View source for Charing Cross railway station

{{Short description|Central London railway terminus}}
{{About|the main line station in London|the London Underground station|Charing Cross tube station|the station in Glasgow|Charing Cross railway station (Scotland)}}

{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox London station
| name          = Charing Cross
| symbol        = rail
| alt_name      = London Charing Cross
| manager       = [[Network Rail]]
| manager1      =
| manager2      = 
| owner         =
| owner1        =
| owner2        =
| locale        = [[Charing Cross]]
| borough       = [[City of Westminster]]
| platforms     = 6
| access        = yes
| access_note   =<ref>{{citation step free south east rail}}</ref>
| fare_zone     = 1
| fare_zone_1   = 
| railcode      = CHX
| railcode2     =
| dft_category  = A
| image_name    = Charingcross-eye s.jpg
| image_alt     =
| caption       = Approach tracks across the River Thames
| map_type      = Central London
| years1        = {{start date|1864|01|11}}
| years2        = 
| years3        = 
| years4        = 
| years5        = 
| years6        = 
| years7        = 
| years8        = 
| years9        = 
| events1       = Opened
| events2       =
| events3       =
| events4       =
| events5       =
| events6       =
| events7       =
| events8       =
| events9       =
| original      = [[South Eastern Railway (England)|South Eastern Railway]]
| pregroup      = [[South Eastern & Chatham Railway]]
| postgroup     = [[Southern Railway (England)|Southern Railway]]
| cyclepark = No
| toilets = Yes
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| coordinates   = {{coord|51.508|-0.125|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| interchange   = [[Charing Cross tube station|Charing Cross]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
| interchange1   = [[Embankment tube station|Embankment]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
| interchange2   = [[Embankment Pier]] {{rail-interchange|london|river}}
| interchange_note =<ref>{{Citation London station interchange June 2020}}</ref>
}}
'''Charing Cross railway station''' (also known as '''London Charing Cross''')<ref name=nr>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/CHX/details.html |title=Station facilities for London Charing Cross |work=National Rail Enquiries |access-date=29 May 2013 }}</ref> is a [[London station group|central London railway terminus]] between the [[Strand, London|Strand]] and [[Hungerford Bridge]] in the [[City of Westminster]]. It is the terminus of the [[South Eastern Main Line|Southeastern Main Lines]] to [[Dover Priory railway station|Dover]] via [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford]] and [[Hastings railway station|Hastings]] via [[Tunbridge Wells railway station|Tunbridge Wells]]. All trains are operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]], which provides the majority of commuter and regional services to south-east London and [[Kent]]. It is connected to [[Charing Cross tube station|Charing Cross Underground station]] and is near to [[Embankment tube station|Embankment Underground station]] and [[Embankment Pier]].

The station was originally opened by the [[South Eastern Railway (England)|South Eastern Railway]] in 1864. It takes its name from its proximity to the road junction [[Charing Cross]], the notional "centre of London" from which distances from the city are measured. During the 19th century the station became the main London terminus for continental traffic via [[boat train]]s, and served several prestigious international services. It was badly damaged by a roof collapse in 1905 and extensively rebuilt, subsequently becoming an important meeting point for military and government traffic during [[World War I]]. By this time, Charing Cross station was seen as out of date by some politicians and proposals were made to replace Hungerford Bridge with a road bridge or road/rail combination, with the station moving to the south bank of the [[River Thames]] in the case of a road-only replacement. The station was bombed several times during [[World War II]], and was rebuilt afterwards, re-opening in 1951. In the late 1980s, the station complex was redesigned by [[Terry Farrell (architect)|Terry Farrell]] and rebuilt to accommodate a modern office block, now known as Embankment Place.

