Waterloos former international terminal started to come to life today (23 October) as the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance took its first steps to re-open one of the five platforms at the facility six months ahead of schedule.

Platform 20 welcomed the first passenger train service in over six years, following a special agreement put in place between the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance and the Department for Transport.

It means Platform 20 can be used to provide extra capacity at London Waterloo, the UKs busiest station. Preparations are continuing to bring Platform 20 fully into use for timetabled services from May 2014. It will help accommodate the 108 additional carriages which will be introduced from this winter to provide extra capacity for around 23,000 peak time passengers every day.

Six months ahead of its full opening, Platform 20 can be used when needed to relieve congestion at the station during times of disruption. Previously, there has been no spare capacity at Waterloo station. During disruption, the station can become heavily congested with trains arriving every minute at peak travelling times. Now Platform 20 will provide extra flexibility at the station and mean that passenger disruption will be minimised.

Tim Shoveller, Managing Director of the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance, said: This is the first step in our plan to provide extra capacity to and from the UKs busiest station by re-opening the former Waterloo International Terminal and delivering additional carriages on our busiest routes.

Over the coming months, well be completing our driver training programme and ensuring that all of our trains are ready for the full re-opening of Platform 20 in May 2014. In the lead up to that, we have worked with the Department for Transport to successfully secure approval six months ahead of the full opening to help provide an improved service for our passengers.

“We operate one of the busiest commuter rail networks in Europe. Inevitably, due to the large volume of trains we run, there are times when our services are disrupted and Waterloo station becomes extremely congested. With nearly 95 million people passing through Waterloo station alone every year, having access to an additional, spare platform will allow us to help customers by reducing delays and providing greater flexibility to recover when things do go wrong.
This is a great example of the innovative working by the Alliance to deliver significant improvements for passengers.

Under the new arrangements agreed with the Department for Transport and London & Continental, who have retained ownership of the former international terminal, from today (23 October) train services will be able to use Platform 20 during times of disruption. The contractual agreement with the Department for Transport will start officially from May 2014 when timetabled train services will start using Platform 20 on a permanent basis.

“Our railways are carrying record numbers of passengers on record numbers of journeys. The Government wants to see increased capacity and improved services for passengers, which is why we are investing billions to upgrade our rail network and making sure we have the transport system we need to compete in the global economic race.”

Proposals to bring the remaining four platforms of the Waterloo International Terminal back into use have been developed by the Alliance in response to the Department for Transports rail investment strategy. It offers a way of future-proofing one of the countrys key commuter networks.

Mr Shoveller continued: “Were continuing to work with the Department for Transport on significant proposals to re-open the remaining four international platforms and extend platforms 1-4 at Waterloo. These plans will greatly improve the infrastructure across our network, which 210 million passengers a year depend on, and it will ensure that we can continue to support economic growth.”

“Our railways are carrying record numbers of passengers on record numbers of journeys. The Government wants to see increased capacity and improved services for passengers, which is why we are investing billions to upgrade our rail network and making sure we have the transport system we need to compete in the global economic race.”

Proposals to bring the remaining four platforms of the Waterloo International Terminal back into use have been developed by the Alliance in response to the Department for Transports rail investment strategy. It offers a way of future-proofing one of the countrys key commuter networks.

Mr Shoveller continued: “Were continuing to work with the Department for Transport on significant proposals to re-open the remaining four international platforms and extend platforms 1-4 at Waterloo. These plans will greatly improve the infrastructure across our network, which 210 million passengers a year depend on, and it will ensure that we can continue to support economic growth.”

Proposals to bring the remaining four platforms of the Waterloo International Terminal back into use have been developed by the Alliance in response to the Department for Transports rail investment strategy. It offers a way of future-proofing one of the countrys key commuter networks.

Mr Shoveller continued: “Were continuing to work with the Department for Transport on significant proposals to re-open the remaining four international platforms and extend platforms 1-4 at Waterloo. These plans will greatly improve the infrastructure across our network, which 210 million passengers a year depend on, and it will ensure that we can continue to support economic growth.”

Mr Shoveller continued: “Were continuing to work with the Department for Transport on significant proposals to re-open the remaining four international platforms and extend platforms 1-4 at Waterloo. These plans will greatly improve the infrastructure across our network, which 210 million passengers a year depend on, and it will ensure that we can continue to support economic growth.”

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