The mothballed Eurostar platforms at Waterloo will now cost £50m to convert to domestic use - up £45m from the original estimate.

Five platforms went out of service last year when channel tunnel services switched to the refurbished St. Pancras station. Travelwatch Chairman Brian Cooke said it would cost just £5m to convert the platforms.

National Rail v Regulator

Last week the Office of Rail Regulation told National Rail that it would get only a portion of the funds requested for its repair works. National asked for £50m for Waterloo, the ORR said it would only get £49m.

The section of Waterloo station has been lying idle for months while stressed passengers file in and out of the overcrowded terminus.

National Rail explained the huge increase on figures on design issues. A spokesman claimed the Eurostar terminal was designed longer trains and low frequency services - yet new national stock is set to have extra carriages to cope with higher railway use.