Waterloo Station timelapse: ex-Eurostar platforms are transformed

The platforms – designed for infrequent international services – have been shortened to make way for a new track layout.

"Eurostar trains are some of the longest passenger trains to have operated on Britain's railways but trains that long just wouldn't fit onto the platforms in Britain's network," said Becky Lumlock, route managing director at Network Rail.

"On top of that, the old International Terminal was designed to only accommodate six train services every hour.

"So, as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan we are transforming the former International Terminal into a hub for trains from Waterloo to Windsor and Reading.

"To do this, we've shortened platforms 21-24 and we're using this surplus space to install new sections of track in their place.

"This will allow us to vastly increase the maximum number of services that can arrive and depart in the former International Terminal from six trains to 18 trains every hour.

"Enabling a much higher frequency of services into Waterloo is essential to increasing capacity at the station by 30 per cent and providing a better railway to passengers."

A separate scheme to turn the space below the platforms into a new shopping and leisure complex was approved by Lambeth councillors last year.

This year is the tenth anniversary of Eurostar's relocation of its London terminus from Waterloo to St Pancras.