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A head-on view of the CTRL works at St. Pancras. Undoubtedly there are more civils going on the other side since the interim station is the eastern half of what is to become London St. Pancras International (don't forget the tower cranes!), assuming Eurostar don't get the name changed to some horribly general name like London Central, London Fasttrack, etc... Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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Another view of the approaches and also part of London St. Pancras from near the bridge over Camley Street. Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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From here, you can see the entrance to what is currently know as London St. Pancras Interim, but I can't be bothered to add the last word - after all, the whole building is permanent anyway. Most people cross the road to get there from here, but there is a new subway available as usual for people to use. If you do use it however, you might be surprised how quiet the subway is since most people still cross the road anyway! Nearby the trainshed works are ongoing and the CTRL visitor centre has been relocated to the German Gymnasium to the right of this picture. In case you've wondering, it's one of the old Victorian buildings that used to lie empty and to have been given a good refurbishment. Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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As you can see, the trainshed in undergoing heavy refurbishment and internal remodelling (you can't go in to see the latter unless you're working there as a constuction worker!), along with a myriad of signs showing people where to go. This is the east side of the original trainshed. Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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The south side doesn't have as much scaffolding on it, but there is still plenty of work going on, especially behind the temporary offices due to LUL works for a Westen Ticket Hall to be ready in time for 2007. If you haven't backed 'The Bid' yet, there's still a chance if you genuinely support it - come July it's decision time! Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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More scaffolding on the south side of the original trainshed. For those of you interested in staying somewhere close to the station for at least one night come 2008, there will be a new luxury 5-star hotel waiting for your custom! St. Pancras Chambers, as this part of London St. Pancras is known, used to be a luxury hotel for the customers of Midland Railway from 1873 until 1935. In the 1960's, British Rail made the chambers their offices and were planning a Euston-style conversion of the station (ie. demolish the beautiful architecture and replace it with loads of ugly concrete; or just demolish the chambers), but luckily their plans never came to fruition. Since then, the chambers failed their fire certificate in 1985 and had also undergone changes to their stucture (make it sound) and also were made weatherproof, courtesy of English Heritage. Plans for a hotel in the chambers were produced by the Manhattan Loft Corporation and were given the go-ahead earlier this year. From January of next year the work will begin, and come 2008, you can check it out! Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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Plenty of work is going on at the west side of the original trainshed. Part of the new structure next to it will become a retail area for those lucky to be travelling with Eurostar! Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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Another view of the CTRL works on the west side of the original trainshed. This was as close as I could get, read the sign to see why. It shouldn't be too long now before those roof covers come off! Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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And finally - a close up of the west-side works. I tried a close-up so I could find out the detail of that part of the structure. Once done, hopefully some new bricks will be laid so the trainshed looks (almost) exactly the same externally as it did before the works started, albeit in a refurbished state of course! Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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A side view of the ongoing CTRL works at London St. Pancras. In less than 2 years time the west deck extension will have fully emerged and from here you will then see Midland Mainline trains up close. Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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A side view of the ongoing CTRL works at London St. Pancras. There are currently 6 platforms of which 2 are to undergo remodelling in a few months and the others the year after. Clearly this the place to be come 2007. Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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A diagonal view of the ongoing CTRL works at London St. Pancras. Here you can see the northern part of the deck extension and also where they are to end. Next year the site will look very different, and even more so the year after. Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com

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A head-on view of the ongoing CTRL works at London St. Pancras. Works on the site include the other half of the deck extension, refurbishment of the original trainshed (fantastic piece of architecture) where only Eurostar passengers will be allowed to go post 2007, and also the constuction of the Thameslink box, which as you read this will be finished. However the fit-out has not been funded and the new Thameslink station may not be around until 2014, till then passengers wanting to use Thameslink will have to bear the incompetence of the government and trudge across the road junction around the southern tip of King's Cross staion I'm afraid. Photo taken: 26th March 2005 Author: Edward Sloley E-mail address: edward.sloley@ntlworld.com