The stations’ decades-old tracks and platforms will be given a revamp.
The closures will take place between Sunday, July 26, and Sunday, August 16, as well as on Sunday, May 31, and Sunday, June 7.
There will also be a full weekend closure from Saturday, August 22, to Sunday, August 23, – and again from Saturday, October 10, to Sunday, October 11.
The closures will allow a £20million revamp project to go aheadCredit: AlamyRepairs will be made to the Hungerford BridgeCredit: Alamy
On these dates, no trains will stop at Charing Cross or Waterloo East, although the Southeastern services will continue throughout the closures.
Trains that usually terminate at Charing Cross will be diverted to London Victoria, London Blackfriars, London Cannon Street or London Bridge. Tickets will be accepted on these alternative routes.
Meanwhile the London Underground service from Charing Cross will run as normal.
The closures will allow a £20million engineering project to be completed, with almost two kilometres of 36-year-old track set to be replaced.
Sections of Charing Cross’s platforms will undergo repairs along with updates to the drainage systems on the tracks.
Structural repairs to the Waterloo East to London Waterloo pedestrian link bridge and the Hungerford Bridge are also required.
Scott Brightwell, train services director at Southeastern 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.
“By consolidating the work into 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 9-day closures.”
Urging passengers to “plan ahead and check before they travel”, he added: “We have planned the closure for the summer, when passenger numbers are around 20 per cent lower and schools are closed, to help manage the impact on customers.”
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has shown an ability to make a lot of noise at the government agency known in recent years to be a little sleepy.
But his April 28 announcement that the Walt Disney Co.’s eight ABC TV stations will undergo an early review of their broadcast licenses is his loudest action yet taken on behalf of President Trump, who repeatedly threatened media outlets that he believes are critical of him.
Carr is calling for the review two years before any of the station licenses are up, citing the agency’s inquiry into Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies and whether they violated federal anti-discrimination rules.
The timing of Carr’s move is raising eyebrows as it comes after First Lady Melania Trump’s call for the firing of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over his April 23 comedy bit on the White House correspondents’ dinner. A tuxedo-clad Kimmel called Melania Trump “beautiful,” saying she had “the glow of an expectant widow.”
The first lady’s remarks came after a man armed with a shotgun, handgun and several knives breached security at the Washington black-tie event on April 25. The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, was arrested and faces three criminal charges, including attempting to assassinate the president.
Kimmel’s gag became ammunition for right-wing commentators, who claim the left is stoking political violence.
The host said the joke was about the age difference between the 79-year-old president and his wife. Kimmel denied it was a call for violence and has continued to mock the president on his show.
Carr insisted at a Washington news conference last week that his demand for a review is not related to Kimmel’s remarks.
Although many are skeptical, Carr, who was at the April 25 dinner, told The Times there would be an action related to ABC coming soon. The conversation occurred hours before the shots were fired.
The investigation into Disney’s practices began in March 2025, part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reverse DEI initiatives across private companies, federal agencies, universities and other organizations.
After the 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which spurred the Black Lives Matter movement, companies such as Disney and NBC-owned Comcast aggressively promoted their diversity efforts.
But experts believe Carr is acting on ABC at the behest of Trump, as the chairman has often expressed support on social media whenever the president criticizes one of the broadcast TV news outlets.
“It might be the case that Disney can get some early relief by saying this should be dismissed because this is really a 1st Amendment issue,” said James Speta, a professor at the Northwestern University School of Law. “We all know what’s going on here — the administration doesn’t like the speech that’s coming out of the talent on the broadcasting airwaves.”
Disney is not commenting on Carr’s DEI investigation, but it earlier defended the record of its TV stations, which are ratings leaders in most markets. “We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels,” the company said.
Here’s a primer on what to know and the challenges Disney may face.
Why are TV stations licensed by the government?
Government licensing regulates the spectrum allocated to broadcast channels, largely to prevent interference between TV signals. When renewals come up, the license holder must demonstrate that the station is serving the public interest by providing local news, program diversity and educational and informational shows for children. The procedure once occurred every three years, but deregulation efforts have extended that period to the current span of eight years.
When was the last time a TV station faced a significant license renewal challenge?
