Clapham Junction train station has been taken over by Network Rail amid major plans prepared for it - both in the short and long-term.

The infrastructure manager is assessing options to relieve travel congestion the near future and the feasibility of a more significant station redevelopment in the long run following the announcement this week (April 11).

Usually overseen by South Western Railway, it joins Guildford railway station in coming under the authority’s control which is the subject of a recently approved £150 million redevelopment plan.

David Briggs, Network Rail Property’s managing director, said: “This is the start of an exciting new chapter for Guildford and Clapham Junction.

“Managing both stations will allow us to deliver significant benefits to the railway, station users, and surrounding communities.

“Our previous work across our managed station portfolio has helped deliver a range of important projects, including the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street, King’s Cross, and London Bridge stations.”

Network Rail says it will manage the redevelopment projects at both stations because the potential work – especially at Clapham Junction – is large enough to potentially ‘extend beyond the life of South Western Railway’s franchise’, from 2017 to 2024.

South Western Railway will still oversee the day-to-day responsibilities for both stations, while Network Rail says staff roles ‘will not be directly affected’.

However, it is now responsible for maintenance and renewal work at both, as well as commercial activities which exclude ticket sales.

Jenny Saunders, South Western Railway’s head of stations, said: “It’s business as usual for the teams operating at these busy stations and we will continue to run the trains while Network Rail focuses on the redevelopment proposals.”

Clapham Junction is the 10th busiest station in London with more than 30.6 million entries and exits by commuters in 2016/17, according to the latest data published by the Government’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR).