King’s Cross Station Remodelling
Transforming King’s Cross Station is a benchmark for modern, collaborative infrastructure delivery.
Project overview
The £237 million King’s Cross Remodelling (KXR) project regenerated one of busiest rail hubs the UK, to improve capacity, and reduce journey times.
The team executed a complex programme of works in a high-risk site that included civil engineering, overhead line electrification (OLE), drainage, platform realignment, and structural upgrades. All stations remained operational.
Key achievements included the installation of 63 OLE foundations, the construction of over 90 OLE structures, with some spanning up to 35m, the realignment of 11 platforms, and the diversion of a Victorian sewer using innovative tunnelling techniques. This tunnelling method saved Network Rail over £100,000 and significantly reduced project risk.
Despite Covid-19 restrictions, the team were able to deliver a 101-day partial station closure instead of a year-long delay, saving up to £63 million.
This project also implemented industry-first safety protocols during the pandemic, which earnt them a Perfect Delivery score of 10/10. The success of the project even caught the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who visited the site in 2020.
With close coordination among over 20 major possessions and full integration of multiple contractors, the KXR project stands as a benchmark for modern, collaborative infrastructure delivery.
Fun fact: Over 277,000 hours were worked without a single service strike, despite taking place in one of the most complex rail environments in the UK.