Residents and businesses in Brentwood and Shenfield are being urged to come to two Crossrail information events being held in the borough.
The events will allow people to find out more about Crossrail, the work that will be taking place and any potential impact on the local area. Residents will get the chance to ask questions of representatives from Crossrail and Network Rail.
The Brentwood event is being held between 3pm and 7pm on Wednesday 23 July at Brentwood Baptist Church. The Shenfield event is taking place between 2pm and 8pm on Thursday 24 July at Shenfield Parish Hall.
Crossrail Surface Director Matthew White said: “Crossrail will provide a step change in public transport for people in and around Brentwood and Shenfield – better stations, new trains, and the option to travel right through central London without having to change onto the Underground.
“We recognise the need to keep residents and businesses right up to date with the works that are going to be taking place in the area. These events are a great opportunity for residents to find out more about Crossrail and to get answers to any specific questions they may have.”
Transport for London will begin operating the existing rolling stock between Shenfield and Liverpool Street from May 2015 and residents in the borough will be among the first to benefit from new trains when they are introduced in 2017. From 2019, passengers from Brentwood and Shenfield will be able to travel right through central London without changing trains.
At Brentwood station, platforms will be extended for Crossrail and new lifts are being installed under the ‘Access for All’ programme. At Shenfield, a new bay platform will be constructed and new sidings will be created next to the station. Both stations will benefit from new signage, help points, customer information screens and CCTV. Works to the track and overhead electric cables will also be carried out to add capacity to the railway.
Construction work at Shenfield is due to get underway in winter 2015, although Network Rail will set up its worksite from summer 2015. Work is due to be completed in early 2017. Main works at Brentwood work are due to start in spring 2015 and to complete by late summer 2015.
Network Rail, Crossrail and Brentwood Borough Council have been working closely with rail and freight operators to minimise any potential disruption to local people and rail services.