Leading transport infrastructure provider Octavius have started works to revitalise the iconic roof at Waterloo Station, the UK’s busiest train station. Glazing will be renewed on both the main Concourse and Porte Cochere (the covered passageway over the entrance of the station) roofs as part of Network Rail’s wider programme of enhancement works in the station.
The roof covering the station concourse and Porte Cochere has deteriorated over time. The project will make a huge difference for passengers, providing a more modern station with improved security and removing the inconvenience and expense of leak management. As part of the project, enhancements will also be made to the link canopy, inspection walkways will be replaced and re-wiring and relighting both roofs.
To minimise disruption to the millions of passengers who pass through the station every year; Octavius have designed a temporary external roof structure that will sit over the current station roof to manage flows into the rainwater catchment system whilst the existing glass panels are removed and replaced. The works will be completed in phases, the scaffolding deck will be moved across the concourse as the team progresses and eight temporary staircases will be installed across the station.
10,000 individual new polycarbonate glazing panes will replace the existing Georgian glass across a total area of 11150 m2, 50% lighter than the original glass, the new panes will reduce pressure on the structure and allow it to remain stable and secure for many years.
Work is expected to continue until summer 2025.
Andrew Hodson, Package Manager at Octavius, said:
“After planning this project for several months we’re delighted to be finally on site at this historic station and have the project underway. We’re trying to minimise disruption to passengers as far as possible and make sure we keep everyone safe while we carry out these vital works so, we’ve carefully designed a temporary roof structure and our team will be working overnight whilst the station is closed to prevent putting passengers at risk.
I would like to thank passengers for their patience whilst we carry out these works.”
To find out more about the project, contact Mike Todd (mike.todd@octavius.co.uk).
