London’s Charing Cross and Waterloo East railway stations will close for 22 days beginning tomorrow as part of a £20 million upgrade.
The shutdown will run from Sunday, 26 July, to Sunday, 16 August, and will affect all services that normally call at either station.
Additional closures are scheduled for two weekends after the main period: 22–23 August and 10–11 October, with different diversion plans that travellers should confirm in advance.
The closures allow engineers to install roughly 1,800 metres of new track, 16 sets of switches and crossings, and upgrade drainage on the heavily used line that has been in operation for 36 years.
Work will also rebuild deteriorating concrete on the country side of Charing Cross platforms, strengthen the 175‑year‑old Hungerford Bridge, and refurbish the pedestrian link between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
Officials say the upgraded infrastructure will improve reliability and safety, reducing the likelihood of future faults and delays that have become more common since the last major works in the early 1990s.
During the closure, trains will be diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, and London Bridge.
Passengers are advised to check schedules for altered times, cancellations, and possible additional trains on peak routes, and to plan journeys accordingly.
Tickets remain valid on alternative routes, including the Underground, buses, Thameslink services between Elephant and Castle, London Bridge, and St Pancras International, as well as Southern services to and from London Bridge and Victoria, with no extra charge.
Travelers are also encouraged to consider walking or cycling for shorter trips to minimise disruption.
Management highlights that consolidating the work into a single 22‑day closure, supported by preparation and follow‑up weekends, delivers the necessary upgrades more quickly and with less overall disruption than a series of shorter closures would have.
