London Waterloo East and Charing Cross stations are set to close within weeks for a major £20 million upgrade, threatening travel disruption for a large part of the summer. The 22-day closure, from Sunday, July 26 to Sunday, August 16, will see trains diverted to other stations across London.
Closure Dates and Impact
The main closure period is scheduled during the summer holidays to minimise disruption, but additional weekend closures will occur on July 18-19, August 22-23, and October 10-11. Network Rail warns that alternative service plans for these weekends may differ from the main closure, urging passengers to check before travelling.
Why the Stations Are Closing
The closures are part of a £20 million railway upgrade by Southeastern Railway. Engineers will install approximately 1.2 miles of new tracks and 16 sets of switches and crossings on the 36-year-old line, which were last replaced in the early 1990s. Network Rail says the current tracks are 'increasingly unreliable' and would lead to more faults and delays if untreated. At Charing Cross, deteriorating concrete platform ends will be rebuilt with new foundations, while track drainage at Waterloo East will be upgraded. Structural repairs will also be carried out on the Hungerford Bridge, which carries trains over the Thames, and the pedestrian link between Waterloo East and London Waterloo stations.
Passenger Numbers and Diversions
In 2024/25, London Charing Cross recorded 19.7 million journeys, up from 17.7 million the previous year, while Waterloo East saw 6.8 million entries and exits. During the closure, no trains will call at these stations. Southeastern services will be diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, and London Bridge. Passengers can use tickets on alternative routes, including the London Underground and buses, at no extra cost. Network Rail encourages cycling or walking for shorter journeys.
Scott Brightwell, train services director at 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.'
