AECOM has been chosen by Network Rail to design improvement works to stations west of Paddington that are set to become part of the Crossrail route.

The 13 stations on the route, from Maidenhead in Berkshire to Acton Main Line in London, will undergo a number of enhancements to facilitate the new Crossrail services due to begin in 2018.

AECOM's design brief includes a number of improvements including platform extensions to allow longer trains to run, step-free access at the majority of the stations, refurbishment of station buildings and ticketing facilities, as well as other steps to improvement train reliability such as turnback facilities.

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The new Crossrail services will be electrified, meaning trains will be quicker, cleaner, quieter, smoother and more reliable than diesels. Several bridges near stations on the route will also be redesigned to allow for over-head electrical cables.

Crossrail will provide four ten-car trains per hour on the Great Western Main Line at peak times, in each direction, between central London and Maidenhead. There will also be four trains per hour to Heathrow and two per hour to West Drayton.

Robbie Burns, Network Rail Major Programme Director, said: "Crossrail is hugely important for the economic future of London and region, which is why we are investing billions to upgrade this route. Crossrail services will also boost Londoners' quality of life, easing congestion on the Great Western Main Line by up to 30 per cent and bringing an additional 1.5m people within a 45-minute commute of the capital's key business districts."

(CD)