Report by Ray Duff: It’s reported that during the period from Sunday, 26 July to Sunday, 16 August 2026, London Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will close for 22 days to accommodate a £20 million essential engineering programme by South Eastern Railway.
This critical work addresses unreliable, 1990s-era track that has recently caused over 350 hours of delays. The investment covers the installation of 1,800 metres of new track and 16 sets of switches and crossings, rebuilding the subsiding platform ends at Charing Cross, upgrading track drainage at Waterloo East, and conducting structural repairs on Hungerford Bridge and the Waterloo East pedestrian link.
During the major 22-day closure, no trains will serve Charing Cross or Waterloo East. Southeastern services will be diverted to London Victoria, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, or terminate at London Bridge. Specifically, on the Hayes Line, trains will start and terminate at London Bridge or Blackfriars, with some skipping or diverting via Lewisham and running fast to Elephant & Castle.
Supporting weekend closures will also take place on 31 May, 7 June, 18–19 July, 22–23 August, and 10–11 October, with service plans potentially varying from the main closure.
Passengers can use their tickets at no extra cost on alternative rail routes, the London Underground, and London Buses, while short-journey commuters are encouraged to walk or cycle. To manage local impacts, the project team will host online and face-to-face drop-in sessions for residents and businesses. Travellers should verify their routes in advance using the Southeastern journey planner or TfL’s digital tools, and can direct inquiries to the 24-Hour National Helpline at 03457 11 41 41 quoting “Charing Cross Works.”