London’s worst train station is about to get its awful ad boards back

Advertising will reappear on boards inside London Euston station more than a year after the monster screen giving people headaches was switched off.

Euston, which saw over 40 million passengers last year, has earned the dubious nickname of ‘hell on earth’ due to overcrowding and rushes to platforms.

The station concourse had a huge, 49ft advert board looming over it until people complained it was giving them a headache and making train departure information difficult to see.

Louise Haigh, the then-Transport Secretary, ordered the boards to be switched off in October 2024 as part of the steps to improve the station, including addressing the ‘Euston rush.’

Plans have now been revealed to bring back some of the advert boards, although they will be limited to the currently unused outer edges.

It could become permanent in a bid to generate money from advertising.

However, Haigh was dismayed by the decision.

She told Metro: ‘The changes that we made to Euston made a real, tangible difference to passengers’ experience. Euston has been more pleasant, easier to use and crucially safer.

‘These are the kinds of changes that rail nationalisation makes possible and we should be accelerating them across the network not reversing them.’

Network Rail has insisted that it will not repeat the mistakes made in 2024 when the boards were introduced.

The middle sections with train departure and customer information will remain unchanged, it said.

The move is part of a two-week trial, which starts on Monday.

Metro understands that the results of the trial will be reflected to decide if toned-down ads will be made permanent.

The potential for revenue generation from adverts will also be considered, with money from them invested back into the station if it becomes permanent.

Network Rail, which owns and runs the station, said the boards will be installed only on the unused, outer panels on Euston’s large screen.

It said that the brightness levels will be maintained ‘comfortable,’ and that content ‘does not cause distraction and adheres to guidance on neurodiversity.’

London TravelWatch, a passenger watchdog, which will be consulted during the trial, said: ‘In October 2024, we highlighted serious concerns with the customer experience at Euston. 

‘The industry action plan which followed has improved the station environment and we welcome the ongoing programme of work, for example, to upgrade the Assisted Travel Lounge and to create a new customer service hub on the concourse.

‘Prioritising the use of the large concourse screen for information rather than for advertising had been one of the important changes made in response to our original concerns. Limiting any future advertising to the smaller outer sections of the screen could work for passengers if it does not affect the clarity of information about train services and we look forward to seeing the customer feedback arising from the trial before any final decisions are made.’

Amanda Webster-Uz, the head of operations for London Euston station, said: ‘While work continues to plan for Euston’s long-term future, we’re committed to delivering meaningful improvements that put today’s customers first.’

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