UK Rail: New St Pancras and and New Kings Cross an old problem and another opportunity.

Just below the surface in London N1 there is a bright newly refurbished and extended joint Underground and Thameslink station called,-as it long has been,-Kings Cross St Pancras.

A few feet above it are,-also as there have always been,-two entirely separate and very important main line stations, Kings Cross and St Pancras. They are at the most 100 yards/metres apart across a road and a gap without shelter from the elements. Kings Cross serves eastern England apart from the almost entirely separate domain of East Anglia, the North East and eastern Scotland. St Pancras is the home of trains to the central Midlands and, crucially, Paris, Brussells and then the rest of Europe and even beyond (Vladivostock anyone?)via connections on and off Eurostar. One might assume a fair number of passengers connecting from one station to the other via, thanks to the rebuilding, an easy, warm, weatherproof no step dedicated physical link. If this were Hong Kong, there would be no question. Clearly signed,it would be in place with people and baggage trolleys flowing swiftly and effortlessly in both directions crossing the road below or above. Nobody would be batting an eyelid. Why take the plane when it's this easy? Sadly that formed no part of the new designs so unless people know where the lifts are and their way down into the underground station ,through its upper level, and back up again the other side, they continue to have to battle between the two , dodging in front of the taxis and the roadway traffic. Do that once in winter with a trolley laden with luggage and a couple of children and it's back to their local airports next time.

Separately both stations are now transformed and notwithstanding a few "You'll do it our way" features and people flows, and design and finish quirks, they are pleasant user friendly places to be rather than the former often scruffy austere downmarket utilities. They are well worth the huge investment that has recently gone into them and move the London terminal part of rail travel on their routes into a new era. They are also attractive to all market segments. It's just a shame that the word though is "separately".

What chance therefore for the decades overdue provision of a bright, light, spacious underground walkway,-with moving pavements,-between these two stations which house HS1 and their very near neighbour Euston,just along the main road. Euston, the third of the north orientated trio will have HS2 to the West Midlands ,the North West and Scotland? At the moment it is as if it were on a different planet. It too though is due for extensive modernisation and sorting out. What chance here for truly joined up thinking? Could the UK have an infusion of Hong Kong "Go for it" designing, planning and doing? Three stations virtually rolled into one massive rail hub. It's an opportunity waiting to be grasped. Can the UK think that big?