There are few things more devastating than getting to the train station in a rush, five minutes behind schedule, and realising its shutters are down. Well, we’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen by keeping you up to speed with the rail closures planned at Charing Cross and Waterloo East over the summer.
The two central London travel hubs will be hit by massive closures over July and August. Network Rail has revealed plans for major engineering works, including a 22-day shutdown as well as a couple of additional weekends. The closures will impact all routes and services to and from the stations.
South Eastern Railway will use the time to complete a £20 million programme of track, platform and structures upgrades. Structural repairs are required for the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which supports trains travelling over the Thames and acts as the pedestrian link between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
Here’s everything you need to know to avoid transport disruption.
When will the London Charing Cross and Waterloo East closures take place?
Disruption-wise, the big 22-day closure will be taking place from Saturday July 26 to Sunday August 16.
The stations will also be shuttered on Saturday August 22 and Sunday August 23 due to maintenance works, and again on Saturday October 10 and Sunday October 11. Travel arrangements on these extra closure dates may differ from the main 22-day closure. Network Rail has advised passengers to check before setting off on those dates.
Which lines will be impacted?
Southeastern services that normally run into Charing Cross will be diverted to:
- London Victoria
- London Cannon Street
- London Blackfriars
Some services will also terminate at London Bridge.
Will Charing Cross Underground station be closed?
Charing Cross tube services will run as normal, meaning you can still travel on the Bakerloo and Northern line tubes.
How to avoid travel disruption at Charing Cross in July and August 2026
The best way to get around the closures will be to avoid using the station entirely on the above dates. Rail tickets will be valid on the Jubilee line between London Bridge and Waterloo, and the Circle and District line between Victoria, Blackfriars or Cannon Street and Embankment.
Ticket holders will also be able to hop on Thameslink trains between Elephant and Castle, London Bridge and St Pancras International, and Southern services to and from London Bridge and Victoria.
It’s important to note, though, that while paper tickets will be accepted by TfL at the ticket gates, eTickets, sTickets and Smartcards will not be recognised. Additional staff will be posted at stations to manually check and validate tickets.
You’ll also be able to use paper tickets to travel on the bus during the disruptions, meaning you’ll be able to travel on:
- Route 24 between Victoria and Charing Cross via Westminster
- Route 26 between Victoria and City Thameslink
- Route 139 between Waterloo and Charing Cross
- Route 148 between Elephant & Castle and Victoria via Westminster
- Route 188 between London Bridge, Elephant & Castle and Waterloo
- Route 453 between Elephant & Castle and Charing Cross via Westminster.
If you don’t have a paper ticket and are using Contactless or Oyster, you’ll be charged for the journey, but can claim a refund online here.
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