The government has confirmed that Woolwich station will be part of the Crossrail route after a deal was struck with numerous companies.

Berkeley Homes, the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Transport for London (TfL) will provide £54 million of funding so the station can be fitted out in time for the grand opening of the revolutionary rail network in 2018.

Woolwich had not been included in the original Crossrail plans, so this announcement is a real bonus for people who live and work in the district.

Mayor Boris Johnson said he was "thrilled" that an agreement has been reached.

"It is a massive win for Woolwich and offers enormous potential for local regeneration," he remarked.

The Crossrail project - which will provide commuters with far better access across London - is going well and TfL announced a shortlist of transport companies that will bid to run services across the network. The list includes Arriva Crossrail Limited, Keolis/Go Ahead, MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited and National Express Group.