Waterloo International: Government to study future uses

The Department for Transport has asked the Strategic Rail Authority to commission the first phase of a study into possible future uses for Waterloo International station and the Eurostar
train servicing depot at North Pole in West London. The study will be jointly sponsored by the DfT and the Strategic Rail Authority. Arup have been appointed to provide consultancy support.

Eurostar announced in November last year that International train services will be transferred from Waterloo International to St Pancras when the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is completed in 2007. Train servicing will also be transferred to a new depot at Temple Mills, East London, connected directly to the CTRL.

The DfT says that facilities at Waterloo and North Pole represent "significant assets" and
that they will require "that their future use achieves the best value for money". In consultation with "key stakeholders" this initial study will examine a range of options for alternative uses, with a view to establishing a smaller number for further development and wider consultation. The study will also consider the best use of the network capacity that will be released by the transfer of Eurostar services.

South West Trains has already expressed an interest in making use of the extra platforms to ease congestion and expand capacity.