Network Rail concludes £۴.۵m railway upgrade works

TIN news:  UK rail Infrastructure services provider Network Rail has completed another £4.5m portion of the £800m Waterloo & South West Upgrade.
As part of the upgrade, which is expected to increase capacity at Waterloo by 30% by December next year, the equipment was replaced and the signalling at Queenstown Road was improved.
Network Rail route managing director Becky Lumlock said: “Christmas provides us with a great chance to deliver vital aspects of our Railway Upgrade Plan while causing the least amount of disruption to passengers.
“Our work will now continue behind the scenes in the international terminal, but I’d like to thank all those who gave up their Christmases in order to deliver these upgrades.”
Other modifications included complex signalling and power modifications at Waterloo to enable work throughout this year and continuing hydro-demolition work in the former International Terminal at Waterloo in an effort to re-open the five former international platforms.
The orange army of Network Rail also created openings on platforms one & two and three & four.
The 15m long holes will become extra staircases that will provide additional access to London Underground services after the extension of platforms by improving passenger flow through the station.
Network Rail has invested £103m this Christmas across the UK to carry out about 200 upgrade projects.
The Waterloo & South West Upgrade is set to continue this year.
Network Rail plans to rebuild the former International Terminal, and extend platforms one to four to accommodate longer trains.
Meanwhile, South West Trains are set to introduce a fleet of 30 brand new trains to provide 150 extra carriages in April this year.