==Location==
Charing Cross station is located at the western end of the [[Strand, London|Strand]] in the [[City of Westminster]], east of [[Trafalgar Square]] and northeast of [[Whitehall]]. It is close to the [[Embankment Pier]], providing river services along the [[River Thames]]. The railway leads directly out onto [[Hungerford Bridge]] and across the river towards the [[London Borough of Lambeth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Charing+Cross+Station/@51.5081101,-0.1270056,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487604ceeaadbb11:0xdf61c9ec353e1637!8m2!3d51.5081101!4d-0.1248116|title=Charing Cross Station|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=14 July 2017}}</ref>

The [[station code]] is CHX.<ref name=nr/> It is one of twenty stations in Great Britain that are managed by [[Network Rail]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations |title=Our stations |publisher=[[Network Rail]]|access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref> and is the 15th [[List of busiest railway stations in Great Britain|busiest station in the country]]. A number of key bus routes run in the area, and are designated "Trafalgar Square for Charing Cross".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/key-bus-routes-in-central-london.pdf|title=Key bus routes in London|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=14 July 2017}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Charing Cross railway station and Hungerford Bridge, London-22April2009.jpg|thumb|left|Trains to and from Charing Cross go over [[Hungerford Bridge]] to cross the [[River Thames]].]]

The station was planned as the London terminus of the [[South Eastern Railway (England)|South Eastern Railway]] (SER). They had wanted to extend the line from [[Bricklayers Arms railway station|Bricklayers Arms]] towards Hungerford Bridge, but a bill presented in 1846 was unsuccessful. In 1857, they proposed to Parliament that they would build a railway terminus in the [[West End of London|West End]], hoping to use [[London Victoria railway station|Victoria]], before reaching an agreement with the [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]] to build a line west from {{rws|London Bridge}}.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=243}}

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Charing Cross Railway Act 1859}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for the making and maintaining of the Charing Cross Railway, and for other Purposes.
| year                  = 1859
| citation              = [[22 & 23 Vict.]] c. lxxxi
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 8 August 1859
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Charing Cross Railway (City Terminus) Act 1861}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for authorizing the Charing Cross Railway to make a Line of Railway from their authorized Line into the City of London, with an additional Line in Southwark, and to raise further Monies; and for other Purposes.
| year                  = 1861
| citation              = [[24 & 25 Vict.]] c. xciii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 28 June 1861
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Charing Cross Railway (City Terminus Bridge) Act 1862}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for amending "The Charing Cross Railway (City Terminus) Act, 1861."
| year                  = 1862
| citation              = [[25 & 26 Vict.]] c. ccxx
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 7 August 1862
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = {{ubli|Charing Cross Railway (City Terminus) Act 1861}}
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}

Later in the year, the {{abbr|SER|South Eastern Railway}} secretary Samuel Smiles looked for potential routes and decided the best location would be on the site of the former [[Hungerford Market]] adjacent to [[Strand, London|The Strand]], and that the line should be directly connected to [[London Waterloo railway station|Waterloo]], allowing a link with [[London and South Western Railway]] services.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=243}} The '''{{visible anchor|Charing Cross Railway Company}}''' was formed by the '''{{visible anchor|Charing Cross Railway Act 1859}}''' ([[22 & 23 Vict.]] c. lxxxi) in order to build the extension, and the {{abbr|SER|South Eastern Railway}} paid £300,000 (now £{{inflation|UK|300000|1859|fmt=c|r=-5}}) in capital to help build this.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=244}} The line towards Charing Cross was expensive to build as it traversed a heavily built-up area, which was exacerbated in 1862 when the company chose to upgrade the two running lines to three, and doubled the capacity over the bridge to four tracks.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=245}} The bridge replaced the original suspension bridge designed by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] which opened in 1845.{{efn|The scrap ironwork from the old Charing Cross bridge was later used to build the [[Clifton Suspension Bridge]].{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=246}}}} Work began in June 1860 and took around three years. The old suspension bridge remained open until the new [[Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges|Hungerford Bridge]] was suitable to carry foot traffic.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=246}} A trial run over the new line took place on 1 December 1863.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=116}}

