Crossrail tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have broken through at three sites across central London in the last two weeks in an ‘unprecedented’ flurry of activity on the £14.8 billion project.
Starting with Elizabeth, who arrived at the new Whitechapel station on January 20, two more TBMs have completed their tunnelling journeys.
Ada broke through at Farringdon on January 24 – 18 months after setting out from Royal Oak – and Jessica and Victoria arrived at Stepney Green on February 3 and January 30 respectively.[pullquote align=”right”]The end is now in sight for Crossrail tunnelling with over 70 per cent of the new rail tunnels now constructed.[/pullquote]
Finally, Sophia became the first TBM to tunnel beneath the Thames, making her way to the North Woolwich Portal on January 29.
Tunnelling is now more than 50 per cent complete signalling the beginning of a shift in Crossrail’s delivery from a tunnelling programme to a railway project.
Andrew Wolstenholme OBE, Crossrail chief executive, said: “The tunnelling teams deserve tremendous credit for their safe and efficient progress in constructing this major new railway under London.
“The end is now in sight for Crossrail tunnelling with over 70 per cent of the new rail tunnels now constructed. The next major element of the Crossrail programme will now begin with the fit-out of our tunnels and stations.”
