Local MPs call for extra rail capacity at Waterloo

10.21.58am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 2nd Aug 2005

Three local MPs, Vincent Cable, Susan Kramer and Edward Davey, have joined forces, introducing an Early Day Motion (610), calling on the government to publish quickly the study being carried out by ARUP for the Strategic Rail Authority on the use of the international terminal at Waterloo when it is vacated in 2007 as the first step to using the terminal to expand railway capacity.

The local MPs are supporting a move, supported also by SW Trains and Transport for London, to ensure that the five, quarter mile, platforms are used to improve rail services and not, as has been mooted, as a property development.

Vincent Cable said: "there is now a broadly based campaign to stop the vandalism involved in destroying this valuable asset. The train operators confirm that one of the main reasons for delays and overcrowding at Waterloo is the lack of platform capacity. It is essential that short term expediency does not prevail over the long term future of the rail system."