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Wednesday 8 May 2019

Network Rail awards final west London station upgrade contracts for Crossrail project

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

As part of its ongoing work for the Crossrail project, Network Rail today confirmed the award of contracts for construction of the new or enhanced ticket halls at Southall, Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing and Acton Main Line stations.

With passenger numbers expected to increase when the Elizabeth line fully opens, the upgraded stations will all benefit from improved passenger flow and enhanced accessibility with lifts and footbridges that will bring step free access to all platforms serving the Elizabeth line. The station upgrades are an important element of Network Rail’s work on the Crossrail project.

HOCHTIEF will undertake the work at West Drayton, Hayes & Harlington and Southall, whilst GRAHAM will undertake the work at Acton Main Line, West Ealing and Ealing Broadway. In 2018/19 Network Rail delivered the enabling works for the new station buildings by installing the foundations and steel frames for new accessible footbridges and lift shafts. The new ticket halls and step free access will be completed by December 2020.

Dave Corkett, project director for Network Rail, said: “With the enabling works already complete, the award of contracts for Southall, Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing and Acton Main Line stations will allow Network Rail and its new contractors to deliver these important station upgrades that are so eagerly awaited by local communities in west London.”

Mark Wild, chief executive, Crossrail Ltd, said: “London needs the Elizabeth line completed as quickly as possible and brought into service for passengers. It is very encouraging that Network Rail are now able to award these remaining station contracts which form an important part of their remaining work on the Crossrail project. These station upgrades are vital to supporting the increased numbers of passengers who will use these stations once the Elizabeth line is fully open.”

Lawrence Jackson, Managing Director, HOCHTIEF UK, said: “We are delighted to be part of this project, enabling capacity enhancement and upgrade works that are so important for this network. We look forward to working with Network Rail to make this project a success with minimal disruption to passengers.”

Jonny Kerr, GRAHAM Rail Director, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to this nationally important infrastructure project that will help transform rail transport in London and the south east. We are proud that our work on the Great Western Main Line will help to provide a step change in public transport for the people of Ealing”

Passengers are already benefiting from Network Rail’s major infrastructure upgrades, with new GWR and TfL Rail trains delivering additional capacity on services to and from London Paddington. As one of only four operators, nationally, to beat its public performance measures (PPM) targets for the year in 2018/19, TfL Rail is also delivering a more reliable service for passengers with services between London Paddington and Reading due to start operating in December 2019.            

The Crossrail project is delivering the Elizabeth line to link Reading and Heathrow in the west with Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, via new 21km tunnels under central London. The new railway will increase central London’s rail capacity by 10 per cent, cut passenger journey times across the city, encourage regeneration and generate significant employment opportunities.

For more information please visit NetworkRail.co.uk/Crossrail