As Crossrail reaches the half-way mark in its construction project, a chance to show off to the current Mayor and Prime Minister what is going on, and release some suitable photos of the tunnels.

James O Jenkins

(c) TfL

Seven of the 1,000 tonne tunnelling machines have bored over 29 kilometres of new 6.2m diameter tunnels under London with an eighth machine due to launch next month.

During 2014, Crossrail’s major civil engineering and tunnelling works will conclude and the focus will shift towards station construction, fit-out and implementing railway systems within the tunnels and stations. The train operator will then test and refine the systems before trains run from 2018.

Upcoming Crossrail milestones include:

  • Structural completion and start of fit out of western tunnels in early 2014
  • Further tunnel boring machine breakthroughs during construction of the eastern tunnels at Stepney Green cavern, then Whitechapel, Liverpool Street and Farringdon. Major tunnelling for Crossrail is due to complete by the end of 2014.
  • Completion of the Canary Wharf station ticket hall, and the roof of Canary Wharf Group’s over station development in early 2014
  • Network Rail to continue major surface works on the existing rail network including platform lengthening and construction of a new station at Abbey Wood
  • Crossrail rolling stock and depot contract to be awarded in spring 2014
  • Announcement of the Crossrail train operating concession in late 2014
  • Joint venture partners will be sought during 2014 for major above station property developments
  • Delivery and testing of trains is scheduled to start in 2017 ready for the opening of the new Crossrail tunnels to passengers in late 2018.

However, although press photos were issued to those of us not invited down, it was a tweet from the Mayor’s office that was most interesting. Placed there to show off to the visitors, a future Crossrail passageway sign?

BeG5kCpCQAALclk

(c) TfL

Although this official photo of the site tour, with jaunty hat angle from the Mayor does look a bit like this, or maybe this?

James O Jenkins

(c) TfL

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One comment
  1. Matt Hubert says:

    Thanks for sharing useful information on upcoming cross rail and highlighting interesting facts about it.

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