Work begins on Crossrail services to Heathrow

Date: 13/4/2012

In the future, Crossrail services will run to and from Heathrow airport and construction work has now begun for the project.

Network Rail has started improving capacity at the Stockley Interchange in west London, which is described as a "crucial" part of the process.

When complete, the new interchange will allow trains to leave the main line and join the branch leading to Heathrow without delaying fast trains to the west of England.

Work will be complete in 2017 and existing services that already run to the airport - which has 86 airlines serving 183 locations in 90 countries - will continue throughout.

Crossrail trains from Heathrow will go to Paddington station and under London through new tunnels to reach the West End, the City and Canary Wharf.

Network Rail Programme Director Jorge Mendonca said: "As well as starting the building works, we're planning the rest of our programme to make sure that passengers and our lineside neighbours notice as little disruption as possible."

Posted by Mary Treen