Crossrail Tunnels uncovered at Paddington

The new Elizabeth line station box being dug down at Paddington has dug down deep enough to reach the tunnels drilled out by the tunnel boring machines — and now they are demolishing them.

A planned exercise, as it was easier, and more reliable to let the TBM’s drill their way through the site without having to wait for the station box to be constructed first.

Over the past couple of years, Costain Skanska Joint Venture has excavated down to the new Crossrail tunnels which run some 16 metres below ground. Using the under-digging method, they built the roof of the station at street level first, then excavated out the soil underneath, slowly working their way down to the tunnels beneath them.

Now that they are down there, the tunnels are to be demolished, as they will form the new platform level for the station.

While demolishing the newly built tunnels seems wasteful, it is often cheaper than the risks of something going wrong with the station build which could delay the progress of the TMBs.

That’s the same technique as is being used at Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road — dig the tunnels first, then construct the station around them.

At Paddington, Costain Skanska will excavate the earth between the two tunnels creating a large open station platform level. Once excavation is completed, they will start building the station platforms and laying the track bed.

Following the completion of the platform and track bed construction, system-wide contractor ATC (Altsom, TSO & Costain) will commence fit-out of the new tunnels with track and other rail infrastructure.

The new Crossrail station is being constructed adjacent to the existing Paddington National Rail station under Eastbourne Terrace. The 250 metre long and 30 metre wide station will include a 120 metre long glass canopy that will let light down to the platform levels.