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Waterloo station August works: everything you need to know

Closure: The UK's busiest station is set to close for major improvement work: Usman Ahmad
Closure: The UK's busiest station is set to close for major improvement work: Usman Ahmad

Londoners will be hit with fresh delays this summer as a large swathe of the UK’s busiest station shuts down for major improvement work.

The £800m revamp at Waterloo is set to extend platforms for longer trains, making room for more seats and creating extra space for passengers.

South West Trains will be running but some stations including Queenstown Road will be closed and others will be served by fewer trains.

The transport provider is advising commuters to avoid popular terminal stations during rush hour and to use alternative routes instead.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Waterloo closures.

When is Waterloo shutting?

Network Rail is carrying out major improvement work at Waterloo station from August 5.

How long is it shut for?

The works are expected to last four weeks ending on August 28.

Closed platforms at London Waterloo Station (James Butters)
Closed platforms at London Waterloo Station (James Butters)

Which lines are affected the most?

Platforms 1-9 at will be closed, while platforms 20-24 will temporarily open with limited services operating.

London’s busiest stations such as Wimbledon, Earlsfield, Richmond, Clapham Junction and Vauxhall are expected to be busier.

Commuters travelling on the Northern line are expected to be delayed if travelling from Colliers Wood, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway.

London Overground services are also expected to be disrupted at Clapham Junction.

Waterloo is the UK's busiest station which sees over 100 million passengers a day (Ian N @ianxn Twitter)
Waterloo is the UK's busiest station which sees over 100 million passengers a day (Ian N @ianxn Twitter)

What alternatives can you use?

Transport for London has advised commuters to utilise the capital’s extensive bus network as an alternative. The new hopper fare means you can travel on two buses within an hour and only pay one single fare.

Otherwise, London’s designated cycle routes in south west London offers an alternative route into the city.

Cycle Superhighway 7 runs parallel to the Northern line between Colliers Wood and the City.

Cycle Superhighway 8 runs from Wandsworth to Westminster

Ride: Londoners can use the Cycle Superhighways to travel into the City (Transport for London)
Ride: Londoners can use the Cycle Superhighways to travel into the City (Transport for London)

Will my ticket work at other stations?

Great Western Railway

If you have a ticket from south of Basingstoke (all stations to Weymouth via Southampton and Fareham via Botley) or west of Basingstoke (all stations to Exeter St Davids) then your ticket is valid on Great Western Railway services via Reading to London Paddington.

However tickets are not valid on any Great Western Railway services via Taunton or Newbury.

Thameslink

If you hold a South West Trains ticket for travel between Raynes Park and London, it will be valid to ravel from Wimbledon Chase for travel to/from London Blackfriars on weekdays only.

Southern

No South West Trains’ services will operate between Dorking and Leatherhead for the duration of the Waterloo Upgrade.

Commuters are expected to change at Sutton for Thameslink services to Blackfriars and City Thameslink.

Passengers for Queenstown Road may also travel via Battersea Park and passengers for Earlsfield may use Wandsworth Common.

Transport for London

Tickets will be accepted on the Northern Line (Morden, South Wimbledon, Colliers Wood, Tooting Broadway, Balham, and Waterloo), District Line (Wimbledon, Wimbledon Park, Southfields, East Putney, Victoria, Embankment, and Cannon Street), Bakerloo Line (Paddington, Waterloo) and Victoria Line (Vauxhall, Victoria).