A project milestone has been reached on the £14.8 billion Elizabeth Line scheme in London.

The final piece of track on the Crossrail route has been laid and the line is on schedule to open in December 2018.

More than 1,000 highly skilled men and women have installed the 63,000 sleepers, 51,419 metres of rail and over 800 sections of Long Welded Rail (LWR) which make up the new 50+ kilometres of Elizabeth line track. In addition, more than 13,500 m3 of concrete was poured by the concreting train as part of the track installation.

With the track fully laid, the project has entered a new phase as construction trains are now able to travel the full length of both new tunnels from end to end. Work will now focus on installing platform screen doors, signalling, tunnel ventilation and communications systems along with the overhead lines that will power the new trains.

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Sir Terry Morgan, Crossrail Chairman said: "The completion of the permanent track brings us another crucial step closer to the Elizabeth line opening in December 2018. We’re delighted to be officially marking this important milestone as it also signifies a great achievement for all the dedicated men and women who are working on the project.

"The Elizabeth line will transform rail travel across London and the South East for millions of passengers with faster journeys, less congestion and improved travel links for a better connected London."

Howard Smith, Transport for London’s Elizabeth line Operations Director, added: "It’s a huge moment in the project, turning it from a construction project into a railway, with around 15 months until our customers ride the first trains beneath the streets of London. Crossrail will continue working hard to fit-out the line and stations ahead of TfL preparing to run and maintain the Elizabeth line from next year."

(LM/MH)