Detective Shaw’s London: King’s Cross Station

One of the most important railway stations in London is located in Camden and represents the terminus of the East Coast Main Line heading to the north-east of England and Scotland: King’s Cross Station.

Originally opened in 1852, it has undergone numerous expansions and renovations over the course of more than 160 years, the latest of which, dating back to 2012, is responsible for its current appearance, particularly the brand-new departures concourse, a semi-circular structure with a steel and glass roof designed by Arup (the same company that designed the London Eye).

King’s Cross station is adjacent to St Pancras International, which is the terminus for Eurostar services from mainland Europe, and below both is the huge underground station of King’s Cross St Pancras, which has more lines running through it than any other station on the London Underground network.

Taken together, these three stations represent a transport hub of the United Kingdom, so it is very likely that you will find yourself in one of them when travelling to London.

 

In particular, if you find yourself taking a train at (or arriving to) King’s Cross Station, remember to pay a short visit to the so-called Platform 9^3/4. It is a ghost platform located between platform 9 and platform 10, which can be accessed by passing through a brick wall (but only if you are a wizard!) and which is mentioned in the Harry Potter Saga. In the past, the sign referring to it and the trolley stuck in the wall were located right near the access to platforms 9 to 11, but in 2012, following the renovation, they were moved near the merchandising shop inspired by the franchise from Rowling’s books. In fact, the scenes in the films featuring the station’s exterior were not filmed at King’s Cross, but at St Pancras.

 

King’s Cross station takes its name from the neighbourhood that hosts it: a central area of London that extends between Camden and Islington. To find out more, take a look at the King’s Cross official website.

“King’s Cross” is also the title of a song by Pet Shop Boy inspired by the station (a bit like what happened with the West End and “West End Girls” by the same band), as a place of arrival for people from the north-east of England in search of work.

 

King’s Cross Station makes an appearance in the Detective Eric Shaw Trilogy, specifically in the final book, “Beyond the Limit”. In the late afternoon of 22 May 2017, DI Miriam Leroux and Sergeant Mills rush to the arrival platform of the train coming from Cambridge in search of a woman who may be in the sights of a serial killer.

But I can’t tell you if they find her.