Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The station of Lens, located in Pas-de-Calais (Hautes-de-France), was inaugurated on 15 August 1927 by the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Nord, under the direction of the architect Urbain Cassan. Designed to withstand frequent mining collapses in the region, its structure rests on eleven independent reinforced concrete compartments, equipped with hydraulic cylinders in foundations. This innovative system allows to correct ground elevations without damaging the building. The cubist mosaic frieze of Auguste Labouret, evoking the mining and railway themes, and the wrought iron grilles signed Edgar Brandt, highlight its functional Art Deco aesthetic.

The current building replaces a previous station, destroyed during the 1918 fighting during the First World War. The initial project, criticized for its lack of functionality, is being rethought after the war to meet the needs of a city undergoing reconstruction. Urban Cassan opts for a horizontal and modular architecture, avoiding floors to limit the risks associated with ground movements. The 23-metre tower, topped by a clock, and rounded volumes recall a locomotive, symbol of the industrial vocation of Lens, then the heart of the mining basin.

Classified as a historic monument since 28 December 1984, the station illustrates the architectural adaptation to geological constraints and the importance of rail in the local economy. With more than 1.6 million passengers per year (figures 2023), it remains a major hub of the TER Hauts-de-France network and TGV inYes lines, linking Paris to Dunkirk. Its history also reflects the destruction of the Great War and the resilience of a region marked by coal mining.

The station was built under the aegis of Raoul Dautry, then director of the Compagnie du Nord, with the technical support of the engineer Forestier for the ferrailing calculations. Armed concrete, a revolutionary material at the time, is chosen for its lightness and strength. The mosaics of Labouret, inspired by cubism, and the ironworks of Brandt, typical of Art Deco, make this an outstanding example of the French industrial heritage. Today, it combines historical heritage and modernity, with an adjacent bus station and connections to Lille or Arras.

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