King's Cross Station, London from 1852 to 2012

 A spectacular new western concourse will be launched today at a London railway station first built in 1852 - after an eight-year £500million restoration project.

Described by rail bosses as 'the biggest transformation in the 160-year history of King's Cross station', the restoration of the Grade 1 listed building is part of a further £2.2billion redevelopment of the once shabby King's Cross area of north London.

A vast steel and glass lattice-work roof forms the centrepiece of the rail network's 'gateway to the North', which will provide three times the space of the current station concourse.

The station currently serves 45 million people a year, but that number is set to rise by 10million within the decade.

Speeches will be made by transport secretary Justine Greening, mayor of London Boris Johnson and the chief executive of Network Rail David Higgins.

Network Rail programme director for the new station Ian Fry says: 'We are about to usher in a new era for King's Cross and everything is on track and looking good.'

The lattice-work roof is officially Europe's largest single-span station structure, according to the architects John McAslan and Partners.

 Covering the vast Western Concourse, and spanning the full 150m length of that part of the station, it is supported by a 20m-high tapered central 'funnel' and 16 further smaller columns around the station - which allow it to cover a remarkable 8,424 square metres. 

The  domed roof is constructed from 1,200 tonnes of steel, with the castings at the top of each supporting column each weighing 1.5 tonnes.

Transforming the station - which was designed by Lewis Cubitt and built while Queen Victoria was still in the early years of her reign - has also been the catalyst for one of the largest regeneration schemes London has witnessed.

The overhaul of King's Cross has seen 67 acres of brown-field land redeveloped to create 8 million square feet of offices, shops and new homes, as well as an art college.

About 15 per cent of the roof cladding is glazed to ensure plenty of natural light while passengers wait – hopefully not too long – for their trains.

Shops - 24 in total - are spread over two floors, including restaurants and eateries.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2114782/Kings-Cross-station-overhaul-Vest-structure-unveiled-London-railway-station-500m-overhaul.html#ixzz1rYfm1nYJ