Major Rail Disruption for Lewisham Commuters This May Bank Holiday

April 17, 2026

Residents across the London Borough of Lewisham, particularly those in areas served by Hither Green, face significant rail disruption over the upcoming Early May Bank Holiday weekend.

Charing Cross station will be closed for three days, impacting Southeastern services into central London. This closure is due to essential signalling and track renewal work near Lewisham and Hither Green.

The Details

The closure of Charing Cross station is scheduled from Saturday 2 May to Monday 4 May 2026, with normal services expected to resume on Tuesday 5 May. This extensive work by Network Rail includes vital signalling improvements around Lewisham, a comprehensive track renewal, and the installation of a new footbridge at Hither Green.

During this period, London Waterloo East will also be closed, and London Cannon Street will be shut on Sunday 3 May. Southeastern services that typically run to these stations will be diverted to London Victoria and London Blackfriars. This local work forms part of a wider £140.5 million investment by Network Rail across 568 projects nationwide during both May bank holiday weekends.

Community Impact

The temporary closure will directly affect thousands of commuters and leisure travellers from Lewisham and Hither Green. Passengers are advised to plan alternative routes and allow extra time for their journeys. While direct services to Charing Cross will be suspended, the diversions to London Victoria and Blackfriars offer alternative access to central London. Local bus services and the London Underground will be crucial for completing journeys from these alternative terminals.

Planning Your Visit

The affected stations for direct services are London Charing Cross (WC2N 5HF) and London Waterloo East (SE1 8SW). London Cannon Street (EC4N 6AP) will also be closed on Sunday 3 May. Diverted services will terminate at London Victoria (SW1V 1JU) and London Blackfriars (EC4V 4DY).

Pro-Tip: Always check the National Rail Enquiries website or the Southeastern website for the latest travel information and specific service alterations before you travel.

Source Verification

This report is based on data from Network Rail.

Source Link: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/may-bank-holiday-engineering-works/

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