The UK’s Network Rail and Crossrail have installed a new 1,000t rail bridge over the Great Western Main Line in Stockley, London, marking a milestone in the upgrade programme.
The 120m-long single span rail bridge will ensure that Crossrail and Heathrow Express services to central London can now join the Great Western Main Line, eliminating the delays caused by other trains using the route.
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Crossrail surface director Matthew White said: "Launching a 1,000t bridge over the Great Western Main Line is quite a feat of engineering.
"The new flyover at Stockley is an essential part of our works in west London, ensuring that the network has enough capacity to run frequent services to and from Heathrow. Crossrail will significantly improve transport links to the airport, bringing the West End, the City and Canary Wharf closer than ever before."
Crossrail is jointly sponsored by the UK Department for Transport (DoT) and Transport for London (TfL).
Network Rail is responsible for the design, development and delivery of the parts of Crossrail that are on the existing network.
With a total of £14.8bn funding available to deliver the project, Crossrail services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport will begin in 2018 and will be fully operational in 2019.
Image: Crossrail’s new 1,000t Stockley replacement bridge. Photo: courtesy of Crossrail.
