RAIL passengers are being asked to plan ahead for major changes taking place at Waterloo station in August next year.

Network Rail and South West Trains are currently undertaking an £800 million upgrade to the station and the railway - the biggest investment in the London station for 80 years.

The upgrade will provide more seats, longer trains and a bigger, better Waterloo by:

• Bringing the five platforms of the former international terminal back into use,

• extending platforms one to four to accommodate 10-car trains,

• and introducing 10-car trains between Waterloo and Reading.

The work to extend platforms one to four will require platforms one to nine to be closed between August 5 to 28, 2017, inclusive.

As a result, there will be significant temporary changes to train services across the South West Trains network.

Christian Roth, managing director at South West Trains, said: “The Waterloo and South West Upgrade is the biggest investment in this railway for decades and will provide more trains, more seats and more space for tens of thousands of passengers every day.

“We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact on passengers while the work is carried out but there will be some changes to services next summer, particularly between August 5 and 28, 2017.

“We are urging passengers, businesses and communities to start planning ahead now while we carry out this work.”

Passengers in Alton and Farnham have been warned that their services are likely to be busier than usual and journeys may take longer.

As a result, passengers from these stations are advised to consider:

• Travelling earlier or later than normal to avoid the busiest times of the day. Longer trains will be provided for extended periods outside of peak times during the morning and evening to aid this transition.

• Travelling from a different station or via an alternative route.

• Anyone organising next year’s holiday might want to keep these changes in mind.

A timetable and more detailed travel advice will be published in the new year.