28.07.15
First major changes to Waterloo station since the 1930s
A planning application to enable more trains to run in and out of London Waterloo was submitted yesterday (27 July). The multi-million pound upgrade sponsored by Network Rail and South West Trains will bring platforms in the former Waterloo International Terminal back into use, partly as a response to the predicted 40% growth in passenger numbers using the station over the next 30 years.
Changes will include five new platforms for commuter services and a redesign of the concourse and platforms to suit over half a million daily passengers.
The first part of the project will include strengthening three bridges on the approach to platforms 20-24, which will allow them to be used for domestic services, and improving the layout of tracks and platforms.
The plans include extending platforms 1-4 to allow 10-car trains to run on the Suburban network for the first time.
Improvements are also being considered at Surbiton, Wimbledon, Vauxhall and Clapham Junction.
These will be the first major changes to Waterloo since the 1930s and are necessary improvements to Britain’s busiest station, which sees more than 200 million commuters yearly – representing an increase of over 100% in the last 20 years.
If yesterday’s application to the London Borough of Lambeth is approved, work on the bridges is due to start in October and should be completed by the end of 2016. Associated track and signalling work will continue until mid-2017. Network Rail said the work at Waterloo and on the approaches will take place during regular working hours from 8am-6pm Monday to Friday but may sometimes take place on Saturday mornings.
Dave Hooper, executive director for Infrastructure at Osborne, wrote for RTM last autumn to exlpain more about the collaborative partnership between Osborne and Network Rail, 'One Team Wesex', to deliver the Wessex Capacity Improvement Programme.
Tim Shoveller, managing director of South West Trains, said: “The biggest investment for decades on our network is well underway but the work to expand London Waterloo is absolutely vital to make sure we can provide much needed extra space, both for our customers now and in the future.”
South West Trains was until recently part of a ‘deep alliance’ with Network Rail. Earlier this month, its owner Stagecoach failed to secure a direct award to extend its South West Trains franchise to March/April 2019, despite negotiations having been going on since early last year. Its current contract expires in June 2017. The Department for Transport will start the process to find a new franchisee in November, with an Invitation to Tender submitted to shortlisted bidders in April 2016. Contract award will be in February 2017, with the new franchise beginning in June 2017.