Edward Davey

Liberal Democrats | Kingston and Surbiton

MP Battles On To Save Waterloo For Local Commuters

Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, moved the battle for Waterloo up a gear when he tabled a Parliamentary motion demanding that the interests of local commuters be served in any future decisions over Waterloo International.

Edward Davey joined forces once again with fellow local Liberal Democrat, Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, when tabling the motion. The MPs argue that train services under the south west franchise should take priority over Kent and south east trains, and have the right to use the soon-to-be-vacated Eurostar platforms at Waterloo. Edward Davey, himself a regular commuter from Surbiton, said:

“I tabled this motion to draw attention to what is an historic opportunity for local commuters.

“South West London has missed out on transport projects again and again. Now is the time to redress that balance.

“If we win this Battle for Waterloo and secure use of these platforms for South West Train services, then there will be less congestion outside Waterloo, improved punctuality and more trains. 

“I want to make it clear that there is only one fair and sensible option for the Eurostar platforms and that is to make them available to South West Trains.”

Notes to editors

The EDM reads: That this House welcomes the announcement of the Secretary of State for Transport that vacant Eurostar platforms will be used to improve train services rather than provide space for more shops and offices; acknowledges that South East Trains will already benefit from the Channel Tunnel rail link and the forthcoming Thameslink 2000 projects; urges that train services in the new South West Trains franchise should be the benefactor of the vacant platforms once Eurostar moves to St Pancras; acknowledges that south west London has missed out on major transport infrastructure investment for far too long; notes that these changes would mean less congestion outside Waterloo station, which is among the most overcrowded in the country with 250,000 people a day using its commuter services.