NETWORK RAIL · KING’S CROSS STATION REDEVELOPMENT · 2012–2013 · LONDON
In 2011, King's Cross Station was undergoing one of the biggest transformations in its history. Network Rail was restoring the Grade I-listed station, building a spectacular new Western Concourse and preparing to remove the 1970s frontage to create a major new public square.
Recognising the scale of the opportunity, I began taking on smaller responsibilities within the project, initially supporting the opening of the Western Concourse. As my involvement grew, so did my responsibilities, working across communications, press, project teams and external partners to turn major infrastructure milestones into public-facing experiences.
By 2013, I was leading the event delivery for the opening of King's Cross Square, the final public-facing milestone of a £550 million redevelopment.
THE WESTERN CONCOURSE
In 2012, the new Western Concourse opened, revealing the spectacular steel-and-glass structure that would become one of King's Cross's most recognisable features.
I joined the team supporting the opening celebrations, working alongside colleagues and partners to help bring this major milestone to life. It was my introduction to the scale, complexity and visibility of the redevelopment, and an opportunity to demonstrate what I could contribute.
As the programme progressed, I took on greater responsibility, building relationships and trust across the teams involved.
SUPPORT → TRUST → OWNERSHIP
LONDON 2012
Before the redevelopment was complete, King's Cross became one of the gateways to London 2012. Network Rail recruited around 600 volunteer Travel Champions across 13 major stations to help passengers navigate a transport network preparing for extraordinary demand.
Before the Games, I managed and delivered training and kit collection events for staff and volunteers. Across multiple back-to-back sessions, hundreds of Travel Champions attended to collect and sign for their uniforms, Tilbury hats, backpacks and information packs. It required careful planning to manage stock, track collections and keep queues moving, while preparing teams to welcome millions of visitors to London.
During the Games, I moved into operational communications at King's Cross, supporting station teams and managing international media requirements. That included welcoming broadcasters from as far afield as Mexico and South Korea, who wanted to film the famous Harry Potter Platform 9¾ alongside their coverage of the Games.
After the Games, I delivered a series of recognition events at Stratford Station to celebrate the Travel Champions. Hosted by Alex Brooker, the events brought Olympians and Paralympians including Ade Adepitan, Laura Trott, Louis Smith, Jody Cundy and Ellie Simmonds on stage to share their experiences, show off their medals and personally thank the volunteers who had helped make London 2012 happen.
600
NETWORK RAIL TRAVEL CHAMPIONS
13
MAJOR STATIONS
18M+
SPECTATOR JOURNEYS ACROSS LONDON
As King's Cross moved towards completion, my role expanded beyond individual events into the wider communications and engagement programme. From royal and VIP visits to press activity, public performances, social campaigns and stakeholder events, we were creating opportunities to bring the redevelopment to life long before the final opening.
Working closely with the press, communications and project teams, I helped turn major infrastructure milestones into moments that captured attention, built anticipation and connected the public with the transformation taking place around them.
10 DAYS TO GO
PEOPLE + PR + SOCIAL + A HELICOPTER
SEPTEMBER 2013
THE FINAL PIECE OF THE £550M REDEVELOPMENT.
By September 2013, I was leading the event delivery for the public opening of King’s Cross Square, the final milestone in Network Rail’s £550 million transformation of the station.
But this wasn’t a conventional event venue. The new 75,000 sq ft public square sat immediately outside one of London’s busiest transport interchanges, surrounded by major roads, a fully operational mainline station and Underground infrastructure.
We weren’t simply opening a new public space. We were delivering a high-profile launch in the middle of a working transport network, balancing the needs of passengers, commuters, politicians, international media, emergency services and the thousands of people moving through King’s Cross every day.
Delivering the opening required close coordination with Network Rail, Camden Council, London Underground, transport operations, police and counter-terror teams, St John Ambulance, production partners, press teams, political offices and external suppliers. Bringing so many organisations together, each with their own priorities, processes and responsibilities, was a significant part of the event planning and delivery.
LIVE STATION
PUBLIC SPACE
POLITICAL + VIP
PRESS + BROADCAST
POLICE + SECURITY
EMERGENCY SERVICES
PASSENGER OPERATIONS
PUBLIC SAFETY
On the morning of the opening, commuters arrived to find King's Cross Square populated by Victorian characters and living statues, celebrating the station's heritage as its historic façade was finally revealed again.
The unexpected welcome brought a little theatre to the morning commute, while breakfast television crews and photographers captured the first public moments in the completed square. It was a creative way to mark the transformation and generate coverage before the formal ceremony had even begun.
