29.03.17
Crossrail moves forward with completion of electrification on major route
Crossrail took a step forward this week as Network Rail (NR) announced that electrification work had been completed on the 12-mile stretch of railway from Maidenhead to Stockley Junction.
The project of electrification will allow new Great Western Railway (GWR) trains to run on the track when they are introduced in May – and in the longer term will support the delivery of the new Elizabeth line – which will allow Thames Valley passengers to travel through central London without having to change onto the underground at Paddington.
NR has worked over three years to install more than 1,400 overhead structures, or 140 miles, of overhead wires that will power the electric trains.
The majority of the work was undertaken at weekends, bank holidays and early hours of the morning to minimise disruption for passengers.
Mark Langman, route managing director of NR, described the completion of the 12 miles of railway as a “major milestone,” for NR’s Railway Upgrade Plan – of which the delivery of an electrified Great Western Mainline and the construction of the Elizabeth Line is a huge part.
“From May this year more passengers will see immediate benefits with brand new, cleaner, quieter electric trains operating between Maidenhead and Paddington.,” said Langman. “On behalf of NR I would like to thank passengers, local residents, businesses and local authorities for their patience and permission to deliver this huge programme of railway upgrade work at anti-social hours, weekends and every bank holiday for the last three years.
“Without their support, it simply would not have been possible to electrify the Great Western Mainline to deliver new improved passenger services and pave the way for the Elizabeth Line.”
And Mark Hopwood, GWR managing director, said: “The Thames Valley is one of the most popular rail corridors in the UK. We have promised the current fleet would be upgraded to provide much needed additional capacity and more comfortable, quieter journeys.”
Hopwood added that GWR had already started to run half hourly new electric trains in January, creating over 10,000 more seats a day between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington.
“We look forward to being able to extend these services beyond Hayes to Maidenhead this coming May as NR continues its work to upgrade the railway,” he said.
Matthew White, Crossrail surface director, agreed that the completion of this major piece of work paved the way for new, quicker, quieter trains along the line between Maidenhead and Stockley Junction.
“Once the Elizabeth Line opens fully in 2019, passengers from the Thames Valley will be able to catch one train all the way through central London, providing a direct link to a range of destinations, including the West End, the City and Canary Wharf,” said White.
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