London Charing Cross and Waterloo East closed for essential engineering works

From Sunday 26 July to Sunday 16 August 2026, London Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will close for 22 days to allow the South Eastern Railway to complete a £20 million programme of essential engineering work to keep the railway safe and reliable.

What work is taking place?

The closure will allow the railway to deliver £20 million of essential improvements.

• 1,800 metres new track and 16 sets of switches and crossings will be installed between London Charing Cross and Waterloo East, replacing the existing kit that’s been in use for since 1990.
• The country end of the platforms at Charing Cross station will be rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces to keep them safe and open for passengers to use.
• Track drainage will be upgraded at Waterloo East station, helping to maintain track quality and a smooth ride at full line speed for passengers.
• Structural repairs will be carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which takes the railway over the Thames, and the pedestrian link bridge between Waterloo East and London Waterloo. The work will keep the structures safe and open for decades ahead.
• Additional work will be brought into the closure where possible to maximise benefits and avoid future disruption.

How will this work affect me?

London Charing Cross and Waterloo East will close from Sunday 26 July to Sunday 16 August 2026, with supporting weekend closures for preparation and follow-up work.

During the closure no trains will call at London Charing Cross or Waterloo East.

Southeastern services that normally run into Charing Cross will be diverted to:

• London Victoria
• London Cannon Street
• London Blackfriars
• Some services will terminate at London Bridge

You can use your ticket an no extra cost on alternative rail routes, London Underground and London Buses.

Those who are able are encouraged to cycle or walk to complete shorter journeys.

Plan your journey

To plan your train journeys over the closure period, go to Southeastern journey planner.

For journeys on London Underground, London Buses, as well as cycling and walking routes in London we recommend you use TfL’s Plan a Journey page or download the TfL Go app.

Dates for your diary

No trains will call at Charing Cross or Waterloo East stations on the following dates.

• Sunday 31 May
• Sunday 7 June
• Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July
• Sunday 26 July to Sunday 16 August – 22-day closure
• Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August
• Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October.

Please be aware that alternative service plan for preparation and follow-up weekend closures may be different than the main 22-day closure and customers are encouraged to check before travelling.

Why is the work needed?

The main driver for the 22-day closure is the replacement of the track. It was last replaced in the early 1990s and is now increasingly unreliable.

Recent faults have caused over 21,000 minutes (350 hours) of delays to customers. Without intervention, faults and delays would continue to increase, causing more frustration for commuters.

The country end of the platforms at Charing Cross is another critical project. The platforms are subsiding and the concrete surfaces are deteriorating. If we don’t do the work now, we’d have to close the station again in the future.

To make best use of the time the railway is closed we’ve carryout on the Hungerford Bridge, which takes the railway over the Thames, and the pedestrian link bridge between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.

The £20 million investment will deliver a safe, reliable and high-performing railway and improve infrastructure on a critical stretch of track.

Managing impacts from the works

We recognise the importance of minimising impacts on residents, businesses and public spaces on the Southbank and the borough more widely.

Clear, timely and ongoing communication with local stakeholders and the wider community will be at the heart of our delivery approach.

Online and face-to-face drop-in sessions will be held, giving residents and businesses opportunities to speak directly with the project team.

Line by line travel summary

When Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations are closed, trains will be diverted, and timetables will change. Find out what’s changing on your line below.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please visit our contact us page or telephone our 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 quoting Charing Cross Works.

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