In September 2013, King's Cross Square was formally opened by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, alongside Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Network Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins.
I led the event delivery for the official ceremony, bringing together 300 political and industry stakeholders, press and broadcast media in the newly completed square.
Drawing on the station's railway heritage, a Victorian signal lever triggered the opening moment, with pyrotechnics and streamers marking the completion of the £550 million redevelopment.
The ceremony was broadcast live, generating extensive coverage across London, national and international media.
300
HIGH-PROFILE POLITICAL + INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS
LIVE
BROADCAST COVERAGE
NATIONAL + INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA
THE SAME WEEK
Immediately after the official opening, we transformed King's Cross overnight into a Victorian carnival for a two-day celebration of 150 years of railway heritage.
The celebrations stretched across King's Cross Square, the Western Concourse, St Pancras International and Granary Square. Traditional fairground attractions, circus performers, street theatre, charities, historians, live entertainment and food brought the area's railway heritage to life, giving Londoners a reason to explore and celebrate their newly transformed surroundings.
I developed the creative concept and led the planning and delivery of the public celebrations. Behind the experience was a substantial logistical operation, coordinating multiple locations, suppliers, performers, security teams and transport stakeholders, all while keeping one of London's busiest transport interchanges operating as normal.
Across the weekend, we welcomed 12,000 visitors, with zero reported incidents and a reduction in reported crime during the event period.
The openings and public celebrations formed part of an integrated communications campaign designed to bring the King's Cross redevelopment to life far beyond the railway industry.
Working alongside Network Rail's communications and press teams, we created moments that gave different audiences a reason to engage with the transformation. From political engagement and international media coverage to social content and public experiences, each element helped tell the story of a changing King's Cross.
The wider campaign became Network Rail's most successful digital media campaign at the time, reaching more than 40 million people and driving an increase of over 800% in website visits.
40M+ CAMPAIGN REACH
800%+ INCREASE IN WEBSITE VISITS
NATIONAL + INTERNATIONAL PRESS COVERAGE
The opening celebrations marked the completion of the £550 million station redevelopment, but the transformation of King's Cross was only just beginning.
The restoration of the historic station and creation of a 75,000 sq ft public square helped reconnect King's Cross with the surrounding neighbourhood, contributing to a wider regeneration programme that attracted £2.2 billion in private investment.
For me, the project demonstrated how events and experiences could do far more than mark a milestone. They could bring people into a changing place, create public excitement and help turn a major infrastructure investment into something people could see, experience and feel part of.
75,000 SQ FT
NEW PUBLIC SQUARE
£2.2BN
ASSOCIATED PRIVATE INVESTMENT
STRATEGY & PROPOSITION
Translating major infrastructure milestones into public experiences, stakeholder engagement and media opportunities.
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Developing the creative concept for the Victorian carnival and bringing the station’s railway heritage to life.
DELIVERY & PARTNERS
Leading the planning and delivery of the King’s Cross Square opening programme and public celebrations.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Coordinating across Network Rail, project teams, government, the Mayor’s office, transport operators and emergency services.
PRESS & BROADCAST
Creating memorable moments and visual opportunities for national and international media coverage.
POLITICAL & VIP ENGAGEMENT
Supporting high-profile visits, official ceremonies and engagement with government, civic and industry leaders.
OLYMPIC ENGAGEMENT
Delivering Travel Champion training, Games-time station communications and post-Games recognition events.
CREATIVE ACTIVATION
Finding human and visual ways to turn infrastructure milestones into stories people wanted to engage with.
£550M FLAGSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
40M+ CAMPAIGN REACH
800%+ WEBSITE VISITS
300 VIP + INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS
12,000 PUBLIC CARNIVAL ATTENDEES
ZERO REPORTED INCIDENTS
What started as a supporting role developed into two years of involvement across a complex, high-profile infrastructure programme, culminating in leading the event delivery for the opening of King's Cross Square.
The programme extended far beyond a single launch, encompassing major station milestones, London 2012 Olympic operations, political and VIP engagement, national and international media activity, public celebrations and creative activations. Each brought different audiences, objectives and delivery requirements, often within a live transport environment.
It was an opportunity to work across the full breadth of event management, from creative development and stakeholder coordination to large-scale public delivery, safety, logistics and integrated communications, contributing to a wider campaign that brought the £550 million redevelopment to national and international attention.
SEE THE OPPORTUNITY → GET INVOLVED → EARN TRUST → TAKE OWNERSHIP
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