London Waterloo and Clapham Junction line closures
South Western Railway network upgrades between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction
South Western Railway services have resumed between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction following 11 days of engineering in one of the busiest stretches of railway in the country.
What work took place?
Hear from project manager Charlotte Tyler below.
More than 350 engineers have worked around the clock since Christmas Day to deliver a series of upgrades in the Queenstown area including:
- Renewing approximately 1,000 metres of track, including the electrified third rail
- Replacing switches and crossings, allowing the trains to change tracks
- Completing signalling and power upgrades
- Installing new ballast and sleepers to strengthen track foundations
- Altering platform 2 at Queenstown Road station to fit the new track layout
What was involved?
The work involved using an array of specialist equipment including 22 engineering trains, 12 road rail vehicles, a rail mounted crane and 2 pneumatic tamping machines. The tamping machines compact the ballast stone and sleepers to ensure the stability, alignment and safety of the track.
Why was the work needed?
Doing this work over a quieter period with less passengers travelling means less disruption over many weekends in busier periods.
It will be an all-round better experience for passengers now the track is renewed, with fewer faults and fewer delays resulting in smoother and more reliable journeys.
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