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 is "no longer in fit condition".
He said: "The station itself was very modern in 1968. It is no longer very modern."
Network Rail previously said it had brought in a five-point plan, including creating more space at the station and providing better passenger information.
Speaking in Westminster, Lord Hendy said: "As a previous chair of Network Rail, 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."
Network Rail has been approached for further comment.
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