NEW images of the proposed Paddington Crossrail station have been released as developers begin to register their interest in the construction job.

Artistic impressions of what the development might look like show the �250million station in the form of a 230metre long structure beneath the Eastbourne Terrace taxi rank and the main Paddington station.

The development will form part of the largest addition to London’s transport network for more than 50 years, running from Maidenhead to Shenfield through Heathrow, Paddington, the West End and Canary Wharf.

John Montgomerie, Crossrail project manager for Paddington, said it is important to recognise the importance of the existing Isambard Brunel-designed Grade I-listed station, with the Crossrail development being designed in consultation with English Heritage.

“The challenge is to build on the success of our predecessors ? Victorian engineers and architects, who created the glamour and excitement of rail travel,” he said. “This will be achieved by creating well-designed and proportioned spaces ensuring that passengers experience the station in all its glory.”

The new 25metre wide station box will serve the Paddington area and link the Bakerloo and District and Circle lines of the London Underground.

The current proposal is for the box to be built in two main phases to accommodate heavy traffic flows in the area. Secretary of Paddington Residents Active Concern on Transport, John Walton, said: “I think the design is a good one. It lets in light and there are good connections between Crossrail and the other underground lines at Paddington.

“The question is how we get there. As with all these Crossrail matters there’s a long term benefit but a short term problem.

“We have always supported Crossrail but when people find their sleep is being disturbed because the buses are diverted they will complain.

“It’s a good design, but it won’t change the fact that it will be very disruptive to build.”

John Zamit, chairman of South East Bayswater Residents Association, said: “The images of the proposed station are very exciting. We welcome the development of the station which is long overdue but we do have some concerns about minicabs being able to access the station during the works.”

Work is scheduled to start in October next year with the relocation of the taxi rank to allow main excavation. The contract for the construction of the station will be awarded next spring.