Euston is not in fit condition, says rail minister

Euston Station in central London has deteriorated to the point where its marble columns are held together by bands because parts "would fall off without them", the rail minister has said.

Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, who is a former chairman of Network Rail, told the House of Lords the terminus was "no longer in fit condition".

"The station itself was very modern in 1968. It is no longer very modern," he added.

Network Rail said it acknowledged that the station was in "need of major investment and modernisation", and reassured customers Euston was safe.

Speaking in Westminster, Lord Hendy said: "I can tell you that if you look closely in the columns in the station, there are bands round the marble because it would fall off without them. It is no longer in fit condition."

The minister, who is also a former Transport for London commissioner, told peers about the government's 100-day rapid improvement plan for the station and hopes for the longer term.

He said: "I would like to take some modest credit for having re-included the concourse at Euston into the overall plan for the development of Euston and, now that the tunnels for HS2 will go there, I am very hopeful that all parts of the station will be fit for passenger usage in the future."

He added that some of the current shops at the station were causing issues with space for passengers.

"I can recall we got criticism for removing Boots, but actually too many shops and not enough concourse space is not the right answer," he said, before adding there would also "be some further improvements to signage and visibility".

"At least, when the last signage was done it was hoped to be the right job, but I'm afraid it turned out not to be."

A Network Rail spokesperson said Euston was designed for a different era.

"We acknowledge that it is in need of major investment and modernisation," they said.

"In the meantime, we can assure passengers that safety is at the heart of our operation."

The spokesperson added engineers regularly inspect the station to make sure it was safe.

"These inspections include the metal straps which were installed some years ago on the station’s external columns to keep the original 1960’s decorative marble cladding secure," they said.

The spokesperson added plans were under way for a major upgrade to the station, which would "deliver a brand-new station concourse".

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