Network Rail has picked up a prize for its environmental efforts during the design of the important Crossrail development.

The firm was given the Green Apple Award for its role in protecting biodiversity while putting together plans for a new flyover at Heathrow Junction.

Crossrail will make a huge difference to commuters in London, ensuring people can travel across the city much quicker than they can at the moment, but the mammoth project has inevitably raised one or two concerns among environmentalists.

The trains will be 200 metres long - giving them a capacity of 1,500 people - and they will cover 73 miles of track in the south-east of England.

Rob McIntosh, Network Rail's Crossrail programme director, said the company takes sustainability very seriously.

"When trains start running in 2018, not only will the passengers be able to use a fantastic new rail service, but we can also be extremely proud of the whole development process," he commented.

Network Rail ensured that a large number of trees and animals were given new habitats before work on the flyover began.