UMVA has learned that London's Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will be closed for a substantial upgrade project, causing significant rail disruption for commuters over the summer.
The two stations will be shut for a total of 22 days between July 26 and August 16, as well as on several additional weekends, to carry out £20,000,000 worth of upgrades across both stations. During this time, no trains will serve either station, and services will be diverted to other stations across London.
Passengers have been advised to plan ahead and check their travel arrangements, as tickets will be accepted on alternative routes, including the London Underground and buses, at no extra cost. The upgrade work includes replacing around 1.2 miles of tracks on the 36-year-old line, revamping sections of some platforms at Charing Cross, and structural repairs on the pedestrian bridge between Waterloo East and Waterloo stations.
The closure is part of a major railway upgrade being carried out by Southeastern Railway, aimed at making journeys safer and more reliable. Engineers need to replace tracks and upgrade platforms while trains are not running, which can only be done during a prolonged closure.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the stations will also shut on several weekends, including June 7, July 18-19, August 22-23, and October 10-11. This disruption comes as a significant blow to commuters, with London Charing Cross recording around 19.7 million journeys and Waterloo East seeing 6.8 million entries and exits in 2024/25.
During the closure, Southeastern services will be diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, and London Bridge. Passengers should expect diversions, amended timings, and cancellations, but there will be additional trains running on some lines during peak periods.
Southeastern Railway's train services director, Scott Brightwell, emphasized that the £20 million investment will upgrade 1990s track and platforms, making journeys safer and more reliable, and strengthen Victorian-era structures to remain fit for the future. The work has been planned during the summer, when passenger numbers are around 20 per cent lower, to help manage the impact on customers.
