Reading bridge lifted into place

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Network Rail has produced a time-lapse video showing Reading station’s new bridge being moved into place.

The initial 728 tonne structure, which is three times bigger than the current passenger bridge, was put in place at 3.30am on Sunday, following a two-night operation.

Network Rail said the multi-million pound rebuilding project is currently running a year ahead of its original completion date.

Later this year, the final pieces of the structure will be built on site and joined together.

Network Rail project director Bill Henry said: “The first part of the new bridge makes a dramatic difference to Reading’s skyline and gives passengers a glimpse of how the new station will look when the first phase of the development is opened in May 2013.

“This investment in Reading will unblock the bottleneck on the railway, improve commuters’ journeys and provide a station fit for the future – as passenger numbers in Reading are set to double by 2030.

“By 2015, we will have built a new train care depot, constructed a viaduct to provide more room for trains, installed new signalling to improve reliability and put in place the structures that will carry over-head electrical lines, allowing new state-of-the-art electric trains to run.”

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