Media centre

Monday 22 Feb 2016

New footbridge and longer platforms for Harold Wood station

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

Network Rail has successfully installed a new footbridge across the Great Eastern Main Line at Harold Wood station and completed the first of several platform extensions on the line.

 

The footbridge is one of a number of improvements being delivered at Harold Wood station in preparation for the start of TfL-run Crossrail services.

Due to open in the spring, the new footbridge has increased capacity to allow more passengers to access the station’s platforms. Lifts will be installed on the footbridge later in 2016, delivering step-free access to Harold Wood for the first time.

The footbridge was brought in by road, in two sections, for ease of transport. The heaviest section weighed approximately18 tonnes and was lifted into place by a 500 tonne mobile crane positioned in the station car park. The 60-strong construction team installed the new structure in five major sections.

The extension of platforms 2 & 3 have also been successfully completed allowing trains to stop further along the platform while works to prepare the footbridge for commissioning continue. Extensions to platforms 1 & 4 will be completed this spring.

The old footbridge at Harold Wood will now be dismantled and removed over the following weeks as work to refurbish the station ticket hall gets underway. A temporary ticket office will open in the station car park and the refurbished ticket hall is expected to reopen this summer.

Matthew Steele, Crossrail Programme Director at Network Rail said: “The new footbridge at Harold Wood represents the first significant piece of work to be completed at the station. In addition to increased capacity for passengers, the new footbridge will also improve accessibility at the station when new lifts are installed later this year.

“With a refurbished ticket hall, improved accessibility and longer platforms, Harold Wood station will provide a better travelling experience for passengers for years to come.”

Matthew White, Surface Director at Crossrail said: “Crossrail will provide a step change in public transport for people in the local area – easier journeys, new trains and the ability to travel right through central London without having to change onto the Underground. Passengers will also benefit from the station upgrades that are being delivered, including the new footbridge and lifts to provide step-free access to every platform.” 

Ends

For further information contact the Crossrail Press Office on 020 3229 9552 or email pressoffice@crossrail.co.uk

About Crossrail and Network Rail:

Network Rail is a key partner in delivering Crossrail. It is responsible for the design, development and delivery of the parts of Crossrail that are on the existing rail network. Network Rail’s work, which will integrate the new Crossrail tunnels beneath London with the existing rail network, includes upgrades to track, major civil engineering projects, new overhead electrification equipment and improvements to stations and bridges.

Three quarters of the Crossrail route will run above ground in outer London, Berkshire and Essex, bringing 1.5 million more people to within 45 minutes of central London.

Crossrail will increase central London's rail transport capacity by 10 per cent, supporting regeneration and cutting journey times by providing new links with the Tube, Thameslink, National Rail, DLR and London Overground.

The total funding available to deliver Crossrail is £14.8bn. The Crossrail route will serve 40 stations and run more than 100km from Reading and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21 km (13 miles) tunnels below central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

Crossrail is being delivered by Crossrail Limited (CRL). CRL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London. Crossrail is jointly sponsored by the Department for Transport and Transport for London.