NEWSFLASH NEW IMAGES REVEAL CROSSRAILS LATEST PROGRESS New images released by Crossrail reveal the project’s progress as it hits the 60% complete mark. More than 23 miles (nearly 90%) of train tunnels below London are now complete, with tunnelling due to finish in spring next year. Six of Crossrail’s eight tunnelling machines have now completed their drives. The construction of ten new stations in central and southeast London is more than half complete. The surface works, delivered by Network Rail, are well underway. Significant progress has been made on the new flyover at Stockley, providing access to Heathrow, and on a new diveunder at Acton. In addition, a temporary station has opened at Abbey Wood to allow the new Crossrail station to be built. Andrew Wolstenholme, Crossrail Chief Executive, said: “Crossrail is being delivered on time and on budget. These fantastic images show the scale of work taking place around the clock beneath the streets of London. We are on schedule to provide London and the South East with a fantastic new railway in 2018.” More than 10,000 people are working directly on Crossrail at around 40 construction sites. Over the course of the project, it is estimated that Crossrail and its supply chain will support the equivalent of 55,000 full time jobs across the country. More than 7,000 people have completed training at Crossrail’s Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy in Ilford, which opened in 2011. In addition to Crossrail, 61,000 jobs are created around the country annually through TfLs investment programme. TfL and its suppliers have also created over 5,000 apprenticeship roles since April 2009. Over the coming months, while tunnelling will continue, Crossrail’s focus will shift to the substantial job of fitting out the stations and tunnels. Crossrail will transform public transport in London, reducing journey times, increasing rail capacity by 10 per cent and bringing an extra 1.5 million people to within 45 minutes of central London. Crossrail will be run by TfL as part of London’s integrated transport network.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 22:55:18 +0000