Get you up to speed: Major London station to close within weeks for major £20,000,000 upgrade | News UK
London train stations Waterloo East and Charing Cross will be closed for major upgrade works from July 26 to August 16, 2026, as part of a £20 million investment by Southeastern Railway. During this three-week closure, no trains will serve either station, with services diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, and London Bridge.
London Waterloo East and Charing Cross will undergo major upgrades from Sunday, July 26 to Sunday, August 16, with additional weekend closures on July 18, 19, August 22, 23, and October 10, 11. The £20 million project aims to replace tracks and strengthen structures, ultimately ensuring safer and more reliable travel for millions of passengers annually.
Network Rail has announced that London Waterloo East and Charing Cross stations will undergo major upgrades from July 26 to August 16, causing significant travel disruption for passengers. Scott Brightwell from Southeastern Railway stated, “By consolidating the work into a 22-day closure… we can complete the work more quickly and with less disruption overall.”
What remains unclear — It is not specified how services will be adjusted during the alternative closures surrounding the main 22-day closure.
Waterloo East and Charing Cross stations to close for £20 million upgrades
London train stations Waterloo East and Charing Cross are set to close within weeks for major upgrade works, threatening to cause travel disruption for a large part of the summer.
The £20,000,000 worth of upgrades will be carried out at both stations, which includes work on railway tracks, forcing the stations to close for a total of 22 days.
During the three-week closure, trains will not serve either station, and services will be diverted to other stations across London.
Want to find out when the stations will be closed and how they’ll affect your travel plans? Keep on reading!
When are the stations closed?
The two stations will face a main closure over the summer holidays, which was planned in an effort to minimise disruption.
The main closure period for both London Waterloo East and Charing Cross will be between Sunday, July 26 and Sunday, August 16.
However, the stations will also shut on several weekends on either side of the 22-day closure, including:
- Saturday, July 18
- Sunday, July 19
- Saturday, August 22
- Sunday, August 23
- Saturday, October 10
- Sunday, October 11
Network Rail has warned that the alternative service plans for the station closures on the above weekends may be different from the main 22-day closure, and it has urged everyone to check before travelling.
Why are the stations closing?
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The station closures are part of a £20million railway upgrade being carried out by Southeastern Railway.
As part of the upgrade, engineers will install around 1.2 miles of new tracks as well as 16 sets of switches and crossings on the heavily used 36-year-old line, which can only be done when trains are not running.
According to Network Rail, the current tracks, which were last replaced in the early 1990s, are ‘increasingly unreliable’ and if untreated, would result in more faults and delays for commuters.
The country end of the platforms at Charing Cross, whose concrete surfaces are deteriorating, will be rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces to ‘keep them safe’ and open for passengers. Meanwhile, track drainage will be upgraded at Waterloo East.
Network Rail has also confirmed that structural repairs will be carried out on the Hungerford Bridge, which takes trains over the Thames. Work will also be carried out on the pedestrian link between Waterloo East and London Waterloo stations.
How busy are Charing Cross and Waterloo East?
London Charing Cross recorded around 19.7 million journeys through its barriers in 2024/25, up from 17.7 million passengers the previous year.
The much smaller Waterloo East saw 6.8 million entries and exits in 2024/25.
They both pale in comparison to the UK’s busiest station, London Liverpool Street, which had 98 million journeys, followed by Waterloo with 70.4 million according to the latest figures.
Where are trains diverted to?
As a result of the station closures, no trains will call at London Charing Cross or Waterloo East.
Instead, Southeastern services will be diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, and London Bridge.
Southeastern has warned passengers to expect diversions, amended timings, and cancellations, but there will be additional trains running on some lines during peak periods.
Passengers can use their tickets on alternative routes, including the London Underground and buses, at no extra cost.
Network Rail has also encouraged those who are able to cycle or walk to complete shorter journeys to do so.
Scott Brightwell, the train services director on the 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.’