Carillion has laid the first section of track to be used by Crossrail trains on a new bridge in west London.
The 120m-long Stockley flyover will be used by Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services from next year. It is the largest single span bridge to have been installed anywhere on the Great Western railway since the days of Brunel. The new structure will allow services heading towards central London to join the Great Western Main Line without delaying, or being delayed, by other trains using the route.
Matthew Steele, Network Rail’s programme director for Crossrail, said: "The Network Rail and Carillion teams are really proud to deliver the first section of new railway for Crossrail. Once Crossrail is operational, this brand new structure will enable us to increase the number of rail services between central London and Heathrow airport. After four years of planning is it great to see this new infrastructure being brought into service, well done to everyone involved."
Crossrail services between London Paddington and Heathrow will begin in 2018. From 2019, the full route will open, allowing passengers to travel from Heathrow right through the centre of the capital without changing trains.
