TWO of the UK’s busiest train stations will reopen tomorrow after a major closure.
The transport hubs were shut off to the public last month in order for a huge £20million refurbishment to take place.
London‘s Charing Cross and Waterloo East train stations were both out of service for 22-days, with the revamp project having begun on July 26.
Serving millions of passengers between them every year, they’re two of the capital’s most used stations.
The closure meant that all Charing Cross and Waterloo East services were cancelled, with commuters having to use alternative routes.
Southeastern Rail trains continued to run during the works but trains that usually terminated at Charing Cross were diverted to London Victoria, London Blackfriars, London Cannon Street or London Bridge.
But with the works now completed, services will resume as usual on Monday,August 17.
While services will return to normal at the two stations on August 17, a further closure is planned on August 23 for one day so engineers can ensure the works were completed successfully.
The stations shut down in order for engineering works to take place, with £20million spent on regenerating tracks, platforms and bridges.
The work was given the green light in a bid to keep the stations “fit for the future” and make travelling safer and more reliable for passengers.
Almost two kilometres of 36-year-old track was replaced, while Charing Cross’s platforms needed repairs.
Structural repairs to the Waterloo East to London Waterloo pedestrian link bridge and the Hungerford Bridge were also part of the project.
Scott Brightwell, train services director at Southeastern Railway, said: “The £20million 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.”
He added that the regeneration was scheduled for over the school summer holidays, in order to reduce disruption.
With schools closed and passenger numbers around 20 per cent lower, the dates were chosen to “help manage the impact on customers”.