New pictures and footage show work has begun to build a new station at Abbey Wood as part of the Crossrail programme.

The station, which will be built over two new dedicated Crossrail tracks and the tracks used by north Kent services, will open at the end of 2017.

Builders have laid the first foundations to support the station, which will become visible above ground by the end of this year.

Work has been underway at the site in Abbey Wood since 2013 including constructing a temporary station, demolishing the old station and building a new one mile section of track.

Crossrail surface director Matthew White said: "Crossrail will help to transform Abbey Wood, dramatically improving transport links and bringing a state-of the-art station."

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A construction worker assisting with laying the foundations at the new Abbey Wood station 

Matthew Steele, Crossrail programme director at Network Rail said: "As part of our railway upgrade plan, we are on schedule to provide people in Abbey Wood with a fantastic new station by the end of 2017.

"Local people will benefit from a spacious new ticket hall, step-free access to every platform and better access to local bus services."

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Construction workers help to lay the foundations at the new Abbey Wood station 

Network Rail says the journey from Abbey Wood to Canary Wharf and Bond Street with Crossrail will be around 20 minutes faster and to Heathrow 40 minutes faster.