Major track upgrades completed on busy Waterloo to Clapham Junction route

South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction resumed this morning, 5 January, following 11 days of intensive engineering work on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors.

Over 350 engineers worked continuously since Christmas Day in the Queenstown Road area, delivering a series of significant upgrades. The work included renewing around 1,000 metres of track, including the electrified third rail, replacing switches and crossings to improve train movement, upgrading signalling and power systems, installing new ballast and sleepers to strengthen track foundations, and adjusting platforms at Queenstown Road station to fit the updated track layout.

Carrying out the work over the Christmas period, when passenger numbers are lower, minimised disruption and avoided the need for eight separate weekend closures. Passengers will still face two partial closures on the weekends of 10–11 January and 31 January–1 February for further maintenance.

George Murrell, Route Renewals Director at South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex, said:

“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while we carried out these essential upgrades at London Waterloo. The improvements will make one of the busiest stretches of railway in the country more resilient and customers can expect fewer faults and delays, together with smoother and more reliable journeys.”

Image: Network Rail