Passengers travelling over Christmas and New Year are being urged to plan ahead as Network Rail and Southeastern carry out vital upgrade works to improve long-term reliability across the network.

Over the festive period, engineers will be working around the clock on a series of improvement projects, timed to coincide with the quietest period of the year to minimise disruption for passengers.

No Southeastern trains will operate to or from London Victoria from Saturday 27 December to Wednesday 31 December, allowing crews to carry out power and signalling upgrades and replace worn rails. Between Thursday 1 January and Sunday 4 January 2026, London Charing Cross and London Waterloo East will be closed for essential maintenance. On Thursday 1 and Sunday 4 January, London Cannon Street will also be closed, with a limited service operating to and from London Bridge and most trains diverted via London Victoria.

South Bermondsey station will be closed from 27 December until 4 January while its platforms are rebuilt, with no Southern services calling at the station during this period.

Even on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when Southeastern’s network is largely closed, engineers will be carrying out maintenance including rail replacement near Maidstone East, refurbishing switches and crossings at Lee, and power supply improvements around London Bridge.

David Davidson, chief operating officer for Southeastern, said:

“We use the time when the railway is quieter, and most commuters are away to get vital work done on the railway to give passengers safer and more reliable journeys. While most of the country’s railway is open for travel, we are advising people to plan ahead and check before they travel as there will be changes on some routes.”

Image: Southeastern