Work has begun to replace Waterloo’s 100-year-old station roof which was last rebuilt just after the First World War in 1922.
Passengers travelling through the country’s busiest station will soon see the glass and support structures overlooking the main concourse replaced with a polycarbonate glazing material which is around 50 per cent lighter, Network Rail said.
Approximately 10,000 new glazed panels will be installed across 12,000 square metres of roof – an area almost twice the size of the pitch at Wembley Stadium.
The lighter panels will reduce stress on the roof future proofing it for decades to come, Network Rail said.
Engineers will also add 480 sustainable wooden seats on the concourse, plus 120 seats on platforms.
The station is already adding a gender-neutral toilet as well as more female facilities to bring them in line with what is available for males, plus extra baby changing areas.
Cem Davis, Network Rail’s London Waterloo station manager, said: “Customers will soon benefit from a lighter and brighter station making journeys more welcoming and pleasant. Work is also underway to improve the retail and food and drink offer, and the toilets are also in the middle of a large-scale refurbishment.
“There will be some changes to the station as we carry out the upgrades and our station team will be on hand to ensure customers’ station experience is as seamless as possible.”
