On Sun, 1 Feb 2009 19:17:29 +0000, Paul Terry
wrote:

There are some nice features on the ground floor, but the overwhelming
impression is of just another shopping mall, which will probably go the
way of many such places in the current economic climate.

True. While retail can provide a useful facility in a station[1], it
shouldn't be its primary function. This is similarly one big reason
why I find that Schiphol is a vastly superior airport to Thiefrow or
Gatwick.

My favourite large station in the UK remains the new Manc Picc,
though, and it is for similar reasons to Euston, namely the large,
airy and practical yet heated concourse. Manc Picc gains, of course,
by having a nice trainshed as well. But I am less fond of most
stations where the trainshed and the concourse are one, because they
tend to be too cold or hot (depending on the time of year) and often
stink of diesel fumes. Manc Picc also loses points on the satellite
concourse for 13/14, though, which is often bloody freezing, and
because it often stinks of **** in the summer because of the
non-retention train toilets.

It is nice to see, talking of Manc Picc, that the plans for Kings
Cross appear to look very similar.

[1] It's a pity that M&S Food[2] seem to have an almost-monopoly on
station supermarkets, though. A small Tesco or Sainsbury's would be a
lot more useful for a "get a quick shop on the way home" type
diversion - which is why the latter is very welcome at Manc Picc.

[2] The issue I have with them isn't just price (though they are dear
for a lot of food items), rather that they have an almost non-existent
range of unprepared fresh vegetables, which by their very nature are
the sort of thing I want to buy during the week on the way to/from
work. My local Tesco Express, on the other hand, has quite a decent
range, but it'd be so much easier if I could just pick something up at
EUS.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.