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Waterloo Station Upgrade

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ijmad

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London & Continental is, without doubt, government owned and always has been - but I don't know which part of government owns it.

Not so. LCR was originally a private company that won the right to build CTRL. It was privately held from 1994 until 2008 when the government acquired it for a nominal sum because it was essentially bankrupt and the DfT had previously guaranteed its debt through issuance of government bonds.

What part of government owns it isn't really a question, all state owned property is owned ultimately by the Crown, and responsibility over assets can be transferred around with the stroke of a pen. LCR is managed by the DfT and SecState for Transport.

Since nationalisation, CTRL was sold off, and subsequently it has been used as a Quango/Development Company for various rail projects. Waterloo International was owned by BRB Residuary (a DfT state owned company), dissolved in 2013, at which point Waterloo International was transferred to LCR.

LCR also has or had ownership over parts of HS1, Kings Cross redevelopment and Stratford International.
 
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Tio Terry

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Not so. LCR was originally a private company that won the right to build CTRL. It was privately held from 1994 until 2008 when the government acquired it for a nominal sum because it was essentially bankrupt and the DfT had previously guaranteed its debt through issuance of government bonds.

What part of government owns it isn't really a question, all state owned property is owned ultimately by the Crown, and responsibility over assets can be transferred around with the stroke of a pen. LCR is managed by the DfT and SecState for Transport.

Since nationalisation, CTRL was sold off, and subsequently it has been used as a Quango/Development Company for various rail projects. Waterloo International was owned by BRB Residuary (a DfT state owned company), dissolved in 2013, at which point Waterloo International was transferred to LCR.

LCR also has or had ownership over parts of HS1, Kings Cross redevelopment and Stratford International.

I understood that when LCR was created in 1994 Union Railways and European Passenger Services, both British Rail owned company's, formed part of LCR and that that ensured that the government had a stake in it. But I stand to be corrected.

I'm not so sure the Treasury would agree with you about transferring assets around government departments at the stroke of a pen is as simple as you make it sound, they like all their ducks in a row and their books balanced! That's why LCR's 40% stake in Eurostar International Limited (EIL) was transferred to the Treasury in 2014.

But it looks like the DfT owns WIT from what has been said.

As far as I know, LCR is still operational as a Property Development Company specialising in railway properties - but, again, I stand to be corrected.
 

Tio Terry

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Why is the roof a maintenance headache?

It stems from the design. The glass crystallises in sunlight and the panels fall out in to the platform areas. The solution being applied now is the fitting of "Nappies" (Manufacturers description, not mine) to catch anything that falls. But, of course, they then have to be replaced. There is also an issue with loading, if there is over 4 inches of snow (not common in London in fairness) the roof would become overloaded so the platforms could not be used until someone goes up on the roof and removes the snow.
 

paok

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What is scheduled to be opened up to public next week? Platforms 21-22, lift to Underground ticket hall?
 

swt_passenger

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P20/21/22 should be in use according to open data sources, they’ve been showing for a couple of months at least. No idea about the lower levels yet.
 

Goldfish62

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P20/21/22 should be in use according to open data sources, they’ve been showing for a couple of months at least. No idea about the lower levels yet.
I was told by an internal source that P23 and 24 are running late and won't be available until at least February 2019 and as it is it will be a race against time to get P21 and 22 ready for this coming Sunday. P20 is already in daily use (sometimes not at weekends).

It's just as well SWR weren't allowed to introduce their enhanced timetable in December as this relies on P20-24 all being fully open!
 

swt_passenger

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I was told by an internal source that P23 and 24 are running late and won't be available until at least February 2019 and as it is it will be a race against time to get P21 and 22 ready for this coming Sunday. P20 is already in daily use (sometimes not at weekends).

It's just as well SWR weren't allowed to introduce their enhanced timetable in December as this relies on P20-24 all being fully open!
Yes, makes you wonder if Parkinson’s law has been applied. Just like on Crossrail...
 

Goldfish62

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I departed from platform 20 last Thursday and the covers had been opened up to reveal an escalator. I guess these may have been in place since Eurostar days but it does look like they are looking to get them working again.
The escalators were in use during the Waterloo blockade.
 

WWTownEnth

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I took a look at this yesterday from the elevated concourse / shopping area. I can't see how on earth the bridge, stairs and waiting area in front of the new information boards will be ready by Sunday....
 

Goldfish62

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I took a photo yesterday morning. Unfortunately I don't know how to attach it using the mobile site.
 

ijmad

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PIS seems to be fully switched on and displaying information too.
 

swt_passenger

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One of the rarely mentioned jobs was to build a new canopy over more of P19, has anyone seen any progress with that yet?
 

Goldfish62

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Thanks. Perhaps they’re waiting for another closure opportunity ... o_O
Well as far as I can tell from RTT P19 and 20 are out of use from next week so perhaps that's when the work will start. That's of course on the assumption that 21 and 22 do actually open.
 

STEVIEBOY1

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Was it 21 and 22 that were being used when the SER Kent services came there a couple of years ago? Nice photo above by the way.
 

Goldfish62

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Was it 21 and 22 that were being used when the SER Kent services came there a couple of years ago? Nice photo above by the way.
Yes, and also for a couple of months earlier this year when P20 was closed for work.
 

ijmad

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Well as far as I can tell from RTT P19 and 20 are out of use from next week so perhaps that's when the work will start. That's of course on the assumption that 21 and 22 do actually open.

Still, at least that means the timetable likely only needs 20 platforms total from next week. So if they are late, they can presumably delay the work on 19/20 and continue to use them.
 

Goldfish62

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Still, at least that means the timetable likely only needs 20 platforms total from next week. So if they are late, they can presumably delay the work on 19/20 and continue to use them.
Yes, the timetable doesn't need more than 20 platforms when things are running well, but as we know that's often not the case. Additional platforms will bring much needed resilience.
 

moley

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Looking at how the wooden hoardings are on the platform side of the works, looks like the bridge is being got ready. They can finish most of the floor overnight and there only appears to be a few panels of glass barriers missing. I would therefore expect the bridge to open with platforms 21 and 22 but I wouldn't expect to see the orchestra pit or undercroft open.
 

paok

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The view from upstairs this morning:
 

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ijmad

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You mean to say an upgrade was delivered on time?

Please promote the project manager to PRIME MINSTER immediately
 

Goldfish62

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You mean to say an upgrade was delivered on time?

Please promote the project manager to PRIME MINSTER immediately
Not quite. P23 and 24 and the orchestra put aren't open and the lifts and escalators to the undercroft aren't working yet
 

ijmad

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Not quite. P23 and 24 and the orchestra put aren't open and the lifts and escalators to the undercroft aren't working yet

Fair enough. Not entirely clear whether they were ever on the agenda to be delivered today or not though...
 
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