London’s railways are already bursting and new rail lines are not being built fast enough. A quick and simple alteration to London Waterloo station will double its capacity and dramatically improve the daily commute for millions.

Introducing Southern Crossrail

Southern Crossrail involves converting part of Waterloo into a through station. This will avoid the jam caused by trains having to enter a terminus station and reversing out. On four platforms the trains will continue on to London Bridge station via a short section of bridge.

Not many people realise that trains did at one time travel from Waterloo to Waterloo East. Under the proposal for Southern Crossrail, the alignment of that original single track would be followed by three parallel tracks straight from one station to the other. This allows up to 120 trains an hour to pass through Waterloo – an increase in capacity that would have a transformative effect on transport south of London.

Currently trains from London’s south east are separated from trains from London’s south west, but Southern Crossrail would allow trains from Windsor, Guildford, Dorking and Surbiton to pass rapidly though Waterloo to Bromley, Dartford and Sevenoaks.

The case for Southern Crossrail

Crossrail is due in 2018 and Crossrail2 is planned for 2030, but we need more lines faster. In peak times Waterloo is at full capacity. The station already handles 100 million passengers per year and an increase in passenger journeys of 50 per cent over the next ten years will take it over its capacity. Southern Crossrail is an imaginative solution that will double the rail capacity and shorten journey times. Unlike Crossrail1 it is very inexpensive, and unlike Crossrail2 it can be delivered very quickly.

The benefit to the economy from Southern Crossrail is expected to be £5.6bn a year, which means the scheme would pay for itself within 12 months. The project will support economic regeneration across London and the south east of England by providing the infrastructure needed to support 200,000 new homes and 200,000 new jobs.

How much will it cost?

The engineering works required by the project are relatively minor compared to Crossrail and are estimated to cost £5bn.

What engineering would be required?

Crossrails 1 and 2 require deep tunnelling through a crowded underground London. Southern Crossrail does not require tunnelling. The minimum engineering requirement would be for the centre part of the concourse at Waterloo to rise up over four through tracks. There would need to be lifts and escalators.

A new bridge, alongside the old one, would be required to carry three new tracks over Waterloo Road.

Additional changes to infrastructure

To make the best of the proposals the following changes would be advisable:

• Signalling changes to increase the throughput

• Flyovers between Battersea and Waterloo thus allowing the local, suburban and express lines to be segregated on the approach to Waterloo, would increase throughput further

• Waterloo East Station would close releasing some land and a new station above the new Southwark station on the Jubilee line could be opened for interchange with Thameslink

• Closing the line up to Charing Cross would allow for greater throughput. Commuters travelling to the west end can change at London Bridge using the Jubilee line. This will have the added advantage of opening up the front of Waterloo through to the South Bank

What’s next?

The ETA is now calling for TFL to undertake a feasibility study.

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