It is the last of the major work packages on the £15bn Crossrail project and comes as tunnelling work reaches 83% completion.

Balfour will begin work later this month on the four-year station job after fending off rival bids from Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Sindall and Vinci.

The job also covers the fit-out of the two portals at North Woolwich and Plumstead at either end of the Thames Tunnel where Crossrail trains will surface.

Balfour’s UK construction chief executive officer, Nicholas Pollard, said: “Our experienced major project team’s ability to deliver high profile infrastructure schemes has been recognised with this award of the final Crossrail station package for Europe’s largest construction project.

“Our use of innovative computer-aided Building Information Modelling tools, linked to off-site construction, will reduce the overall works programme compared to traditional construction methods.”

At its height, the project will employ two hundred people. Balfour will be required to create around 18 apprenticeships and new job start roles for people who are long-term unemployed or who have been out of education or training for six months or more.

It is a requirement that all of the new job starts be taken up by people living within Greater London or one mile of the Crossrail route.

Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail Chief Executive said: “Crossrail will help to transform Woolwich, supporting regeneration, reducing journey times and creating new transport links for local people. From 2018, up to 12 services an hour will allow passengers to travel to Canary Wharf, the City and the West End without having to change trains.”