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Saturday 19 Aug 2017

South West Trains passengers warned of further reduction in services on Thursday 24 August

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Passengers urged to avoid travelling as engineering work continues at Waterloo station.

Engineering work at London’s Waterloo station to increase capacity by 30% will see platforms 1 to 14 closed from next Thursday (24 August) and throughout the bank holiday weekend, with fewer than half of normal weekday services operating on Thursday (24) and Friday (25).

Platforms 1 to 10 have been closed since 5 August to allow the lengthening and straightening of platforms, making way for longer trains by the end of this year.

The extended closure had been planned from next Friday and through the Bank Holiday since before the works began, and is now extended to take in Thursday 24 as a result of the partial derailment of a passenger train on Tuesday at the station.

All platforms at the station are set to reopen on Tuesday 29 August.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We’re committed to delivering this project on time for our passengers.

“That is why we have brought forward the planned extended bank holiday closure by 24 hours following the partial derailment of a passenger train earlier this week at the station.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we always said we would monitor the project very closely after the partial derailment to check for any impacts.

“We apologise to our passengers for the added disruption to their journeys and thank them for their patience. This all about delivering a bigger better Waterloo station fit for the 21st century.”

Passengers are being advised to make alternative travel arrangements across South West Trains routes from Thursday 24 August, up to and including Monday 28 August.

Those who do have to make the journey should check before they travel, expect significant disruption and a very reduced service.

For further information passengers should go to www.nationalrail.co.uk