South

The Crossrail development is continuing to move at pace after Network Rail announced the award of the latest contract in south-east London. Balfour Beatty Rail has secured the deal for the two-mile section of the Crossrail route from Plumstead to Abbey Wood, where a new station will also be built, which is valued at £130 million. Officials have stated that the agreement will include the creation and installation of two new dedicated lines between the locations as well as providing access to new tunnels. Work will also be carried out to modify a number of bridges along the route which will facilitate overhead electric wires which need to be installed allowing the trains to run. The entire development is designed to provide London commuters an extra option when looking to travel across the capital. Officials are looking to not only improve efficiency around the city but also to alleviate stress on the already busy Underground network. While the construction phase is set to help create a number of available positions, the overall project will also provide a boost for those looking for supply chain jobs. Peter Mason, Network Rail’s Crossrail senior programme manager, said: “Network Rail is undertaking a major upgrade of the existing rail network for Crossrail, including a significant programme of track renewals as well as station improvements. "The transformed Abbey Wood station will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the surrounding area and provide opportunities for local employment, meeting the development aspirations of the two London boroughs it serves, Greenwich and Bexley." The creation of a new station at Abbey Wood will allow commuters to benefit from an easy interchange with North Kent services. Officials have said that plans for the structures are currently being finalised and that the construction phase is due to get underway in 2014 with preparatory work due to start in the coming months. Once completed, 12 trains in each direction will be able to use the facility every hour linking with south-east London and the docklands area of the English capital.