[[File:Charing Cross in the 19th century.jpg|thumb|left|The front entrance of Charing Cross station in a 19th-century print. The reimagined [[Charing Cross]] is in front of the Charing Cross Hotel.]]
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Charing Cross Railway Act 1863}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for regulating the Capital and Debenture Debt of the Charing Cross Railway Company; and for authorizing the Amalgamation of that Company with the South-eastern Railway Company; and for other Purposes.
| year                  = 1863
| citation              = [[26 & 27 Vict.]] c. cxv
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 13 July 1863
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/26-27/115/pdfs/ukla_18630115_en.pdf
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
The station was designed by Sir [[John Hawkshaw]], and featured a single span [[wrought iron]] roof, {{convert|510|ft|m|0}} long and {{convert|164|ft|0}} wide, arching over the six platforms on its relatively cramped site.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=244}} It was built on a brick arched viaduct, the level of the rails above the ground varying up to {{convert|30|ft|m|0}}. The space underneath the line was used as [[wine cellar]]s.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=246}} The roof above the tracks is a single {{convert|50|m|ft|0|order=flip|adj=on}} wide great arch, rising to {{convert|31|m|ft|0|order=flip}} at its highest point.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=150}} The station was built by [[Lucas Brothers (company)|Lucas Brothers]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Obituary: Charles Thomas Lucas 1820-1895|journal=Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers|year=1896|volume=124|issue=1896|page=440|publisher=[[Institution of Civil Engineers]]|doi=10.1680/imotp.1896.19616|doi-access=free}}</ref>

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = {{visible anchor|Charing Cross Railway Act 1864}}
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = An Act for authorizing the Charing Cross Railway Company to acquire additional Lands at or near to their Cannon Street Station in the City of London, and to raise further Monies; and for other Purposes.
| year                  = 1864
| citation              = [[27 & 28 Vict.]] c. cxcii
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 14 July 1864
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/27-28/192/pdfs/ukla_18640192_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
Charing Cross station opened on 11 January 1864. The Charing Cross Railway was absorbed into the {{abbr|SER|South Eastern Railway}} on 1 September, shortly after the station opened.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=244}}{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=117}}

The '''{{visible anchor|Charing Cross Hotel}}''', designed by [[Edward Middleton Barry]], and built by [[Lucas Brothers (company)|Lucas Brothers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sremg.org.uk/RlyMag/CharingCross.pdf  |title=Charing Cross Station 1864-1964  |page=140|publisher=The Railway Magazine|date=1 January 1964|access-date=21 October 2021}}</ref> opened on 15 May 1865 and gave the station an ornate frontage in the French Renaissance style. It had 250 bedrooms spread over seven floors and extended along [[Villiers Street]] as well as the front of the Strand. The public rooms had balconies overlooking the main station concourse. It quickly became popular and was profitable, leading to a 90-bedroom annexe on the other side of Villiers Street opening in 1878. A bridge over the street connected the two parts of the hotel together.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=247}}

In 1887, Hungerford Bridge was widened to {{convert|48|ft|9|in}} in order to provide three more tracks into the station.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=249}} On 1 January 1899, the {{abbr|SER|South Eastern Railway}} merged with the [[London, Chatham and Dover Railway]] to form the [[South Eastern and Chatham Railway]] (SECR), which took over operations at Charing Cross.{{sfn|Gray|1990|p=52}}

=== Eleanor Cross ===
<!--
[[File:Charing Cross Station, London, 1971.jpg|thumb|left|The station in 1971]]
[[File:Charing Cross Hotel 20130414 185.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Charing Cross Hotel]]-->
[[File:Charing Cross Station 02.jpg|thumb|A replica of the [[Eleanor Cross]] in [[Charing Cross]] station forecourt]]
{{main|Eleanor Cross}}
Contemporary with the Charing Cross Hotel was a replica of the [[Eleanor Cross]] in Red Mansfield stone, also designed by [[Edward Middleton Barry]], that was erected in the station forecourt. It was based on the original Whitehall Cross built in 1291, that had been demolished in 1647 by order of Parliament.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=247–8}} Distances in London are officially measured from the original site of the cross, now the [[Equestrian statue of Charles I, Charing Cross|statue of Charles I]] facing [[Whitehall]], and not from this replica.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/08/15/charingcross_feature.shtml |title=Where Is The Centre Of London? |publisher=BBC London|access-date=6 January 2017}}</ref>

