New exit at Kings Cross station – watch this space!

Yesterday I made use of the new exit from Kings Cross underground station that runs underneath Euston Road and pops up within the monstrosity they have seen fit to name Belgrove House after destroying the original Belgrove House.

If you recall, this pedestrian underpass used to be a simple, straight tunnel accessible via a set of steps within the pavement which was open to the elements until approx 2005 when it was covered with an ugly grey block. The new exit/entrance we have today has been moved away from the pavement. It is capacious, bright and shiny.

However, I see 90 degree corners and fiddly spaces that circular cleaning discs will not reach. I can't help but wonder how quickly this will get filthy as per the Elizabeth Line, Holborn and Oxford Circus and other places I have written about. This reminds me that last month I posted on my Janeslondon Instagram about this very issue at Canada Water – see here.

Curved outer corners but 90 degree inner corners (duh!) and little gaps twixt posts and rises on the stairs that will surely need specialised tools:

 

Note the first ball of fluff on the floor at the right side

That pillar already looks grubby to me. Which makes me wonder if they create everything grey in the first instance hoping that the dirt won't be so obvious going forward. 

As I say in the title – watch this space. 

By the way, whilst I am on the subject of TfL’s poorly-designed stations... I am surprised that I have never written about Shepherd’s Bush station and the horrid modern block they installed to replace the gorgeous old entrance that used to boast a tiled tobacconist and a fabulous florist. Had TfL replaced that loveliness with something useful I’d have been OK with it, but no, it’s just an unused void.