London Banter - View Single Post - Waterloo Eurostar platforms and "The Railway Children"

Paul Scott · May 5th 10, 01:49 PM posted to uk.transport.london

wrote:

But the point that everyone seems to be missing is WHY are the
platforms at Waterloo not being brought into use NOW?

Despite all the media hype, because platforms on there own wouldn't help
much if at all. SWT's standard platforming uses 18 of the 19 platforms (one
is usually spare) because they only have enough rolling stock to use that
many, anyway not all trains are run at maximum length yet. Spreading the
current services out amongst more platforms wouldn't increase capacity,
because the approaches into Waterloo from Clapham Junction are the major
limiting factors.

At least two of the five disused platforms, (bearing in mind platform 20 is
already usable if needed) will be brought into use during 2011 before
current platforms 1 and 2 are closed - they are too short for 10 car
operations.

Paul S