New depot paves way for Olympic bridge

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FROM THE RAILNEWS PAGES.
New depot paves way for Olympic bridge
Posted: 3rd October 2008
THORNTON Fields depot, in the heart of Stratford’s Olympic Park, has been completely cleared to make way for a new pedestrian land-bridge linking the Aquatics Centre and the Olympic Stadium and construction traffic for the stadium. The huge bridge, the biggest in the Olympic Park, will be the main gateway for spectators in 2012.

The depot, used to stable National Express East Anglia trains serving Liverpool Street, has been replaced by a new sidings facility at Orient Way, about a mile from Thornton Fields, which was completed five weeks ahead of schedule.

A new accommodation block for drivers and other staff has been provided, and the entire project was completed with the accent on sustainability and recycling. Around 4,000 tonnes of crushed concrete, 620 tonnes of tarmac and 180 tonnes of steel used in construction were recycled and 20,000 tonnes of ballast screened and reused. Also, all track and overhead line equipment was reclaimed from Thornton Fields.

Transport minister Tom Harris said: “We want to deliver a world class transport system for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the first piece of infrastructure has been delivered early and on budget in a programme that will give London and the Thames Gateway a long-term economic and transport legacy.”
Photo .The former sidings at Thornton Fields.