Appointment of Channel Tunnel Rail Link consortium clears up confusion over who will pay for station work.
Network Rail has asked the team building the Channel Tunnel Rail Link to put together a design proposal for the fit-out of the Thameslink station at St Pancras, London.

In February, 黑洞社区 revealed that Network Rail's management was unsure whether or not it would pay for the fit-out. The story quoted a Thameslink spokesperson who admitted that there was a "muddle" over who should pay for the work.

In the latest development, Network Rail has asked CTRL to produce a fit-out design for the station, although the contract to carry out the works has not yet been awarded.

CTRL has a complex division of responsibilities. London & Continental Railways is the body overseeing the construction, operation and finance of the link. The actual track is being laid down by Union Railways, a subsidiary of London & Continental.

However, the design and project management of the fit-out is to be handled by Rail Link Engineering 鈥� a consortium formed by Bechtel, Arup, Halcrow and Systra.

Alastair Lansley, Rail Link's lead architect, said: "Rail Link Engineering and Union Railways (North) have received a commission from the government to carry out the fit-out designs."

Lansley confirmed that there had been doubts over the scheme. He said: "Thameslink had lost its rhythm and was going nowhere".

The Thameslink station is being relocated from its present position on the Pentonville Road to the transport interchange being built beneath King's Cross鈥揝t Pancras. CTRL is already building the concrete structure for the transplanted station.

This interchange, which is intended to connect the Eurostar with the British national rail system, is due to be completed in 2007.