The cross deteriorated over time until it was in such a vulnerable condition that it was placed on [[English Heritage]]'s "Heritage At Risk Register" in 2008. A ten-month project to repair and restore the cross was completed in August 2010. This work included recreating and attaching almost 100 missing ornamental features including heraldic shields, an angel, pinnacles, crockets and finials; securing weak or fractured masonry with stainless steel pins and rods and re-attaching decorative items which had previously been removed after becoming loose.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rail-news.com/2010/08/09/eleanor-cross-restored-at-charing-cross-station/ |title=Eleanor Cross restored at Charing Cross station |publisher=Rail-News.com |date=9 August 2010 |access-date=13 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201190759/http://www.rail-news.com/2010/08/09/eleanor-cross-restored-at-charing-cross-station/ |archive-date=1 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== International services ===
After opening, Charing Cross became the main terminus of all {{abbr|SER|South Eastern Railway}} services instead of London Bridge, including [[boat train]]s to Continental Europe. Along with Victoria, it became the main departure point from London to abroad, and was called "the Gates of the World" by [[Percy Fitzgerald]]. [[Thomas Cook]] established a travel office on the corner of the station forecourt. The {{abbr|SER|South Eastern Railway}} route became the shortest from London to Dover after a diversion at Sevenoaks was built in 1868, and by 1913 it was possible to travel from Charing Cross to Paris in six and a half hours.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=248}}

Owing to its international connections, Charing Cross played an important part in [[World War I]] as the main departure point for both the military and government towards the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. All civilian and public boat services were suspended on 3 August 1914. Return journeys from Dover carried the sick and wounded towards Charing Cross and hence to hospitals around the country. Over the course of the war, 283 journeys departed from the station. On 26 December 1918, shortly after the war, the US President [[Woodrow Wilson]] met [[George V|King George V]] at Charing Cross. Commercial cross-Channel services resumed to [[Ostend]] on 18 January 1919, [[Boulogne]] on 3 February and [[Calais]] on 8 January 1920, but by this time, Victoria had been expanded to accommodate the strict wartime immigration and customs checks, and Charing Cross ceased to be important as an international terminal.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=252–253}}

=== 1905 roof collapse ===
{{Main|Charing Cross roof collapse}}

A {{convert|70|ft|m|adj=on}} length of the original roof structure, comprising the two end bays at the south of the station, and part of the western wall collapsed at 3:57&nbsp;p.m. on 5 December 1905. A gang of men were employed at the time in repairing, glazing and painting the section of roof which fell. Shortly after 3:45&nbsp;p.m, the roof emitted a loud noise, which was when someone noticed that one of the main tie rods had broken and was hanging down. Part of the roof began to sag and the western wall began to crack.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=250}}{{sfn|Gray|1998|p=139}}

It was another 12 minutes before the collapse occurred, which enabled trains and platforms to be evacuated and incoming trains to be held back. The roof, girders and debris fell across four passenger trains, blocking all tracks. The part of the western wall that fell had crashed through the wall and roof of the neighbouring Royal Avenue Theatre (now the [[Playhouse Theatre]]) in [[Northumberland Avenue]], which was being reconstructed at the time.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=250}} Six people died (two workmen on the roof, a [[W.H. Smith]] bookstall vendor and three workmen on the Royal Avenue Theatre site).<ref>{{cite news|title=The Charing-Cross Disaster|newspaper=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=9 December 1905|page=13|access-date=15 July 2017|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS218296713&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

