The original Euston station opened in 1837 but was
completely rebuilt in conjunction with the electrification of the West
Coast Main Line between 1963 and 1968.
Two Portland stone entrance lodges and the war memorial still survive from the old station and are situated on Euston Road.
The station serves over 71 million people each year.
Chronology
- The original station was opened by London and Birmingham Railway (later LNWR) on 20th July 1837.
- The Euston Arch, a propylaeum in the Doric style, was completed in May 1838.
- The station was extended west in 1846, the Drummond Street offices opened in the same year.
- The Great Hall opened on 27th May 1849.
- The approach drive and lodges were opened in 1870 and the present lodges are in Euston Road.
- The station was extended east in 1873 then again further west in 1892.
- A new booking hall was constructed between 1913 and 1916.
- The LNWR War Memorial was erected in the 1920s.
- The Euston Arch and Great Hall were demolished between 1961 and 1962.
- The entire station was rebuilt between 1961 and 1969 with three office blocks built on the forecourt between 1969 and 1979.
- The station has recently seen several areas refurbished and lifts installed. The piazza area outside was renovated in 2009.
Station design
- The 1837 station had an iron trussed pitch roof, 40ft by
200ft in size. This was planned by Robert Stephenson and designed by
Charles Fox.
- The Arch and screen were designed by Sir Philip Hardwick (1792 – 1870), architect to the Duke of Wellington.
- The Great Hall and other architectural elements were designed by Philip Charles Hardwick (1822 – 1892), Sir Philip’s son.
- The
statue of Robert Stephenson was retained in the present forecourt
following the demolition of the original station. This bronze sculpture
was by Carlo Marochetti.
- The present station was
designed by British Rail’s Midland regional architect, R. L. Moorcroft
and team, and was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1968.
- The office blocks were designed by Richard Seiffert.