TWO London train stations will close to commuters and tourists for nearly three weeks over the summer.
The hubs will undergo a huge £20million renovation which will begin later this month.
Between July 26 and August 16, both Charing Cross and Waterloo East Station will be closed with absolutely no service.
Across the 22 days, Network Rail will conduct major improvements to both hubs like replacing the track that was last changed in the 1990s.
Other upgrades will be to the ‘country end of the platforms’ which will be rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces.
There will be structural repairs to the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge too which takes the railway over the River Thames.
It’s also the pedestrian bridge between Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
Network Rail said that the improvements should reduce the number of recent faults which “have caused over 21,000 minutes (350 hours) of delays to customers.”
As well as the closures between July and August, the stations will also shut on June 7.
Then there will be two full weekend closures later on in the year.
These dates will be August 22 to August 23 – and again on both October 10 and October 11.
During the closure, Southeastern services that normally run into Charing Cross will be diverted to London Victoria, London Cannon Street, London Blackfriars or terminate at London Bridge.
Passengers will be able to use their ticket an no extra cost on alternative rail routes as well as on the London Underground and buses.
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.”
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.”
And urged passengers to “plan ahead and check before they travel”.