At the Board Of Trade Inquiry into the accident, expert witnesses expressed doubts about the design of the roof, even though the cause of the failure was attributed to a faulty weld in a tie rod. Though the SECR believed the roof had a lifespan of at least forty more years, they decided not to repair it but to replace it entirely. A travelling timber gantry had to be constructed to take the remainder of the station roof down safely. The replacement was a utilitarian post and girder structure supporting a ridge and furrow roof. The curve of the original roof design can still be seen on the interior brickwork. The station was partially re-opened on 19 March 1906.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=250–251}}

The old booking offices were demolished and the various rooms on the ground floor were rearranged. A new {{convert|58|x|22|ft|adj=on}} booking hall was constructed, along with a separate ladies' waiting-room. The additional remedial work was completed in 1913.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=251–252}}
[[File:Charing Cross Station geograph-2635857-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|right|Express train to {{rws|Hastings}} in 1957, showing the station roof before its late 1980s reconstruction]]

=== Proposed closure and relocation ===
By the late 19th century, Charing Cross was seen as being inconveniently placed. In 1889, the newly formed [[London County Council]]'s [[John Burns]] proposed that the station and its approach should be demolished, with a road bridge put in place. The idea gained support within the council as it would allow the Strand to be widened and put a road crossing over the Thames that could bypass Whitehall. When the SECR went to Parliament asking for an act to strengthen the bridge in 1916, Burns suggested the station was in the wrong place and should be rebuilt on the south side of the Thames.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=253–255}} The following year, an act was passed to reconstruct the bridge, with strict conditions about its appearance and a ban on enlarging the station building itself.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=255}}

Ownership of Charing Cross passed to the [[Southern Railway (England)|Southern Railway]] (SR) in 1923 following the [[Big Four (British railway companies)|Big Four]] grouping. The line was [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]] in 1926 to cater for suburban services. The lighter load of multiple-unit electric trains was found to put far less strain on the bridge, and so traffic was redesigned so that local services ran on the older section, with mainline services using the 1887 extension.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=255,259}}

In 1926, the Royal Commission on Cross River Traffic proposed that Hungerford Bridge should be replaced by a double deck road / rail bridge, and a new Charing Cross station built to the east of the old one. The SR approved the idea as it would allow them to expand the station.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=255}} Two years later, a proposal appeared again to build just a road bridge and relocate the station south of the Thames, as it was significantly cheaper. The Prime Minister [[Stanley Baldwin]] urged the SR to accept the proposal, as "a matter of national importance", but the bill failed in 1930 after the [[select committee (United Kingdom)|select committee]] did not accept building a new Charing Cross on the south bank.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=256}} The proposal was formally rejected in 1936 by the London & Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, which revived the double-deck bridge option. The plans were all abandoned following the outbreak of [[World War II]].{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=259}}

=== World War II ===
Charing Cross sustained substantial damage in air-raids during the war. On 8 October 1940, a train was hit during a daylight raid on Whitehall. On the evening of 16/17 April 1941, the hotel was damaged by fire and explosives, four trains caught fire and there were several fires on the bridge. A {{convert|28|long cwt}} [[parachute mine]] landed next to platform 4. The station was closed to repair the damage and defuse the mine. A further raid took place on the night of 10/11 May, leading to the station's closure again. On 18 June 1944, a bomb took out a span of the bridge. Normal operation did not resume until 4 December.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=262}}

Following the war, the hotel received extensive repairs in 1951. This consisted of a whole new set of top floors, while the [[mansard roof]] of the upper floors of the hotel was rebuilt in a plain neo-Georgian white brick.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=262}}

=== Modernisation ===
The booking hall and ticket offices were modernised in 1974. Electronic ticket printing was first trialled at the station in 1983.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=363}}

