August blockade for Britain’s busiest station

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SERVICES at London Waterloo have been significantly reduced during August as Network Rail continues its £800million programme to increase peak-time capacity at Britain’s busiest station by 30%.

A busy London Waterloo on July 2 as Network Rail engineers replace trackwork in the station throat, accompanied by a Freightliner Class 66. SWT Class 455 EMUs, soon to be replaced by Bombardier ‘Aventras’, depart simultaneously with inner-suburban trains as a Class 159 DMU arrives from the West Country. Platforms to the right of this view will be closed and extended in August as part of the £800m station upgrade. JAMIE SQUIBBS

Platforms 1-10 on the suburban side of the station will be closed until August 28, with platforms 1-4 extended to cater for longer trains.

The work will allow an increase from eight to 10 cars on many inner-suburban trains, eventually adding capacity for an extra 45,000 passengers at the busiest times.

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During the blockade, the five former international platforms on the opposite side of the station will reopen temporarily to accommodate suburban services, but capacity will still be substantially less than normal.

Afterwards, platforms 20-24 will close again for completion of rebuilding work, which includes a new concourse for domestic passengers. The five platforms are due to reopen permanently in December 2018.

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Right: An artist’s impression of the new concourse being built for the former Waterloo International platforms, which will reopen for commuter traffic in December 2018. NR


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