Essential improvement work: no trains at London Charing Cross or London Waterloo East from Sunday 26 July to Sunday 16 August 

Route(s) affected

All routes to / from London Charing Cross

Description

Major engineering work is taking place which sees the closure of London Waterloo East and London Charing Cross stations for 22 days. Background information on the work taking place can be found below.

No trains at London Charing Cross or London Waterloo East.

During the closure, trains will be diverted to other London terminals. The impact on each route is detailed below, although there may be some further changes at weekends during the closure, so check the specific date of your journey if travelling over a weekend;


Mainline – longer distance services

Hastings Line: Trains to and from Hastings will run between London Bridge and Hastings, with some peak hour trains running to and from London Cannon Street. Trains that usually start or end their journey at Tunbridge Wells will be diverted to run to and from London Victoria, calling additionally at Bromley South.

Paddock Wood Line: Trains will run between London Bridge and Dover Priory / Ramsgate via Ashford International, with some peak hour trains running to and from London Cannon Street.

Maidstone East Line: Trains will run between London Victoria and Maidstone East, there will be no trains from London Bridge via this route.

Metro routes:

Bexleyheath Line: Trains on this route will run normally except for those trains which normally run to and from London Charing Cross, which will not run.

Grove Park Line: Trains will run between London Bridge / London Cannon Street and Orpington / Sevenoaks

Sidcup Line: Trains that usually start or end their journey at Gravesend, will run from and to London Bridge
Trains to and from Dartford will be diverted to London Cannon Street.

Hayes Line: Trains to and from Hayes via Lewisham will run to and from London Bridge. Other trains will be diverted to and from London Blackfriars.

Bromley South Line: To accommodate additional trains at London Victoria station, trains between London Victoria and Orpington will be reduced to a half-hourly service.

Alternative travel options:

• You can use London Underground between Victoria, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Embankment, Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridge at no extra cost

Background information:

London Charing Cross and London Waterloo East stations will close for 22 days to allow Network Rail to carry out a major £20 million programme of essential improvement work. The work being carried out will include:

• 1,800 metres of new track and 16 sets of switches and crossings will be installed between London Charing Cross and London Waterloo East

• The country end of the platforms at London Charing Cross station will be rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces

• Track drainage will be upgraded at London Waterloo East station

• Structural repairs will be carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which takes the railway over the River Thames, and the pedestrian link bridge between London Waterloo East and London Waterloo stations

More information on the substantial work taking place can be found on the Network Rail website.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

You can plan your journey on London Underground by using the Transport for London Journey Planner

Replacement bus travel advice:

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.

You can find the pick-up and set-down location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.