Steve Brine went to Waterloo on Wednesday 23rd March for the launch of a scheme which seeks to improve passenger journeys into Waterloo with £800m investment.
The project is part of Network Rail's £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan and represents the biggest investment in Waterloo for decades. When these improvements are complete, more trains than ever will arrive and leave London Waterloo every hour during the busiest times of the day, providing more space and better journeys for hundreds of thousands of passengers every day. These works will pave the way for improvements of longer distance routes into London Waterloo and long term digital railway systems required to meet the increasing demand for rail services projected.
Steve Brine said: "This is welcome improvement for passengers using Waterloo as we all do from Winchester & Chandler's Ford but my desire to build a bigger railway remains and I am working on this with colleagues locally as well as Ministers and the Treasury."
Pictured; Rail Minister Claire Perry addresses the launch
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Timeline of events at London Waterloo
March 2016: Construction work starts in the former Waterloo International Terminal, with minimal disruption to passengers using the station and no service alterations.
February 2017: Platform 20 reopens for passenger services.
June – Aug 2017: Weekend work, including some changes to weekend passenger services, to allow rail infrastructure to be installed.
August 2017: Platforms 1-4 extended at London Waterloo. Due to the track layout, this will mean Platforms 1-8 will be closed for 23 days. Network Rail will reopen platforms 20-24 to help maintain passenger services but there will be significant changes to services. Detailed information on changes to services during this period will be advertised in advance to ensure passengers understand how this will affect their journeys.
Sept 2017 – Dec 2018: Platforms 1-8 will reopen, with 21-24 closing to allow for the construction of the new passenger concourse and facilities.
December 2018: New timetable introduced including use of all 24 platforms at London Waterloo.