In 1986, redevelopment began over most of the area above the platforms. The new buildings were named Embankment Place, a [[postmodernism|postmodern]] office and shopping complex designed by [[Farrells|Terry Farrell and Partners]]. This development led to the replacement of almost the whole of the 1906 roof.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=150}} The rear two spans of this structure – immediately adjacent to the existing concourse roof – were retained as part of an enlarged waiting area. In addition the original retaining side walls of the station which once supported it remain in near complete condition. The works were completed in November 1990. Most of the Embankment Place complex is office space, with a selection of restaurants on the ground floor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kentrail.org.uk/charing_cross_4.htm |title=London Charing Cross |first=David|last=Glasspool|work=kentrail.org.uk |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk/projects/display/id/1426|title=Embankment Place|publisher=AJ Buildings Library|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Marcus Binney. "Top of the form in a class of his own|newspaper=The Times|location=London, England|date=18 August 1992|page=3[S]|access-date=15 July 2017|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=kccl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF501947105&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

{{wide image|Charing Cross railway station - 2014.jpg|1000px|Charing Cross concourse in 2014}}

== Services ==
{{Railways around South Bank RDT}}
The station has six platforms.<ref name=nr/> All trains call at [[Waterloo East railway station|Waterloo East]] and [[London Bridge railway station|London Bridge]].

All services at London Charing Cross are operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] using {{brc|375}}, {{brc|376|n}}, {{brc|377|n}}, {{brc|465|n}}, {{brc|466|n}} and {{brc|707|n}} [[Electric multiple unit|EMUs]].

The typical off-peak service in trains per hour is:<ref>{{NRtimes|May 2023|199, 200, 201, 203, 204, 206, 207, 212}}</ref>
* 4 tph to {{stnlnk|Dartford}} via {{stnlnk|Sidcup}} of which 2 continue to {{stnlnk|Gravesend}}
* 1 tph to Dartford via {{stnlnk|Bexleyheath}}
* 4 tph to {{stnlnk|Hayes}} via {{stnlnk|Catford Bridge}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Sevenoaks}} via {{stnlnk|Grove Park}}
* 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Dover Priory}}
* 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Ramsgate}} via {{stnlnk|Canterbury West}}
* 2 tph to {{stnlnk|Hastings}} via {{stnlnk|Tunbridge Wells}} (1 semi-fast, 1 stopping)
* 1 tph to {{stnlnk|Maidstone East}} via {{stnlnk|Swanley}}

{{rail start}}
{{s-rail-national|next=Waterloo East|toc=Southeastern|route={{smalldiv|[[South Eastern Main Line]]}}}}
{{Historical Rail Insert}}
{{rail line|next=[[Blackfriars (SER) railway station|London Blackfriars]]|route=[[South Eastern Railway (England)|South Eastern Railway]]<br/>{{smalldiv|[[South Eastern Main Line]]}}|col={{SER colour}} }}
{{s-end}}

== London Underground ==
[[File:The New Charing Cross.png|thumb|240px|Cross section through Embankment station from 1914 showing the various [[London Underground]] lines beneath Charing Cross]]
{{Main|Charing Cross tube station|Embankment tube station}}
The station is served by two [[London Underground]] stations, both within walking distance of the mainline terminal and sited at each end: [[Charing Cross tube station|Charing Cross]] (to the north), and [[Embankment tube station|Embankment]] (to the south).{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=261}} Both stations have an [[Oyster card#Out-of-station interchange|Oyster Out of Station Interchange]], which allows passengers to change lines while still being charged as a single journey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/out-of-station-interchanges|title=Out-of-station interchanges|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=17 August 2017}}</ref>

Numerous proposals for underground connections for the mainline station were considered in the decades after its opening. Almost as soon as work was complete on the station, the SER wanted to build a connection from Charing Cross to the railway terminals further north. Soon after Charing Cross station opened, the [[North Western and Charing Cross Railway]] Act was passed, a joint act between the SER and the [[London and North Western Railway]] (LNWR) that proposed a shallow sub-surface line to {{rws|Euston}}.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=248}} The scheme collapsed in 1866 due to a shortage of funding caused by a [[Panic of 1866|banking crisis]]. The scheme was revived with the [[North Western and Charing Cross Railway#Euston, St Pancras and Charing Cross Railway and London Central Railway|London Central Railway]], that proposed to link Charing Cross to Euston and {{rws|St Pancras}}, but was again abandoned in 1874.

