London St Pancras Thameslink lifts shut next week for major refurbishment

Network Rail has issued the following press release:

Passengers are reminded that major refurbishment work will begin next week to improve the long-term reliability of the lifts to the Thameslink platforms at London St Pancras.

It means the two lifts will be out of service from next Monday (15 June) until mid-September while the work is carried out to upgrade key components, helping to reduce the risk of breakdowns.

During the closure, there will be no step-free access to or from the Thameslink platforms at London St Pancras. Customers who can use escalators or stairs will still be able to access the platforms, with staff available to provide help where needed.

Passengers who rely on lifts, including wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility, will be able to access London St Pancras station via alternative routes, such as London Underground services from nearby interchange stations, during the closure. Staff will be on hand to support customers and help plan journeys.

Mark Budden, route director for Network Rail East Midlands, said:

“We know how important these lifts are for many of our passengers, and we’re sorry for the disruption this work will cause, particularly for those who rely on step-free access every day. The reality is that the lifts have become increasingly unreliable, with unplanned outages making journeys difficult and unpredictable. This refurbishment is about putting that right. By carrying out this work now, we can deliver a much more reliable and consistent service in the long term, giving passengers greater confidence that the facilities they depend on will be there when they need them.”

Jenny Saunders, Thameslink customer service director, said:

“St Pancras is one of our busiest station stops on the Thameslink network, so it’s vitally important that these ageing lifts are refurbished to give our passengers a reliable step-free route. We’ll have extra staff on hand to help passengers with luggage and pushchairs but anyone who can’t use the escalators will regrettably need to switch to a nearby station, most likely Farringdon from where they can take the Tube to St Pancras for no extra charge. I appreciate this will add time to some people’s journeys and I apologise for that. In the long term this improvement work will provide a much better experience for everyone.”

Travel advice for passengers

Passengers who need step-free access are advised to use alternative stations and routes, depending on their journey.

For most journeys, customers should travel via Farringdon and change there between Thameslink and London Underground services using the Circle, Hammersmith and City or Metropolitan lines.

London King’s Cross is also available as an alternative for some journeys, with onward connections on Great Northern and Thameslink services, depending on destination.

Customers travelling to or from longer-distance Midland Main Line stations, such as Luton Airport Parkway or Bedford, may instead use East Midlands Railway services from the main London St Pancras platforms.

For journeys on the East Coast Main Line, customers can travel via London King’s Cross, or use London Underground services to travel to or from Finsbury Park and connect with Thameslink services there, depending on the route.

Full information is available on the Thameslink website: https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/stpancraslifts.

Customers are encouraged to check before they travel and speak to station staff for help in planning their journey and arranging assistance.

Additional staff will be available at London St Pancras during the works to support passengers who need help using stairs or escalators, including assistance with luggage and pushchairs where possible.

This work forms part of a wider programme to improve accessibility and reliability across the station. Once completed, the refurbished lifts will provide a more dependable service for the many passengers who rely on them every day.

Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journey and check the latest information before travelling.

ENDS