WORK on the £16bn Crossrail project has been given the go ahead after legislation went through Parliament.

The south east spur of the development will run to Abbey Wood and, following a News Shopper campaign last year, will also include a station at Woolwich.

Construction work is due to begin in 2010 and the first trains are expected to start running in 2017.

Erith and Thamesmead MP John Austin, who was secretary of the all-party parliamentary group for Crossrail, said: "It's a great confidence boost to the area.

"It will transform this area in terms of travel times for people going to their jobs and will bring jobs here as well."

Legislation, first put forward in 2005, was passed yesterday (July 22), granting powers to acquire land and for Crossrail to be built and maintained.

When it is finished, the Crossrail route will run from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west across the capital to Abbey Wood and Shenfield, Essex.

Coordinator of Knee Hill-based Abbey Wood Community Group, June Milner said: "It's going to be wonderful. Having lived here for quite a few years we've seen a decline in the area.

"I think Crossrail will lift it back up - this is what everybody is waiting for."

When the project is complete, there will be 24 trains per hour in each direction through central London during peak times, with more than 200 million passengers expected to use the route each year.

Leader of Greenwich Council Cllr Chris Roberts said: "This is great news. This is one of the largest transport investments ever and will bring huge benefits in terms of jobs, homes and regeneration.

"We have a big job to do to realise the funding for the station at Woolwich but as we have already shown, we are determined to realise the enormous benefits that Crossrail will bring to the borough."

Crossrail is funded by a partnership including the Department for Transport and London's business community.