The first underground railway to serve Charing Cross was the [[District Railway]] (now the [[District line]]), which opened its station at Charing Cross on 30 May 1870.{{sfn|Day|Reed|2008|p=24}}

In 1884, bills were submitted to parliament by the [[Charing Cross tube station#1880s|Charing Cross and Euston Railway]] and the [[Charing Cross tube station#1880s|London Central Subway]] for sub-surface underground lines between Charing Cross and Euston and Charing Cross and King's Cross respectively and by the [[Charing Cross tube station#1880s|King's Cross, Charing Cross and Waterloo Subway]] for a deep-level railway linking the three terminals in its name.{{sfn|Badsey-Ellis|2005|pp=13–14, 20, 38–39}} None of the three plans proceeded.

The [[Baker Street and Waterloo Railway]] (now the [[Bakerloo line]]) constructed a deep-level tube line on the west side of the station in the late 19th century, which opened on 10 March 1906 with a new station in Trafalgar Square and an interchange with the District Railway's station.{{sfn|Rose|2016}} The link between Charing Cross and Euston was finally built by the [[Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway]] (now part of the [[Northern line]]) as a deep-level tube line in 1906 which opened its station under the forecourt of the mainline station on 22 June 1907.{{sfn|Rose|2016}}{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=251}}{{efn|While the mainline station was closed for reconstruction of the roof, the Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway was able to get permission from the SER to excavate the forecourt for six weeks to start construction of their ticket hall beneath. The previous intention was to have excavated upwards from platform level.{{sfn|Badsey-Ellis|2016|pp=126–127}}{{sfn|Horne|2009|p=22}}}}

Originally, Embankment tube station was called Charing Cross, while the present Charing Cross tube station was the separate Trafalgar Square (Bakerloo line) and Strand (Northern line) stations.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=261}} The two northern stations were combined under the current name when connected by the development of the [[Jubilee line]]. New below ground passageways were constructed linking the platforms so that an interchange could be made. The Northern line's Strand station was temporarily closed from 1974 to enable new escalators to be installed and it reopened along with the opening of the Jubilee line on 1 May 1979.{{sfn|Rose|2016}}{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=364}} The Jubilee line platforms were closed on 20 November 1999, following the [[Jubilee Line Extension|extension of the Jubilee line]] where it was diverted to [[Westminster tube station|Westminster]] and onwards south of the River Thames.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/529006.stm|title=Jubilee Line finally opens|work=BBC News|date=20 November 1999|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

== Accidents and incidents ==
On 25 October 1913, two trains collided in thick fog at Waterloo junction, killing three people.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=265}} On 31 July 1925, there was a minor side-on collision near platform 2.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=266}}

In May 1927, a trunk was deposited in Charing Cross station's cloakroom that contained the five severed body parts of Minnie Alice Bonati. She was later identified as having been murdered in [[Rochester Row]] by John Robinson, who was convicted of the [[Charing Cross Trunk Murder]], for which he was later executed.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=260}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS269687992/TTDA?u=kccl&sid=TTDA&xid=21441b74 |title=Charing Cross Trunk Mystery: Man Under Arrest |newspaper=[[The Times]] |issue=44589 |page=16 |date=24 May 1927 |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="truecrimelibrary">{{cite web |title=Charing Cross Trunk Murder |url=https://www.truecrimelibrary.com/crimearticle/charing-cross-trunk-murder/ |website=truecrimelibrary |date=5 May 2014 |access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref>

