10.07.14
Construction of new Crossrail stations hits halfway point
Construction of Crossrail’s new stations in central London and Docklands have now hit the halfway mark, with almost three miles of platform and station tunnels created underneath the streets of the capital.
The new stations are being built at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf, Custom House and Woolwich, as part of Europe’s largest infrastructure project.
Currently constructors at five of Crossrail’s central London stations are using the ‘Sprayed Concrete Lining’ technique to create new station tunnels – Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Whitechapel. The work involves spraying a quick setting form of concrete onto freshly excavated ground to seal the new tunnels.
Three further stations – Paddington, Canary Wharf and Woolwich – are ‘box’ stations. At these sites, the entire outline of the station is excavated and then created with concrete.
Crossrail has stated that once the underground spaces are complete, the process of fitting them out with platforms, escalators and the systems required to turn them into fully functioning stations will begin. Canary Wharf, where the process of fit-out has already begun, is the most advanced of Crossrail’s new stations.
Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail chief executive, said: “Most people have no idea that more than 30m below their feet a warren of new station tunnels is being excavated across central London. These striking images offer a glimpse of Crossrail’s new stations that from 2018 will serve tens of thousands of passengers every day.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]