Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations in London have reopened after £20,000,000 worth of upgrades, but further engineering work is planned. The stations were closed for 22 days, causing disruption for much of the summer, with Southeastern trains diverted across London.
Upgrade details
Engineers installed around 1,800 metres of new tracks and 16 sets of switches and crossings on the 36-year-old Southeastern line. Track drainage at Waterloo East was upgraded to maintain quality and a smooth ride at full line speed. At Charing Cross, the country end of the platforms, whose concrete surfaces were deteriorating, were rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces to keep them safe. Structural repairs were also carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge and the pedestrian link between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
Background and upcoming works
Network Rail said the previous tracks, last replaced in the early 1990s, were increasingly unreliable and could lead to more faults and delays if untreated. Although most work is complete and services have returned to normal, National Rail has confirmed further planned engineering work on two weekends between now and October.
On Sunday, August 23, engineering work will take place between London Charing Cross and London Bridge, and on lines near New Cross. Many Charing Cross routes will be diverted to London Cannon Street. Passengers can use the London Underground between Victoria, Charing Cross, Embankment, Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridge at no extra cost.
On the weekend of October 10 to 11, there will be no trains to and from Charing Cross and Waterloo East due to work between Charing Cross and New Cross. A reduced service will run between London Bridge and Cannon Street, and on Sunday trains will be diverted to and from London Victoria. Replacement buses will operate between Greenwich and Sidcup, Lewisham and Orpington, and Grove Park and Bromley North. Stations including New Cross, St Johns, Hither Green, Mottingham, New Eltham, Grove Park, Elmstead Woods, Chislehurst, Sundridge Park (Sunday) and Bromley North (Sunday) will be closed.
Network Rail has urged everyone to check before travelling.
