Rail Minister Declares Euston Station “No Longer in Fit Condition”

Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, the rail minister and a former chairman of Network Rail, has stated that Euston Station, located in central London, has degraded to such an extent that its marble columns require bands to prevent sections from detaching. Addressing the House of Lords, Lord Hendy declared the station “no longer in fit condition,” noting that while it was “very modern in 1968,” it “is no longer very modern.” Network Rail acknowledged the station’s “need of major investment and modernisation” and assured passengers of Euston’s safety. During his address in Westminster, Lord Hendy elaborated: “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.” Lord Hendy, who previously served as a Transport for London commissioner, informed peers about the government’s 100-day rapid improvement strategy for the station, alongside its long-term aspirations. He remarked: “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 further noted that the existing retail outlets within the station were contributing to passenger space constraints. “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 stated. Lord Hendy also mentioned that there would “be some further improvements to signage and visibility,” acknowledging that “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 spokesperson for Network Rail commented that Euston was constructed for a bygone era. They affirmed: “We acknowledge that it is in need of major investment and modernisation.” The spokesperson added: “In the meantime, we can assure passengers that safety is at the heart of our operation.” They also confirmed that engineers conduct routine inspections of the station to ensure its safety, specifying: “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.” Furthermore, the spokesperson indicated that plans for a significant station upgrade are in progress, which aims to “deliver a brand-new station concourse.”