt would (respectively) increase the operating costs and decrease the seating capacity.
I recall a debate where someone then complained that as a result, when HS2 CC stock ran onto the existing WCML, there would be places where it would be running at slower speeds that the existing Pendelino's!
Dave Cardboard I don’t imagine it would be many places as the Pendolinos rarely get up to 125mph anyway and mostly operate at