First stage of Waterloo train station upgrades complete

Date: 29/5/2012

The first stage of the £15 million improvement project at Waterloo train station is now complete.

It is hoped the upgrades will significantly reduce congestion at the UK's busiest railway station, which deals with 90 million passengers a year.

A new 220-metre balcony has been created to link Waterloo and Waterloo East stations, creating more room for people at concourse level.

By July 2012, ten new brands will occupy the 20,000 sq ft of additional retail space that is also being built, providing commuters with more places to eat and shop in time for the Olympic Games.

Network Rail Director of Property David Biggs said: "The Waterloo balcony project is part of our wider retail strategy to create destination stations for both rail passengers and non-travelling customers."

He added the changes will provide a sustainable income that can be re-invested into Britain's railways.

This comes just after Network Rail announced a new partnership with South West Trains which means a single joint management team will be responsible for trains and track operating out of Waterloo.

Posted by Mary Treen