01.03.13
Astounding photos from under London as Crossrail hits peak phase
Crossrail is moving into its peak tunnelling period, with five tunnel boring machines (TBMs) in operation. New photographs show the tunnelling work underway, with over 7,000 people currently working on Europe’s largest construction project.
More than 5km (three miles) of tunnels have been created so far, with TBMs working beneath four central London station sites using sprayed concrete lining ‘mining’ techniques: Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street and Whitechapel.
Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail’s chief executive, said: “With 26 miles of new tunnels to be built for Crossrail we are delivering our own London marathon beneath the streets of the capital. This is a huge and complex task with work underway 24 hours a day below London’s streets but our first few miles of tunnel are now completed.
“These new underground images show the scale of transformation taking place beneath London and the essential new transport links being created with every metre of new tunnel built.”
Also this week, Crossrail has awarded the high voltage traction power supply to a joint venture between Alstom Transport and Costain Limited.
The works involve the construction of a feeder station at Pudding Mill Lane where power from the 400 kV National Grid network will be converted down to 25 kV before being fed into the overhead line equipment that will power the new Crossrail trains. A separate feeder station will be constructed by Network Rail at Kensal Green.
Four high voltage auto transformer stations will be constructed at Westbourne Park, Stepney Green, Custom House and Plumstead to maintain the voltage along the line.
Here are some more of the new photos:
(All images copyright Crossrail Ltd.)