Network Rail is now working on the refurbishment of London Waterloo Station's roof, which was rebuilt in 1922, in a bid to let in the light and create a bright and welcoming atmosphere for customers. The project is set to take place over a two-year period and will see the replacement of both current glazing and support structure in order to return the roof back to its former glory.
The project will see around 10,000 new glazed panels put in place for the 12,000 square metre roof, which will be made of polycarbonate glazing material which has half the weight of the original glazing which will bring a reduction in stress for the structure into the future.
Further work will also see customer experience improved at Britain's busiest station, including improved retail offerings which will allow new brands and food outlets at the station.
The work will also afford some current shops a makeover.
Feedback from customers will also lead to the addition of sustainable wooden seats for people waiting for trains in addition to the 480 existing seats, not including 120 seats on platforms.
Customer information screens on platforms have also been updated alongside the refurbishment of toilets which is currently underway. The station will also see a gender-neutral facility added alongside additional female facilities to match those available for males. Extra baby changing areas will also be added.
The project comes are part of the Improving London Waterloo Station programme which will continue over the next few years.
Cem Davis, Network Rail's London Waterloo station manager, said:
“We really welcome the improvements being made at London Waterloo which is Britain's busiest station.
“Customers will soon benefit from a lighter and brighter station making journeys more welcoming and pleasant. Work is also underway to improve the retail and food and drink offer, and the toilets are also in the middle of a large-scale refurbishment.
“There will be some changes to the station as we carry out the upgrades and our station team will be on hand to ensure customers' station experience is as seamless as possible.”
Peter Williams, South Western Railway's customer and commercial director, said:
“We're delighted that SWR's customers will soon be able to enjoy the benefit of the improvements being made to Waterloo station. The refurbishment of the roof will mean that the building will be lighter; and other works will provide more seating as well as improved customer information screens, better shopping and better opportunities for eating and drinking.
“Our colleagues at Network Rail will be carrying out these improvements with as little disruption to normal station working as possible and we look forward to welcoming customers to a brighter Waterloo.”
Whilst the work on the roof is underway, a one-way system will be in place for Cab Road for taxis and delivery vans, customers will also experience scaffolding in the station.
Whilst work is underway for the refurbishment of toilets, alternative toilet facilities can be found here:
- The Sidings – which can be accessed via the staircase by Platform 19 and via the lift opposite Platform 24
Cab Road by station reception
In order to make space for temporary toilets whilst work is underway, some of the cycle storage facilities on Cab Road have been temporarily removed until summer 2023.
This is encouraging. May we take it that the plan of a couple of years ago, to build over the entire station with a massive office and/or residential development, is definitely off the agenda?
The joy of Waterloo is its spaciousness and natural light – my spirits lift when I arrive there. I hope the quest for lettings revenue doesn’t meant that fine concourse is going to be further cluttered up with more irrelevant and overpriced retail outlets. Essentials like food, drink and railway magazines are fine, but NR should remember that Waterloo’s primary purpose is to shift large numbers of people to and from trains, not to act as a giant shopping centre.
You know it was once home to Eurostar before they moved to St. Pancras International when HS1 was built.