St. Pancras International Railway Station

This special edition episode takes a detailed look at the spectacularly restored St. Pancras station. The station is called St. Pancras International because it now serves as the gateway to Paris and Brussels via the Eurostar trains and the Channel Tunnel. This episode closes in on the details of the 150 year old architecture with its modern embellishments, especially the restored roof with more than 14,000 glass panels. We also get to see the art that has been added to the station for its November 2007 re-opening, Best of all we get to see the whole station in action as a hub for passengers - thousands of them - making their way around the station, to and from trains, and even shopping in the basement mall. St Pancras train station was designed by William Barlow in 1863 with construction commencing in 1866. The famous Barlow train shed arch spans 240 feet and is over 100 feet high at its apex. On its completion in 1868 it became the largest enclosed space in the world. This restored arch is awesome to view - especially when standing next to the statue of St. John Betjeman: The greatest threat to the station came in 1966 with plans to amalgamate King's Cross and St Pancras. However public opinion had been sharpened by the demolition of Euston in 1962. Sir John Betjeman took up the cause to protect the station and in 1967 the Government listed the station and hotel as Grade 1. Sir John died in 1984, but his statue is left gawping at the roof while holding onto his hat! For more information on St. Pancras International, go to http://www.stpancras.com