Kent rail passengers who commute to London Charing Cross or Waterloo East will face diversions for 22 days during the summer.
South Eastern Railway will be carrying out a £20 million programme of essential railway upgrades from Sunday, July 26 to Sunday, August 16, plus some weekends either side.
For 22 days, trains to two London stations will be diverted. Picture: Southeastern
During this time, no trains will call at London Charing Cross or Waterloo East. Instead, Southeastern services will be diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street, and London Blackfriars.
Some services will also terminate at London Bridge.
The works include the replacement of nearly two kilometres of 36-year-old tracks, rebuilding parts of the Charing Cross platform and upgrading track drainage systems.
There will also be structural repairs to both the Waterloo East to London Waterloo pedestrian link bridge and the Hungerford Bridge which takes the railway over the Thames to Charing Cross.
During this period, customers can use their tickets on alternative rail routes, including London Underground and London buses at no extra cost.
Scott Brightwell, train services director at South Eastern Railway, said: “The £20 million investment we are delivering will see 1990s track and platforms upgraded to make journeys safer and more reliable, and Victorian era structures strengthened to remain fit for the future.
Aerial shot of Charing Cross station. Picture: Network Rail
“By consolidating the work into a 22-day closure, supported by preparation and follow‑up weekends, we can complete the work more quickly and with less disruption overall than the alternative options of 60 weekend closures or four to five nine-day closures.
“We have planned the closure for the summer, when passenger numbers are around 20% lower and schools are closed, to help manage the impact on customers.
“We’re asking passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel”.
Full closure list
No trains will call at Charing Cross or Waterloo East stations on the following dates.
· Sunday, May 31
· Sunday, June 7
· Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19
· Sunday, July 26 to Sunday, August 16 – 22-day closure
· Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23
· Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11
Customers should be aware that the alternative service plan for preparation and follow-up weekend closures may be different from the main 22-day closure and passengers should check before travelling.
Maidstone East Line
Trains that normally run to and from Charing Cross will operate to and from London Victoria instead, calling additionally at Bromley South. Other Victoria trains on the route will continue to run but at different times.
Paddock Wood & Hastings Lines
Trains between Charing Cross and Ramsgate, Dover, Tunbridge Wells and Hastings will start and terminate at London Bridge.
Some Tunbridge Wells trains will operate to and from Victoria, with additional hourly trains running between peak periods.
Peak‑only additional trains to Charing Cross will not operate.
Bexleyheath Line
Trains will continue to run between Cannon Street and Barnehurst, and between Victoria and Gravesend, with some changes to timings. Additional Cannon Street trains will run in the morning peak.
Sidcup Line
Trains between Gravesend and central London that normally skip Lewisham will start and terminate at London Bridge and will run via Lewisham instead.
Cannon Street circular trains will continue with amended times, with additional Cannon Street to Dartford trains operating when circular trains are not running.
Medway Valley & Sheerness Line
All trains on the Medway Valley and Sheerness branch lines will operate as normal.
Highspeed via Ashford & Gravesend
All high-speed trains will operate as normal.