The most notable recent example was Fox Corp.’s Philadelphia station WTXF, which was up for a license renewal in October 2023. Activist groups filing the challenge said Fox was unfit to own the outlet after a judge ruled earlier that year that the company’s Fox News Channel had spread falsehoods about voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Fox News, which operates on cable and satellite and is therefore not subject to FCC control, has a different management team than the parent company’s local TV stations, which mostly cover their communities and do not typically present political commentary. The FCC rejected the renewal challenge in January 2025, noting that none of the false information on Fox News was heard on the Philadelphia station. WTXF was not cited in Dominion’s lawsuit.
Are there any other examples?
Yes. Other White House administrations have threatened to pull TV station licenses in response to negative news coverage. At the height of the Watergate scandal in the 1970s, Richard Nixon’s allies unsuccessfully attempted to challenge the TV licenses of three stations then owned by the Washington Post.
Has a company ever lost its broadcast license?
RKO General, a unit of the General Tire and Rubber Co., was the last company to lose broadcast TV station licenses in 1987, including Los Angeles outlet KHJ. The case was related to corporate malfeasance and not broadcast content on the stations.
The process to revoke the RKO licenses took seven years from the moment the FCC voted in favor of the move.
But isn’t this case different?
Yes. Although the rule Carr mentioned is legitimate, the FCC has rarely if ever acted on it, according to one veteran TV executive who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. If Disney or any other company was found to violate the nondiscrimination rule, they would in previous eras probably be subjected to a just a fine, not the denial of a license, which would be viewed by many as government censorship.
What happens in the event that ABC licenses are not renewed?
Nothing immediately, as the licenses are in effect through 2028 to 2032, depending on the outlet. If Disney had to sell the stations, the price would probably be depressed due to pressure to unload the properties.
But public communications attorney Andrew Jay Schwartzman told The Times last month that the bar for denying a renewal is high and any effort would be tied up in court on constitutional grounds.
“The law intentionally sets out a very steep burden for the FCC to deny a license renewal; the process takes many years, during which time the licensee continues to operate normally under ‘continuing operating authority,’” Schwartzman said.
THE UK is home to over 2,500 train stations and there is nothing better than your journey leading you to one that is super pretty and has special experiences.
From free cocktails to unique-looking Greggs stores, there are many UK train stations that offer more than just commuting options. Here are our top 10 train stations across the UK:
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Glasgow Central Train Station features shops all with the same colour signageCredit: AlamyThere’s even a pretty GreggsCredit: The Sun
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Glasgow, Scotland
I’ve never seen a train station in the UK as pretty as Glasgow Central in Scotland and if it wasn’t for a day trip outside of the city, I would have completely missed this gem.
Sadly, part of the station recently burnt down but it is still pretty inside with several shops all with the same signage and colour palette, making them look more like museum exhibits than shops.
There’s even a Greggs that stands on its own, with a rounded brown front and cream signage, ditching the usually bright blue and yellow.
Norwich railway station looks more like a grand French palace than the modern commuter’s railway station.
It opened back in 1844, and despite its renovations since, this historic station still retains its charm today.
This grand, Grade II-listed building was designed in French Renaissance style, with striking red bricks, stone trimmings, and a large ornate dome and traditional clock face. Inside you’ll find a tall, ballroom-like ceiling.
The grand entrance served as a carriage porch, designed to keep Victorian passengers dry as they hopped from their horse-drawn carriages.
Norwich railway station looks more like a grand French palace than the modern commuter’s railway station, according to Travel Reporter Jenna StevensCredit: Alamy
This station serves the Great Eastern Main Line in the East of England, as well as secondary lines to seaside towns such as Sheringham and Great Yarmouth.
Once you step outside, the calm canal of this cathedral city is just a stone’s throw away – as are its popular waterside pubs.
– Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
Bristol Temple Meads
Bristol Temple Meads, which opened in 1840, was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
The Grade I listed building has a mock-Tudor design using local stone.
On the concourse you’ll see tall stone and brick arches and then in the main train station there’s a vaulted glass ceiling.
Bristol Temple Meads, which opened in 1840, was designed by Isambard Kingdom BrunelCredit: Alamy
The station has a number of shops too including an M&S, Starbucks and even a florist.
St Pancras, London
London St Pancras first opened in 1868 and later became an international rail hub in 2007, with trains to Europe.
