Major Engineering Works To Close Charing Cross And Waterloo East For Three Weeks

(c) Network Rail

Rail passengers across Sussex are being urged to plan ahead as two of London's busiest stations close for more than three weeks for major engineering works.

London Charing Cross and Waterloo East will be closed to Southeastern services from Sunday 26 July until Sunday 16 August, as Network Rail carries out a £20 million programme of track and infrastructure upgrades.

During the closure, no Southeastern trains will call at either station. Services will instead be diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street or London Blackfriars, while some trains will terminate at London Bridge.

Timetables across the Southeastern network will also change, with some routes operating fewer services and the first and last trains of the day running at different times.

Network Rail says the work will improve the reliability and safety of services. Engineers will replace 1.8 kilometres of track and 16 sets of points between Charing Cross and Waterloo East, while also rebuilding sections of Charing Cross station platforms that have been affected by subsidence.

Track drainage improvements will also be carried out at Waterloo East, alongside structural repairs to the Victorian-era Hungerford Bridge, which carries the railway across the River Thames.

Network Rail said recent infrastructure faults on the route have caused more than 21,000 minutes of delays to passengers.

Completing the work during one extended closure will avoid around 60 weekends of disruption that would otherwise have been needed.

Southeastern is advising customers to check before travelling, allow extra time for their journeys and make sure they know when their last train home departs.

Passengers will be able to use alternative Tube, rail and selected London bus services during the closure, although those travelling with digital tickets or Smartcards may need to have them validated by Southeastern staff at certain stations or claim refunds where validation isn't possible.

Normal services are expected to resume on Monday 17 August, although further closures at Charing Cross and Waterloo East are planned over the weekends of 22-23 August and 10-11 October.