£30 million was spent by Network Rail over the Easter break to pave the way for the Crossrail programme, across London, Berkshire and Essex.
Hayes and Harlington , West Ealing and Southall stations have received a platform extension and major trackwork at a number of locations including Old Oak Common and Stockley was carried out, to 'increase capacity and improve the reliability of the railway'.
Across the route, more than 3,000 workers were out on the railway over the four-day Easter weekend carrying out carefully planned work which will ultimately integrate the new Crossrail tunnels beneath London with the existing rail network.
'Vital' £30m work for Elizabeth Line
Network Rail say the work is 'vital', as three quarters of the Crossrail route – which will be known as the Elizabeth line from December 2018 – will run above ground through outer London, Berkshire and Essex, bringing 1.5 million more people to within 45 minutes of central London.
Matthew Steele, Crossrail programme director at Network Rail, said: “I would like to thank passengers and our lineside neighbours for their patience and our team of staff and contractors for their dedication during the Easter period.
“Our orange army worked tirelessly over the Easter weekend to deliver a staggering amount of complex work.
“As three quarters of the route will run above ground on the existing rail network the improvements we have delivered are crucial to the successful completion of the new railway.”
Quicker, quieter and more reliable trains
As part of the £30m package, which saw over 1.5km of track renewed or moved, work was carried out to electrify the railway in west London and Berkshire - paving the way for the introduction of 'new, quicker, quieter, more reliable electric trains'.
Matthew White, Surface Director at Crossrail said: “The Crossrail project will provide a step change in public transport for many thousands of people in outer London, Berkshire and Essex.
“The programme of work delivered by Network Rail over Easter brings us a step closer to delivering quicker journeys, improved stations and better connections for local people along the route."
