Nils Pratley is far too pessimistic and negative (Euston is a problem without a good solution, 7 October). The lessons from the HS2 Euston saga are that: 1) as a nation we should decide what we want; 2) we should stick to that plan and get on with it, without incessant changes involving lawyers and circuitous consultations; and 3) ultimately, you get what you pay for.
St Pancras, King’s Cross and Paddington didn’t come cheap in the 19th century. But no one today is going around saying they were bad schemes and they should have settled for a collection of tin shacks. Waterloo in the late 19th century was an utter mess, but the directors of the London and South Western Railway had the courage to visit the US, check out best practice there, and do a total rebuild, though they did compromise by using part of an existing roof (eventually knocked down for Eurostar) for their platforms 16 to 21. Today’s Euston is popularly remembered for the loss of the Euston arch, but the real mistakes were the concrete-slab roof over the platforms (no development above them but no natural light either) and the mean and cramped concourse and hopelessly inadequate London Underground hall. Euston would certainly have to be rebuilt even without HS2, and probably still cost between £1bn and £2bn.
