11.12.18
Five new platforms for Waterloo station as old Eurostar terminal reopens
The former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo station has been reopened for the first time in 12 years, bringing five new platforms to the Britain’s busiest railway station.
Platforms 20 to 22 at Waterloo have been opened to the public, and platforms 23 and 24 are set to come into use in May next year as part of the next timetable change, which will see 100 extra services introduced.
The reopening of the terminal for the first time since international services were moved to St Pancras in 2007 is part of an £800m project to improve the South Western Railway (SWR) network.
The work has seen extensions of platforms at Waterloo and nine other stations along the SWR route making room for longer trains, and Network Rail say an extra 15,000 more seats have been provided for passengers over the last year.
Andy Mellors, the managing director for SWR, said: “The reopening of platforms at the former Waterloo International Terminal means more flexibility for our train services and will help to improve punctuality, especially during peak times.”
Waterloo International station housed Eurostar journeys to mainland Europe from 1994 up until November 2007, when the terminal was closed.
The new opening will provide more concourse waiting space, extra ticket barriers to reduce queueing and new customer information screens, as well as direct access to the London Underground from early 2019.
Next year the developer LCR will start fitting new retail, leisure, and cultural destination underneath the new platforms and a mix of national, high street, and independent stores and food outlets will open in 2021.
The managing director for Network Rail’s Wessex route Andy Thomas said: “We are putting passengers at the heart of our approach to running the railway, and this incredible piece of engineering is all about giving better journeys to the many millions of people who travel on this route every year.
“Thousands of our engineers and track staff have worked tirelessly over the last three years, rebuilding this iconic terminal from the top to bottom.
“It has been an enormous job and I’m delighted to be reopening on time, helping us support economic growth by better connecting businesses and communities.”
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