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Friday 26 Aug 2016

Abbey Wood station gets another new platform as part of major rebuild for the Crossrail project

Region & Route:

| Southern

• New Kent-bound platform opens as Network Rail completes all North Kent line work at Abbey Wood
• Network Rail now focused on building the new Elizabeth line tracks and platforms

Work to complete the construction of the new landmark station at Abbey Wood as part of the Crossrail programme has reached another milestone today.

The new Kent-bound platform has come into use and marks the completion of the work to reconstruct the tracks and platforms used by Southeastern services.

The North Kent line tracks have been realigned and rebuilt to make space for the new Elizabeth line tracks and platforms. In total, 4.5km of new track was installed as part of the work to the North Kent line. The new London-bound platform opened in February.

With both the Kent-bound and London-bound North Kent line platforms now complete, passengers using Southeastern services will benefit from:

• Better seating on both platforms
• Improved lighting and better platform canopy cover
• New customer information screens and speakers for station announcements
• New CCTV cameras.

Some weekend station closures will continue as Network Rail, which is delivering the work as part of the Crossrail programme, continues to build the new state-of-the-art station. Efforts will now focus on constructing the new tracks and platforms that will be used by the Elizabeth line services from the end of 2018.

Once the new station is complete at the end of 2017, it will include:

• A new, larger ticket hall and a spacious concourse that leads directly onto a wide forecourt connecting the station to the Harrow Manorway Flyover
• New platforms for both Elizabeth line and North Kent services
• Six lifts providing step-free access to all platforms
• Better security and customer information systems

Matthew Steele, Crossrail Programme Director at Network Rail said: “The completion of the North Kent line work at Abbey Wood is a major step forward in the delivery of the new station. When our work is complete passengers will benefit from an impressive new station and dramatically better rail connections.”

Matthew White, Surface Director at Crossrail said: “The Elizabeth line will help to transform Abbey Wood. When the new railway opens in 2018, it will be quicker and easier for local people to get to a range of destinations across London and the South East. The improved transport links will also help to bring more businesses and investment into the local area.”

Sarah Brown, Southeastern Major Programmes Interface Manager, said: “We're really pleased that Southeastern passengers are able to start benefiting from some of the new station facilities. However, there is still a lot of work to do which will affect our services on some weekends. Please check southeasternrailway.co.uk before you travel, especially at weekends and bank holidays.”

Councillor Sizwe James, Cabinet Member for Transport, Economy and Smart Cities at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “The new platform and station improvements are fantastic to see and make a welcoming, safe and well designed space. Once the new Elizabeth line services begin in 2018, the 12 extra trains every hour will speed up connections to the city and beyond, making commuting from Abbey Wood and the surrounding area a very viable and speedy option for local residents who work in the city, halving journey times to lots of destinations across the capital. It’s great news for our Abbey Wood residents.”