On 19 September 1928, a train formed of two [[3SUB]] [[electric multiple unit]]s and a trailer set ran into the buffers. Sixty-eight people were injured, 45 of whom were treated at the [[Charing Cross Hospital]].<ref name=CX28>{{cite report |url=https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_CharingCross1928.pdf |title=Report on the Accident at Charing Cross on 19 September 1928 |publisher=Ministry of Transport |date=17 October 1928 }}</ref>

== Cultural references ==
The [[Maggie Hambling]] statue ''[[A Conversation with Oscar Wilde]]'' is directly opposite the station. It was erected in 1998 and designed for people to sit on the monument and have a virtual conversation with [[Oscar Wilde]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2013/11/03/londons-top-ten-baffling-statues/|title=London's Top Ten Baffling Statues|journal=Time Out London|date=3 November 2013|access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref>

Charing Cross is referenced in numerous [[Sherlock Holmes]] stories. In ''[[The Adventure of the Abbey Grange]]'', Holmes and Watson catch a train from the station towards the fictional Abbey Grange in Kent, while in ''[[The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez]]'', they travel to {{rws|Chatham|Medway}} from the station.<ref>{{cite book|title=The London of Sherlock Holmes|first=John|last=Christopher|publisher=[[Amberley Publishing]]|pages=23–24|year=2012|isbn=978-1-445-61568-4}}</ref>

== References ==
===Notes===
{{Notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Badsey-Ellis |first=Antony |title=London's Lost Tube Schemes |year=2005 |publisher=Capital Transport |isbn=185414-293-3 }}
* {{cite book |last=Badsey-Ellis |first=Antony |title=Building London's Underground: From Cut-and Cover to Crossrail |year=2016 |publisher=Capital Transport |isbn=978-1-8541-4397-6 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Day |first1=John R. |last2=Reed |first2=John |title=The Story of London's Underground |edition=10th |year=2008 |orig-year=1963 |publisher=Capital Transport |isbn=978-1-85414-316-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Gray|first=Adrian|title=South Eastern Railway|publisher=Middleton Press|year=1990|isbn=978-0-906520-85-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Gray|first=Adrian|title=South Eastern and Chatham Railways|publisher=Middleton Press|year=1998|isbn=1-901706-08-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Horne |first=Mike |title=The Northern Line: An Illustrated History |publisher=Capital Transport |year=2009 |orig-year=1990 |edition=3rd |isbn=978-1-85414-326-6 }}
* {{cite book |last=Jackson|first=Alan| year = 1984 |orig-year=1969 | title = London's Termini | publisher = [[David & Charles]] | edition=New Revised| isbn = 0-330-02747-6|location=London}}
* {{cite encyclopedia|last1=Weinreb|first1=Ben|last2=Hibbert|first2=Christopher|last3=Keay|first3=Julia|last4=Keay|first4=John|title=The London Encyclopedia|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Pan MacMillan]]|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4050-4924-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Rose |first=Douglas |title=The London Underground, A Diagrammatic History |year=2016 |orig-year=1980 |edition=9th |publisher=Douglas Rose/Capital Transport |isbn=978-1-85414-404-1 }}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/timetables|title=Timetables|publisher=Southeastern|access-date=17 August 2017|ref={{harvid|Southeastern|2017}}}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Charing Cross railway station}}
*[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-charing-cross Station information] on Charing Cross railway station from [[Network Rail]]

{{Transport in London}}
{{London landmarks}}
{{Major railway stations in Britain}}
{{LB Westminster}}
{{TSGN and SE Stations|Hayes=y|Bexleyheath=y|Elmstead=y|Staplehurst=y|Hastings=y|Abbey Wood=y|Sidcup=y|FCC None=y|SN None=y}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Railway termini in London]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Network Rail managed stations]]
[[Category:Former South Eastern Railway (UK) stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1864]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Southeastern]]
[[Category:Terry Farrell buildings]]
[[Category:John Hawkshaw railway stations]]
[[Category:Train driver depots in England]]
[[Category:London station group]]
[[Category:1864 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Edward Middleton Barry buildings]]
[[Category:Strand, London]]