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Tuesday 29 Aug 2017

TIMELAPSE: Network Rail thanks passengers as it completes Waterloo Upgrade

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail fully reopened Waterloo station this morning after completing one of the largest and most complex upgrades in the station’s history.

However, due to safety critical work to test the signalling taking slightly longer than planned early this morning, disruption to services to and from Waterloo is expected until this afternoon.

Network Rail apologises to passengers for any delays to their journey and asks them to check before they travel for the rest of the day.

Becky Lumlock, route managing director at Network Rail, said:

“The work we have completed in three and a half weeks this August will benefit passengers for decades to come. The longer platforms will create space for longer trains, making journeys more comfortable for passengers, particularly at the busiest times of day.

“Over the next 16 months we’ll turn our attention to the final stages of the redevelopment of the former International Terminal. We’ll be working behind the scenes so that we can, by the end of next year, permanently bring the five extra platforms back into use for what will become a modern, high frequency commuter terminal fit for the 21st century.

“I’d like to personally thank passengers for their patience over the last few weeks, and apologise to disruption to their journeys today.  I’d also like to pay tribute to our 1,000 strong army of engineers and track workers who have delivered such an enormous project.”

Over the three and a half weeks there have been:

• 180,000 hours worked
• 1,270 metres of track laid
• 230 metres of pre-cast concrete installed 
• 160 meters of new platform built
• 7 miles of cable laid