A platform-less station which was set to be unusable for years should be in operation by the end of next year following a £63 million Government cash injection, it has been announced.

A new Thameslink stop has been constructed under London's St Pancras station, the new terminal for Channel Tunnel high-speed Eurostar trains.

But there were fears the station - known as The Box - would be passenger-less until well into the next decade because of a lack of money to fit it out for public use.

Yesterday Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said that the complete fitting out of the new station would go ahead. Work will start in early summer this year with the station expected to be operational by December 2007.

The announcement means passengers transferring from Midland Mainline and Eurostar services at St Pancras will no longer have to drag their luggage several hundred yards to the existing Thameslink station at Pentonville Road.

Mr Darling said: "I have agreed to the proposal to fit out the new Thameslink station at King's Cross St Pancras."