Journeys for tens of thousands of people are set to be disrupted this bank holiday weekend due to major construction works at London Bridge.

Charing Cross, Waterloo East, Cannon Street and parts of London Bridge rail station will be closed for all three days of the bank holiday. From August 29 to August 31, Southeastern trains diverted to other London terminals and some metro services will be replaced by buses.

In addition to the commuter chaos, Southeastern services will not call at London Bridge, except for trains to and from Hastings. Trains will be diverted to either London Victoria or London Blackfriars with some trains starting and finishing at New Cross.

Thameslink Programme rail systems project director Mark Somers said: “This bank holiday is an important one for us as the work we are doing will pave the way for some major changes in January and August next year.”

Since last year, Charing Cross trains have been unable to stop at London Bridge station while platforms are rebuilt. In August next year, platforms used by Cannon Street trains are set to be rebuilt and those services will begin running through London Bridge station without stopping until the station is completed in 2018.

Mr Somers said: “We are untangling the tracks at London Bridge to reduce delays and increase the number of services that can travel through the station from 2018. It’s a massive job and we appreciate the public’s understanding while we do this.”

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Since the works started, commuters have had to deal with disruptions on almost every public holiday and even weekends. Due to the incremental nature of the government-sponsored Thameslink Programme, engineers are fighting constantly to move the railway tracks and signalling around the station.

Over the bank holiday, Network Rail will be installing new tracks on the line towards Waterloo East that will carry trains onto the new Borough Market Viaduct from January 2016.

Southeastern’s managing director David Statham said: “We have advice for passengers on our website and would encourage people to check before they travel and to leave more time for their journey where necessary.”

It is hoped that these works will mean that Charing Cross trains will once again call at London Bridge by August next year.

Unfortunately, the story for train commuters isn’t over. Once works are finished for Charing Cross trains, those travelling with Cannon Street trains will have to endure the closure of platforms 1, 2 and 3 as they run fast through London Bridge until December 2017.

Southern and Thameslink trains into London Bridge will not be affected by the work this bank holiday, although there are some engineering projects elsewhere in the region near Balham and Pulborough.