Gently does it! Bridge moved in over Easter

An entire bridge section was moved into place at Luton station as part of a raft of engineering work successfully carried out for the Thameslink Programme at Easter.

Time lapse photography demonstrates the scale of the project which will make space for longer platforms to accommodate the first longer 12-carriage trains due to enter service from December 2011.

Network Rail engineers had been on site since November last year carrying out preparatory works ready for the Easter holiday main event. They realigned two sections of bridge deck and added a third over Old Bedford Road. Railway track was realigned, signals and overhead power lines moved – all to plan.

South of the capital, at Swanley in Kent, a major junction was replaced, removing a long-standing speed restriction. At Blackfriars station, the removal of roof panels was completed above both platforms and concourse and the link bridge to platform 4 extended. At Farringdon station, important signaling equipment was moved in preparation for construction of the new integrated ticket hall.