St Pancras
International Station Alastair Lansley

(page 50 issue 11)

Sir John Betjeman’s pivotal role in saving St Pancras International station from historical oblivion in the 1960’s. has ultimately transpired in this Grade 1 listed landmark being transformed into the main terminus of High Speed 1, enabling Eurostar to complete the fastest ever journey between London and Paris in a record 2 hours 15 minutes.
Alastair Lansley was the lead architect on the UK’s largest ever construction project which has taken 9 years to create, employed 8,000 people, used 1.6 million bricks, 300,000 roof slates, 18,000 glass panels and all, remarkably completed on time and within budget, at a cost of £800 million, opening to the public on 14th November 2007.
The original station was opened in 1868, having been built by William Barlow, an eminent railway engineer and architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. Unsurprisingly, English Heritage have been involved throughout every stage of the restoration project and instrumental in retaining the innate Victorian grandeur.
This unique design accomplishment has not only resulted in St Pancras becoming the key destination for the Eurostar and first high-speed rail in the UK but now boasts a grand retail and hospitality destination with over 82,000 sq ft of retail space.
For further information, visit:www.highspeed1.com www.stpancras.com