Network Rail submits initial London Waterloo Station planning application

Plans to develop Britain’s busiest station have taken a major leap forward this week as Network Rail submits planning permission for expanding London Waterloo.

2016 would bring significant increases in the amount of trains running to and from the station in efforts to compensate for the growing number of passengers, currently at 100m a year.

The multi-million pound development would provide five new platforms, to go alongside introducing a further 250 train carriages and extension plans for platforms 1-4. This would go some way to easing difficulties caused by the expected 40% increase in passengers over the next three decades.

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.”

If the London Borough of Lambeth grants planning permission, works are expected to commence this October and to be completed by the end of 2016. Related track and signalling work however would stretch out to mid-2017.

The project requires the strengthening of three bridges on the approach to platforms 20-24, “an absolutely vital part of our plans to improve capacity” according to John Halsall, Route Infrastructure Director for Network Rail. At present, these platforms make up the former Waterloo International Terminal. Following the developments, the platforms would become a part of domestic services.

Alterations to the layout of the track and platforms would also be made.

The project will likely result in a number of road closures during the works, with times and locations to be confirmed in the programme’s publications. Network rail has also initiated an awareness programme to ensure the public are kept informed about the proposals. Letters and leaflets are being sent out in the local area and http://ift.tt/1D5jYQq offers further information.

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