It might look like a building project to the casual observer, but creating Rochester’s new railway station has been more akin to performing heart surgery, according to Network Rail project director Huw Edwards. And not just any old heart surgery.

“To build a brand new station and wrap it around an operational railway has been the hardest challenge,” he explained, leading a tour of the site.

“It’s a fine balance between completing the job and causing as little disruption to the travelling public as we can.

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“The best description I’ve heard is it’s like performing heart surgery but all the while the patient is playing tennis.

"It’s not like the HS2 being built on a greenfield site, or like the London Overground where you build it and switch it on. This is an operational railway which keeps running day to day.”

It’s now less than two months until the first passengers will alight at the new £26m station, with contractors on course to meet their deadline of Sunday, December 13.

For the builders, one of the most heart-stopping moments in the operation came when the new underpass was slotted into place over the Easter weekend this year – as they had just four days to dig right through the rail embankment before sliding the 850 ton structure into place on a 2mm layer of liquid nitrogen, and laying the track back on top.

Watch: New modern train station to open in Rochester soon, Ben Kennedy reports

“It’s a system used for launching ships and it’s the first time this type of move has been used in construction in this country,” said Adrian Kilburn, project manager for contractors Spencer Rail. “We weren’t nervous at all,” he added with a laugh.

The project was a success and trains were running over the new underpass within hours of its completion.

But to extend Mr Edwards heart surgery analogy, if Rochester’s new station is to live up to expectations it’s not only got to keep playing tennis – it’s got to go on to win game, set and match, become a champion and put its home town on the map in the process.

In other words, the project is crucial to Network Rail and Medway Council’s shared vision of regeneration – improving access to Rochester’s historic town centre and attracting London-bound commuters to the new Rochester Riverside development.

Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst agrees the station and its underpass are key to the new 1,500 home development, as it will allow residents to take a quick stroll between the riverside and town centre or hop on a train and be in London in 35 minutes.

“It’s great being able to stand on the platform and look at Rochester Castle and cathedral,” she said.

“For me it’s great because we’re going to be moving from a Victorian station to a modern, welcoming building. It also improves links to the High Street, so will encourage people to stop off and visit our tourist attractions.”

Council leader Alan Jarrett was also among those admiring the new view of Rochester from the train platform, which will greet those arriving in the town for the first time from now on.

“I came here a few months ago and none of this was done so it’s really starting to look fabulous,” said Cllr Jarrett. “The pedestrian walkway is so important and really impressive.

“It’s such an improvement on what we’ve got.”

Mr Edwards said work was progressing swiftly. The new ticket office building would be weatherproof by tomorrow and a training programme would soon be under way for the station’s staff.

“We’ve got 55 days to go and we’re bang on time,” he added.

Network Rail says there are no plans as yet for Rochester’s old station. Built in 1892, the station is a listed building and Network Rail is expected to retain ownership.