Two major UK train stations will close for three weeks over the summer as Southern Eastern Railway carries out engineering work. The interruptions are expected to impact 10,000 commuters over the 22 days.

Charing Cross and Waterloo stations will be closed for track and bridge repairs as part of a £20 million overhaul, which will see around 1,800 metres of poor-quality track between Waterloo East and Charing Cross removed and replaced.

Commuters have been informed that their journeys may change and take longer, with routes to London remaining open but diverted to other stations instead.

Southeastern services into Charing Cross will be redirected to Victoria, Cannon Street and Blackfriars stations. Some trains during the closure will be terminating at London Bridge, with tickets being accepted on alternative rail routes, the London Underground and buses, reports The Sun.

As well as replacing the exhausted track, engineers will work on drainage upgrades at Waterloo East and structural repairs to Hungerford Bridge.

Customers have been left baffled by the long closure, with one on writing on Facebook, "3 weeks? In Japan, this would be done in less than 5 days."

Another who said they use Charing Cross station "daily" questioned "three weeks?" whilst adding that it was the first they had heard of the closures.

Scott Brightwell, Director of Operations and Safety, South Eastern Railway, said: “We know closing Charing Cross and Waterloo East for 22 days is a significant change and we’re sorry for the disruption it will cause.

“This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly. We’ve looked long and hard at every possible option and although none of them are without impact, a single summer closure is the least disruptive and most efficient way to carry out this vital work.”

It is hoped that the work done during the closure will prevent future shutdowns, and will help to deliver improved and more reliable services.

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