London Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will close from Sunday, July 26 until Sunday, August 16, 2026, for a £20 million railway upgrade project.
Details of the Upgrade Work
The 22-day closure will enable engineers to replace approximately 1,800 metres of track and install 16 new sets of switches and crossings, essential for train routing flexibility.
At Waterloo East, the project includes an upgrade to the track drainage system to maintain track quality and support safe operation at full line speed.
Parts of Charing Cross station will undergo reconstruction, with new foundations and platform surfaces installed at the country end to ensure safety and
accessibility.
Structural repairs will be carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which spans the Thames, and on the pedestrian link bridge connecting Waterloo East and London Waterloo station. These works aim to preserve the longevity of Victorian-era infrastructure.
Service Diversions and Passenger Refunds
No Southeastern train services will serve London Charing Cross or Waterloo East during the closure period.
Trains normally terminating at Charing Cross will be diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street, London Blackfriars, and London Bridge stations.
Passengers should check available alternative routes before travelling, as train schedules and stations served will differ while the closures are in place.
Southeastern Railway
will provide refunds to all passengers affected, including those who travel via reasonable alternative routes. A dedicated refund form will be accessible on the Southeastern website starting July 26, 2026.
Timing and Operational Impact
The closure has been scheduled to coincide with the summer holiday period when passenger volumes are about 20% lower, and schools are not in session.
Scott Brightwell, train services director at Southeastern Railway, explained that condensing the work into a 22-day main closure supplemented by preparation and follow-up weekends minimizes overall disruption compared to alternatives such as 60 weekend closures or multiple shorter closures.
Additional weekend closures before and after
the main 22-day period will support setup and completion, with differing travel arrangements. Passengers are advised to verify conditions on those dates.
Expected Benefits of the Project
The investment will replace infrastructure and equipment installed in 1990, improving safety and reliability for Southeastern passenger journeys.
The project also strengthens key Victorian-era structures to ensure these remain safe and operational for decades ahead.
Scott Brightwell stated, “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.”
Network Rail emphasized that the new infrastructure will support
smoother operations on the network after the works are complete.
