Battle for Waterloo continues (From Your Local Guardian)

Battle for Waterloo continues

3:50pm Tuesday 20th November 2007 in Kingston By Lisa Williams

The battle for Waterloo continues now that four extra platforms at the station have been vacated by the Eurostar's move to King's Cross.

MPs Susan Kramer and Edward Davey announced a victory this July in the battle to allow South West Trains to use the extra platforms, which they believe will lead to a quicker, more efficient service for local commuters.

But wide press reports last week claimed that the future of the platforms was unsure and Conservative MP Ian Taylor announced he had tabled an early day motion asking the Government to convert the empty platforms for use on the South West Trains network.

Mr Taylor said: "The Government needs urgently to give the green light for the necessary investment in cross-over tracks at Clapham Junction to enable full access to the empty platforms. I am deeply frustrated by the situation. This is a wonderful opportunity to improve public transport and the service for commuters so why the continued delay?"

Susan Kramer said that she was sure that one of the platforms would be in use by South West Trains by the end of next year, but that she was seeking clarification from the Government that the remaining platforms would also be converted for commuter trains.

She said: "We are still on track to use the first of the Eurostar platforms by the end of next year. We were told by ministers that the platforms would be used for domestic trains and we attending follow up meetings about the matter.

"That message hasn't changed but South West Trains are in negotiations about it and I will be seeking clarification on what will be happening."

She added that use of the new platforms would not necessarily mean more trains, but that it would allow all trains to pull into Waterloo on time.Reacting to Mr Taylor's involvement with the issue, Mrs Kramer said that she would welcome cross party support.

A spokesman for the Department of Transport confirmed that one platform would be in use by South West Trains by the end of 2008, and the others would be subject to a medium-term plan which he said was hoped to free them up for South West Trains' use.