Home Railway Improvements.

There are many big improvement schemes now about to be tackled by the Home railways. Probably the most interesting of these is the removal of the Southern Railway's Charing Cross terminal in London, from the north to the south bank of the River Thames. The question of the transfer of this important passenger station across the river has for some years been under review, and in 1930 it is probable that work will be begun thereupon. Charing Cross is situated in the very centre of London, the original station being opened in 1866. By the removal of the station to the south bank of the Thames, a great deal of congestion will be avoided in the Strand and neighbouring streets, while underground electric railways and road motors will afford connection between the new page 35 station and the city. In place of the existing railway bridge across the Thames, there will be built a new bridge for road traffic and pedestrians, the need for new road connections across the river being particularly acute. The Southern Railway are to be given the site of the new depot, and the cost of building the new station will be borne by the London County Council, the promoters of the new bridge scheme.

The new Charing Cross station will be placed close to the extensive Waterloo terminal of the Southern line, and the effect of the transfer will be that all the important main-line passenger

From London to the West Country.
Plymouth Express leaving Paddington Station, London. (Locomotive, “The Great Bear.“)

stations in London will be located outside the city proper, and be placed in a ring encircling the centre of the metropolis, with underground railways and motor buses providing means of transport in the area thus enclosed. This ring of main-line depots comprises Waterloo, Victoria, and Charing Cross (Southern Railway), to the south; Liverpool Street (L. & N.E.) to the east; King's Cross and Marylcbone (L. & N.E.) and St. Pancras and Euston (L.M. & S.) to the north; and Paddington (G. W.) to the west. All of these, with the exception of the Southern stations, are steam-operated termini, but at the present time the possibilities of electrifying the London stations are under review.

Probably the electrification of Liverpool Street station and the adjacent suburban routes will be the first big conversion project to be tackled in the London area. Plans have already been prepared in the rough for this work, but, as a Government inquiry now is to be undertaken into the economic possibilities of electrification throughout Britain generally, it may be some time before a definite decision is reached regarding the Liverpool Street project.