NETWORK Rail is urging passengers to consider travelling at different times of day or to consider working from home during a major upgrade at London Waterloo station in August.

From August 5 to 28, platforms one to 10 will close while engineers extend platforms at the UK’s busiest railway station.

This will enable longer trains to run, providing more space and more comfortable journeys for passengers, but passengers are being warned to expect disruption to their journeys.

Becky Lumlock, Network Rail route managing director, said: “This £800m Waterloo and South West Upgrade is the largest investment for decades and will increase peak time capacity into Waterloo by 30 per cent.

“That’s room for an extra 45,000 people each morning and afternoon – equivalent to more than the capacity of the O2 arena and Oval Cricket ground combined. It will mean longer trains, more seats, more comfortable journeys for passengers and less traffic on Britain’s congested roads.

“Doing major improvement work is always very disruptive. We know we couldn’t completely close Waterloo - a station which has more passengers than Heathrow airport - to complete the work.

“But we do need to close platforms one to 10 for most of August – that’s half the station. There will be a much-reduced timetable and there will be changes to services throughout the day."

While Network Rail and South West Trains have worked hard to provide as many services for passengers as possible, stations will be busier than normal and passengers may have to wait longer for their trains as fewer services are able to run.

Passengers can find detailed information on how their journeys are impacted at networkrail.co.uk/wswupgrade, or by searching Waterloo Upgrade.