Two major London stations have been shut for three weeks as part of a £20 million upgrade, with commuters warned to expect disruption.
Work to replace nearly 2km of track, rebuild sections of platform and carry out repairs to the Hungerford and Waterloo East pedestrian links was already underway on Sunday, July 26.
Work to replace nearly 2 km of track is underway
Network Rail
The closures will affect Southeastern services, with trains that normally run into Charing Cross being diverted instead to London Victoria, London Cannon Street and London Blackfriars.
Some services will also terminate at London Bridge.
Passengers are being urged to check their route before travelling, as alternative services will be in place throughout the closure.
Here’s everything we know about the works…
When are the stations closing?
The main closures will last 22 days, from Sunday, July 26, to Sunday, August 16, to coincide with the summer holidays.
But there will also be additional weekend closures before and after for preparation and follow-up work:
- Saturday, July 18
- Sunday, July 19
- Saturday, August 22
- Sunday, August 23
- Saturday, October 10
- Sunday, October 11
Network Rail has warned that travel arrangements on these extra closure dates may be different from the main 22-day closure, so passengers should check before setting off.
Why are Charing Cross and Waterloo East closing?
The stations are closed to allow engineers to carry out a major £20million upgrade of the railway between them.
The work includes replacing around 1,800 metres of track and installing 16 new sets of switches and crossings — the equipment that allows trains to move between different tracks.
The new infrastructure will replace equipment that has been in place since 1990, which Network Rail says will help to improve reliability and keep journeys running smoothly.
At Waterloo East, track drainage will also be upgraded to help maintain track quality and allow trains to continue running safely at full line speed.
Meanwhile, parts of Charing Cross station are being rebuilt, with new foundations and surfaces installed at the country end of the platforms to keep them safe and accessible for passengers.
Structural repairs are also being carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which takes the railway over the Thames, and the pedestrian link bridge between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
The work will keep the structures open for decades ahead, Network Rail says.
What are the likely disruptions?
No trains will call at London Charing Cross or Waterloo East while work is carried out.
Instead, Southeastern services will be diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, and London Bridge.
Southeastern has warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations.
Can I get a refund for pre-booked trains?
Passengers affected by the closures can claim a refund for all ticket types, including journeys made using reasonable alternative routes.
Southeastern has set up a dedicated refund form, which is available on the Southeastern website.
Scott Brightwell, the train services director on the Southeastern Railway, said, “The £20 million investment we are delivering will see 1990s track and platforms upgraded to make journeys safer and more reliable, and Victorian-era structures strengthened to remain fit for the future.
“By consolidating the work into a 22‑day closure, supported by preparation and follow‑up weekends, we can complete the work more quickly and with less disruption overall than the alternative options of 60 weekend closures or four to five 9‑day closures.”
He added: “We have planned the closure for the summer, when passenger numbers are around 20 per cent lower and schools are closed, to help manage the impact on customers.”
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