London commuter chaos: Rail misery ahead as Waterloo closes platforms

Passengers have been warned to prepare for "unprecedented disruption" on train journeys into London this month as Network Rail embarks on its biggest ever schedule of engineering works, reports The Guardian.

Half of Waterloo station's platforms will be closed between 5 and 29 August for major rebuilding works.

According to the London Evening Standard, there could be delays of up to an hour at intermediate stations to and from London Waterloo. South West Trains will be particularly affected and passengers are advised to avoid changing at Vauxhall and Clapham Junction.

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Mark Carne, Network Rail's chief executive, told The Guardian "there is never a good time to disrupt services", but it "makes sense" to do works during bank holidays and the summer months."

Major engineering works will also affect the following stations, reports National Rail:

• London Bridge, Waterloo East and Charing Cross: no Southeastern trains between 26 August and 2 September
• London Cannon Street: no Southeastern trains on 26 and 27 August
• Blackfriars: no Southeastern trains on 28 August, with reduced services to 2 September
• London Euston: No trains at all on 26 and 27 August
• London Liverpool Street: No trains to and from Shenfield and Barking on 27 and 28 August
• London Paddington: reduced services to Wales between 19 August and 17 September