Network Rail Submit First Planning Permission to Upgrade London Waterloo Station
Image Courtesy of Network Rail
Network Rail have submitted the first planning permission to upgrade the busiest station in Britain, London Waterloo. The planning permission is to improve the amount of trains in and out of the station.
London Waterloo is used by almost 100 million passengers a year, with a train arriving and departing every minute – during busy times. The numbers forecast shows that the number of passengers will how by 40% over the next 30 years, in aid of this Network Rail and South West Trains are working together to bring platforms in the former Waterloo International Terminal into use again. This will allows more trains to run to handle the increase in passengers.
London Waterloo Station Major Upgrade
London Waterloo Station will be gaining five new platforms for London commuter services and will be receiving a completely redesigned concourse and platforms. This will be the first major upgrade to the station since the 1930’s.
The first part of the project will be involves strengthening three bridges on the approach to platforms 20-24 as well as changing the layout of the tracks and platforms.
John Halsall, route infrastructure director for Network Rail, said: The project to improve the railway and strengthen the bridges on the approach to Waterloo is an absolutely vital part of our plans to improve capacity at Britains busiest station.
The submission of the planning application to carry out this work is an important step forward and, if approved, we expect to start work before the end of the year.
Tim Shoveller, managing director of South West Trains, added: We operate one of the busiest railways in Europe, with over half a million passenger journeys every day.
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.”
For more information on the project, click here.
