Waterloo Station

Susan Kramer
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress has been made on negotiations for franchise commuter train services arriving at and departing from at platform 20 at London Waterloo station; and when he expects those negotiations to be concluded.

Chris Mole
We are working with Network Rail to extend platforms at Waterloo station and across the whole south western network to increase capacity on some suburban routes from eight to ten carriage trains by 2014.

As part of this, we are investigating how Waterloo and Waterloo International Terminal platforms 20 to 24 can be used to help increase capacity on the network. Work has been carried out on platform 20 and option development work is now progressing on other platforms and enhancing the tracks outside the station to support the increase in capacity.

The Department for Transport is in discussion with Stagecoach South West Trains with regard to additional rolling stock and service enhancements for operating longer trains into Waterloo that are value for money and affordable for the taxpayer.