DORSET rail passengers are being warned to plan ahead as major improvement works are carried out at a London terminus.

An £800 million upgrade at Waterloo station will see nine of the platforms closed for most of August next year.

As a result there will be 'significant changes' to train services across the South West Trains network, including the Weymouth-Waterloo line.

Certain stations will have to close in the London area while fewer trains will call at certain stations in London and Winchester.

Stations between Weymouth and Southampton are listed as 'stations with impacted services'. It is warned that trains at peak times are likely to be busier than usual and journeys may take longer.

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

Network Rail and South West Trains have launched a campaign asking passengers to plan ahead.

The Waterloo & South West 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 1-4 to accommodate 10-car trains
  • Introducing 10-car trains between Waterloo and Reading

The work to extend platforms 1-4 will require platforms 1-9 to be closed between August 5-28.

Stuart Kistruck, route managing director at Network Rail said, “Work to deliver our Railway Upgrade Plan at Waterloo is progressing at a fantastic rate and this will continue behind the scenes, but from August 5 – 28 next year we will temporarily shift all of our services along the station so that we can lengthen platforms 1-4.

“During this period we will be closing platforms 1-9, so services will use the other existing platforms as well as platforms 20-24, which will re-open during August’s changes.

"As there will be major impacts on services, we want everyone to have plenty of time to plan ahead while we invest for better journeys down the line.”

Network Rail and South West Trains are handing out information leaflets and travel card holders to passengers with details of the changes, so that they can plan ahead for the changes.