It has a red exterior and then inside, glass features throughout the station and platforms.
Inside, you can also visit The Booking Office 1869 Bar and Restaurant, which features a long bar.
Visit at 5:05pm and you can get a free cocktail and history lesson…
And of course there’s Searcy’s, a cool champagne bar with yes, a champagne button, found in the train carriage-like booths and Europe’s longest champagne bar, stretching 98 metres.
Inside St Pancras there is a bar where if you visit at 5:05pm, you can get a free cocktail and history lessonCredit: Alamy
There’s often live music in the station as well, thanks to pianos scattered around for the public to play.
York Railway Station opened in 1877 and is a great example of Victorian architecture and rich history.
When inside, visitors will be able to see the ‘Great Curve’, which is 244-metre curved platform that was designed to curve around the city walls.
Make sure to look up too, as the ceiling is glass with huge iron arches and is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Keep an eye out for other original details across the station as well, such as the Yorkshire rose and the restored two-faced clock on the main concourse.
Wemyss Bay, Scotland
You could happily take a trip to Wemyss Bay Railway Station in Inverclyde, even if you had no train to catch.
Wemyss Train Station in Scotland boasts an Edwardian curved-glass ceiling, which makes this railway station feel more like a beautiful botanical gardenCredit: Alamy
This award-winning station was one of only ten to earn five stars in Simon Jenkins’ Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations, and it’s often considered one of the UK’s most beautiful.
This Category A-listed station has a giant Edwardian curved-glass ceiling, which makes this railway station feel more like a beautiful botanical garden – especially since the station is also decorated with flowers and plants.
The magnificent iron and glass structure curves around the entire station, giving you plenty of space to wander around and admire.
For some more sightseeing, this station also contains the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry terminal, which connects onward to the Isle of Bute.
Redesigned around 10 years ago, Birmingham New Street boasts a reflective stainless-steel facadeCredit: AlamyInside it looks more like a spaceshipCredit: Alamy
Birmingham New Street
Birmingham New Street is less historic than the other destinations on this list and more futuristic.
Redesigned around 10 years ago, the train station boasts a reflective stainless-steel facade and then as you head inside, you’ll see a giant, light-filled atrium that feels more like a spaceship.
Look out for ‘The Eye’, which is a 30 metre-wide screen in the station that is often used as a meeting point.
In the centre of the station look out for Ozzy the Bull, whose eyes light up and head even moves.
Edinburgh Waverley Station sits between the two sides of the cityCredit: Alamy
Edinburgh Waverley, Scotland
In the Scottish capital, you’ll find the second largest train station in Britain – Edinburgh Waverley – and it sits lower than the two sides of Edinburgh towering above it, with the Old Town on one side and New Town on the other.
The pretty Category A listed station was named after Sir Walter Scott’s novels and has a 13 acre (yes, really) glass roof.
You aren’t short of shops either with an M&S, Cafe Nero and WHSmith, or if you fancy a tipple, there is even a Brew Dog pub and The Booking Office Wetherspoons.
Even the film industry thinks it is special, with scenes shot on Platform 2 for Marvel‘s Avengers: Infinity War.
– Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
Cardiff Central train station is the largest and busiest rail hub in WalesCredit: Alamy
Cardiff Central, Wales
Cardiff Central train station is the largest and busiest rail hub in Wales.
Built back in 1850, it features eight platforms and an Art Deco style inside that emerged slightly later, between 1931 and 1934.
The Booking Hall is the main highlight, with a vaulted ceiling and Art Deco lamps.
Keep an eye out for original interwar design features as well, such as wall tiles with hands on pointing to different platforms.
London Bridge Station has a number of designer shops under the arches like Reiss and All SaintsCredit: Alamy
London Bridge, London
As a regular commuter into London Bridge, I’ve come to appreciate just how great the station is compared to some of the others in the UK.
It has restaurants, coffee shops, and for retail therapy there’s the likes of Boots, M&S Food, and Pret.
There are also designer shops under the arches like Reiss and All Saints which might not be affordable, but it’s nice to window shop.
When you’re stuck in the station waiting for a train home, the Wi-Fi is easy to join and as you might not expect, actually reliable.
For quirky touches, it has a Meet by the Heart mural, a museum of artefacts, and even a pipe organ known as Henry – which you’re free to try out.
