PETERSFIELD and East Hampshire commuters are being advised to plan ahead as major works will be taking place at London’s Waterloo station next summer.

The work is part of an £800 million upgrade, that will see five platforms of the former international terminal returned to use, and platforms one to four extended to take 10-carriage trains.

But the work to extend platforms one to four will require platforms one to nine to be closed during August next year, says Network Rail.

Network Rail route managing director Stuart Kistruck said: “Work to deliver the upgrade at Waterloo is progressing at a fantastic rate and this will continue behind the scenes.

“But from August 5 to August 28 services will be temporarily moved along the station so that we can lengthen platforms.

“We will be closing platforms one to nine, so services will use the other platforms as well as platforms 20 to 24, which will re-open during August.

“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.”

While the work is being done, it is likely there will be “significant” delays, cancellations, and timetable changes, says train operator South West Trains (SWT).

Bur once the work is finished, passengers will benefit from longer trains, and an improved service added SWT, who operate the trains between Portsmouth, through Petersfield and on to Waterloo.

SWT managing director Christian Roth said: “The upgrade is the biggest investment in this railway for decades and will provide more trains, more seats and more space for tens of thousands of passengers.

“We are doing everything we can to minimise the impact, but there will be some changes to services in 2017, especially in August.

“We are urging passengers, businesses and communities to start planning now in readiness for this work.”

An indication of the impact at each affected station can be found at networkrail.co.uk/wswupgrade and www.southwesttrains.co.uk/wswupgrade

A timetable and more detailed travel advice will be published in the New Year.