Europe’s largest infrastructure project has been ongoing for the last few years, with another 4 years before it is operational. Crossrail, the “new London Underground” will stretch from Reading and Heathrow in the West, across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. The “£15 billion railway” will bring an additional 1.5 million people within 45 minute’s commuting distance of London’s key business and shopping districts. Crossrail estimate that around 200 million passengers will travel on the 120 kilometres (74 miles) of new railway every year.
“Crossrail is like undertaking open-heart surgery when the patient is awake”1
The current London Underground, consisting of 250 miles of track, 270 stations, and operating for the last 150 years makes over 1 billion journeys every year. With the current population of London at 8 million, with an estimated 1 million increase in the next 10 years, the underground system which is “the key to keep everyone moving” will be put under immense pressure. Crossrail could be the solution.
In order to construct this new railway, Crossrail not only employs over 10,000 engineers, but commissioned the construction of eight 1000 tonne tunnel boring machines (TBMs) costing £10m per TBM, each with their own specific task of weaving through the capital’s congested subterranean environment.
In true tunnelling fashion, all the Crossrail TBMs were christened: Phyllis and Ada bored their way from Royal Oak to Farringdon, completing their mission in November 2013 and January 2014 respectively; Elizabeth and Victoria will undertake the longest of the tunnel drives constructing new rail tunnels between Limmo (near Canning Town) and Farringdon; Mary and Sophia who in my view have the most exciting of jobs – tunnelling their way under the Thames, in order to construct the new Thames Tunnel between Plumstead and North Woolwich; and finally Jessica and Ellie, who were given the responsibility of constructing the tunnels between Pudding Mill Lane and Stepney Green, before completing the final drive of the project between Limmo and Victoria Docks.
The first six (Phyllis, Ada, Elizabeth, Victoria, Mary and Sophia) were all named after historical London figures, whilst the final two Jessica and Ellie were named after modern day heroes, two of our very own Olympic gold medallists (Jessica Ennis-Hill and Ellie Simmonds). Each of these giant beasts will need to be lowered to around 40m below ground level before embarking on their epic adventures.
A Crossrail tunnel boring machine
Over the last 3 weeks I have been keeping track of Crossrail’s progress not only through GroundSure’s own extensive data, but through the BBC’s ‘The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway’ programme. One of the most exciting parts was when the TBM got to the ‘eye of the needle’, an area where the Northern and Central lines meet at Tottenham Court Road. The TBM had to navigate not only these live routes but through sewers, cables and earth.
The point where Crossrail will join these networks lies 85cm above Tottenham Court Road station and 35m below the escalators carrying passengers to the surface. The 1000 tonne TBM ripped out the earth through this small space without any disruption to the live trains beneath or escalators above. Commuters would have made their journeys totally oblivious to the action around them.
Not only will Crossrail increase rail capacity, but will also include the construction of 10 new stations and ticket halls, some dealing with 5-10 passengers every second – one being submerged in a dock under the River Thames.
As with many construction projects of this scale, disruption may be experienced. The GroundSure HS2 and Crossrail report and the new GroundSure Underground report (coming soon) can ensure that these potential disruptions as well as the locations of the route and stations are identified prior to any house purchase. For further information please contact us on 08444 159 000 or info@groundsure.com
1. A quote from the BBC 2 documentary ‘the Fifteen Billion Pound Railway’
