Published: 29 September 2025

This past Saturday, millions across the UK and beyond tuned in to BBC Radio 3’s special broadcast, “Train Tracks: Live from King’s Cross”, to mark a monumental moment in transport history: the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. As part of the day-long celebration, Georgia Mann hosted a special finale segment live from King’s Cross Station, where she was joined by a lineup of special guests – including Colin Bennie, Director at John McAslan + Partners, the architecture practice behind the station’s acclaimed redevelopment in 2012.

In the interview segment, which begins at 13:54 in the BBC Sounds recording available here, Bennie offered insightful reflections on the architectural legacy of King’s Cross and the ethos behind its transformation.
"Our approach was to reveal rather than replace,” Bennie told Mann, describing the guiding principle behind the extensive redevelopment project. Rather than sweeping away the old, the design team sought to uncover and celebrate the station’s historical fabric – while introducing a bold new western concourse crowned by the now-iconic diagrid roof.

The segment highlighted the challenges of modernising a working transport hub without disrupting its essential function, and the ways in which great architecture can re-energise public space. Bennie discussed how the project not only brought new life to the station but also acted as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the King’s Cross area, now one of London’s most vibrant cultural and commercial districts.

Listeners also got a sense of the emotional and cultural resonance of the station. King’s Cross, with its layers of Victorian, industrial, and contemporary character, has become more than just a transport interchange – it’s a symbol of continuity and change in the heart of the city.

Accompanied by evocative train-themed compositions and live music from jazz trumpeter Poppy Daniels, the final broadcast from King’s Cross made for a fitting tribute to two centuries of railway history – and to the station’s role in shaping the journey, both literal and architectural.

If you missed the interview, it’s available to listen on BBC Sounds for the next 28 days.
Listen here from 13:54