‘Urban explorer’ snaps ghost underground station – South Kentish Town

Published: 24th February, 2011
by JAMIE WELHAM

THESE are rare pictures of the abandoned South Kentish Town underground station taken by a daredevil photographer, who dodged police, maintenance workers and lethal 1,000-volt tracks.

The man, who calls himself an “urban explorer”, managed to access the former station platforms beneath Kentish Town Road overnight last week.

South Kentish Town closed in 1924 because of a lack of users, but it has recently been subject to a renewed campaign to bring it back and take pressure off overcrowded Camden Town station. Trains continue to run past the station, which is located between Camden Town and Kentish Town, on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line. 

The photographer declined an interview with the New Journal, due to concerns it would alert the authorities. He said exposure was not in his “best interests” but it is understood this is not the first time he has snuck into the station.

It is illegal to enter stations that are not open to the public, and, despite their popularity among hardcore explorers, such guerilla expeditions have become harder with increased security on the tube network in recent years.

Earlier this month London Mayor Boris Johnson dismissed suggestions that the station entrance, which is now occupied by Cash Converters, could be reopened to meet the demand of the expanding Camden Market nearby. 

Transport experts claim it could serve the thousands of tourists who visit the market at weekends and often leave Camden Town station at breaking point.

Mr Johnson told the London Assembly: “While there are some elements of the old station structure and tunnels still in place, reopening South Kentish Town would not be a simple project and it would be prohibitively expensive. 

“It is extremely unlikely that any contribution from external parties would change this given the costs involved.”

He added: “While reopening it would benefit those who live and work in the immediate vicinity, the station isn’t well located in terms of a larger catchment area. 

“The majority of those who would be in the catchment area are also within a 10-15 minute walk of Camden Town, Kentish Town or Chalk Farm stations. While the rebuilding of Camden Town is not included in the TfL Business Plan, it remains London Underground’s aspiration to redevelop the station in the future.”

The station, which was on the Northern Line, was used as an air-raid shelter during the Second World War and was immortalised by poet Sir John Betjeman in his story, South Kentish Town.