The first section of track that will be used by Crossrail services has been laid in Hillingdon.

The 120m Stockley Flyover is predicted to improve journey times between Heathrow and central London, and will be used by Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services from 2016, in addition to Crossrail trains.

The bridge will allow services towards central London to join the Great Western line without being held up by other trains using the route.

Crossrail services will start running along the new track in 2018, serving the route between Paddington and Heathrow. The full route will become operational in 2019.

Crossrail surface director Matthew White said that the track was “a major milestone” for the new rail route, which was carried out by Network Rail and Carillion.

The bridge is the longest built on the Western Main Line since the famous 19th century engineer Brunel completed the line.