Station Focus ~ London Waterloo

Harry creating a number of posts this week, including this short Post regarding London Waterloo. 
Opened in 1922, and with 24 platforms, London Waterloo station is situated within a stones throw (if there weren't obstructions) from the River Thames and the London Eye. 
Since 2004, when there was a footfall of over 68 million people a year, the station has increased to 98 million in the present day. This now makes Waterloo one of the busiest UK stations based on passenger numbers.
(C) Harry
PAST: Waterloo has been apart of British Heritage since it was built. The 4-faced clock and roof remain. From 1994 until 2007, Euro-Star operated from Waterloo to France, via the Euro Tunnel (where else?). Now this service terminates at Kings Cross, St Pancras International. 

PRESENT DAY:
In the present day, South West Trains operate Waterloo station (Platforms 1 to 20). However, TFL run the Underground station down the escalators. 
South West Trains use Class 158, 159s, 450, 444, 455, 456 and 458 stock to form services to/from destinations including: Windsor & Eaton Riverside, Weymouth, Woking, Shepperton, Portsmouth, Southampton Central, Southampton Airport Parkway and Reading. 
Pre-Recorded announcements by Phil Sayer are used to announce ALL train departures at the station, except for the rare manual announcements by Station Staff or the Control Team. Meanwhile, Celia Drummond is used on-board the trains for announcements. 

FUTURE:
Platforms 1 to 4 will be extended in the upcoming years so that 10-Car formations can terminate here. Platforms 23 and 24 will also reopen to allow 12-Car trains. 

London Waterloo receives an upgrade, with longer platforms (1-4) for the 10-car formations, plus reopening Waterloo International. PLUS:
  1. Also, extended platforms at ten stations on the line to Reading, allowing longer trains with room for more passengers.
  2. A power supply upgrade.
  3. Upgrades to depots and maintenance facilities to handle this railway’s largest ever train fleet.
In September 2017, platforms 1-8 will be reopened – and ten-car trains will start running on the suburban network from December 2017. This will be the first time ten-car trains have run on these lines, providing more space for more passengers during the busiest times of the day.
This will also allow platforms 20-24 to close again to allow the major building work to take place on the concourse and other passengers areas. This will create a new, modern and fully accessible station concourse. This is expected to be completed by December 2018 and will complete the biggest improvements to London Waterloo since the 1930s.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “From 2017, passengers will benefit from a bigger and better London Waterloo station and 150 new train carriages providing more space for passengers arriving at London Waterloo over the three-hour morning peak – this is in addition to the 108 extra carriages that have already been added since 2013. These improvements will make journeys better for hard working commuters, in the capital and across Britain.”

South West Trains Timeline:
  • April 2016. Waterloo International is closed for all train services including in times of disruption and becomes a dedicated construction site.
  • February 2017. Platform 20 handed back to Network Rail and train services reinstated.
  • June/July 2017. Platforms 21-24 handed back and works to prepare the former International Terminal for temporary use during August 2017.
  • Summer 2017. Ten weekends during the summer will see platforms closed at London Waterloo and services changed.
  • August 2017. 23 day closure of platforms 1-8 (Monday 7 August to Bank Holiday Monday 28 August inclusive) to extend Platforms 1-4 for 10-carriage trains. This will mean Platforms 1-8 and Waterloo South Sidings will be closed throughout. Platforms 20-24 to be temporarily used by passenger services during this period.
  • Aug 2017 – Dec 2018. After the former International Terminal has been in temporary use it will be closed to passengers again to allow the remaining station construction to take place.
  • December 2017. Timetable is changed and 10-carriage services start running from Platforms 1-4 on the suburban network during the morning and evening peak periods .
  • December 2018. Platforms 21-24 open and incorporated into December 2018 timetable with additional train services being provided. 
Thank You. ^Harry
Regards:

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