Former Transport Area Cleared For Construction

A railway depot at the heart of the Olympic Park has been completely cleared to make way for the construction of a new pedestrian land-bridge between the Aquatics Centre and the Olympic Stadium.

The bridge will be the biggest in the Olympic Park and will be the main gateway for spectators getting to events in 2012.

Thornton's Field, a railway depot, also needed to be dismantled to allow access for construction vehicles to get to the stadium island while the Olympic Stadium is being built.


Before dismantling could begin at Thornton's Field, an entirely new railway depot to house trains needed to be built. Orient Way sidings was completed on time and on budget and officially opened in July. The time lapse videos are of the last trains leaving Thornton's Field and the construction of Orient Way, including the arrival of the first trains.

Transport Minister Tom Harris said: "We want to deliver a world class transport system for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in four years time. It is very encouraging that the first piece of the infrastructure has been brought in ahead of time and on budget. This is the beginning of a programme of work that will leave a long-term economic and transport legacy for London and the Thames Gateway."

(CD/JM)