Two of London’s largest train stations will face temporary closures over the 2026 summer holidays.
Charing Cross and Waterloo East train stations will both be closed for 22 days to carry out improvements, which would have otherwise taken more than a year in weekend closures.
The major engineering work will take place between July 26 and August 16 this year.
South Eastern Railway said it will replace 1,800 metres of life-expired track, which was installed in the 1990s. Other upgrades will include drainage improvements and structural repairs.
Charing Cross
Charing Cross is one of London’s best interchanges, putting the West End on the map and providing links to national rail services across the southeast.
Trains into Charing Cross will be diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street or London Blackfriars. Some services may terminate early at London Bridge.
Luckily, it is only the National Rail station which is expected to close. The Underground station will still operate as usual, so passengers can use Bakerloo and Northern line services to get to Charing Cross.
There are also plenty of train stations located within walking distance of Charing Cross, including Embankment, Leicester Square and Westminster.
The central London station has suffered many faults in recent years. Southeastern sees the 22-day closure as the “least disruption and most efficient way” to prevent future hiccups on the line.
Waterloo East
Southeastern is the only operator that serves Waterloo East, meaning the station will be completely shut over the 22-day period.
Services typically connect to Sevenoaks, Hayes, Dartford and parts of Kent and East Sussex.
However, passengers can take a short walk to access services from the mainline Waterloo station and Jubilee line services from Southwark.
To reach Kent or Sussex, there are trains from London Victoria, London Cannon Street, London Blackfriars, and London Bridge.
Scott Brightwell, director of operations and safety, South Eastern Railway, said: “We know closing Charing Cross and Waterloo East for 22 days is a significant change and we’re sorry for the disruption it will cause. This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly. We’ve looked long and hard at every possible option and although none of them are without impact, a single summer closure is the least disruptive and most efficient way to carry out this vital work.
“This section of track is more than 35 years old and has caused thousands of minutes of delays for customers in recent years. By replacing it now, and combining it with platform, drainage and bridge works, we’re tackling the root causes of disruption in one go. This means fewer closures in the future and a more reliable railway for everyone who depends on these routes.
“We’re working closely with transport partners, local businesses and communities to keep people moving with ticket acceptance on alternative rail routes, London Underground and London buses. We are committed to ensuring customers are informed, supported and cared for throughout the 22-day closure."
