Cathedral like caverns constructed beneath London will be transformed into 10 new world class stations More...

8 giant tunnelling machines worked around the clock to construct a network of new rail tunnels under London More...

Europe's Biggest Railway Infrastructure Project

Crossrail is the biggest railway infrastructure project in Europe and is one of the largest single investments undertaken in the UK. The Crossrail project is delivering the Elizabeth line.

Since the construction of the new railway began in 2009, over 15,000 men and women have worked on the project and over 120 million working hours have been completed. Over 1,000 apprenticeships have also been delivered by the Crossrail programme.

LATEST PROGRESS

Testing of new trains and infrastructure is underway and continues alongside the remaining fit-out of the stations.

All of the permanent track has been installed and the new Elizabeth line trains are currently being tested using the line’s new automatic train control system which operates in the central section of the route.

TESTING AND COMMISSIONING

Crosssral started testing the new railway in 2018 to verify the design and installation of the railway systems match the requirements of the Elizabeth line. Crossrail expects to trial run the trains over many thousands of miles on the completed railway to ensure the highest levels of safety and reliability when passenger service begins.

Testing of the railway remains ongoing and Crossrail expects that commissioning will conclude at the end of 2020 before opening the central section of the Elizabeth line.

TEN NEW STATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST LONDON

The Crossrail project is delivering new stations at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf, Custom House, Woolwich and Abbey Wood.

Each of the ten new stations will have its own, distinct character, conceived by different architects, which reflect the environment and heritage of the local area. However, at platform level, common design components such as seating, signage and full-height platform screen doors will create a consistent and familiar feel to the rest of the Transport for London (TfL) network.

FITTING OUT THE RAILWAY

A dedicated team of engineers has worked around the clock to install tunnel ventilation, power, signalling, communications and overhead line equipment.

Crossrail expects that the remaining fit-out and systems installation in the stations and tunnels will be completed at the end of 2019. This will allow the new stations and rail infrastructure to be integrated with the rest of the railway.

TRACK INSTALLATION

More than 50km of new, permanent track has been installed between Westbourne Park in west London and through to Plumstead and Pudding Mill Lane in the east. Having started track installation in 2015, the final section of track was completed in the eastbound tunnel of the new Whitechapel station in July 2017.

The majority of the track in the central section is formed from standard track slab. This connects with the other track forms that will be used at specific locations.

UPGRADES TO THE EXISTING RAIL NETWORK

Around three quarters of the route will run above ground on the existing rail network in outer London, Berkshire and Essex.

Network Rail is delivering this part of the Crossrail programme to add capacity, improve reliability, upgrade stations and electrify sections of the Great Western Main Line.

26 MILES OF NEW RAIL TUNNEL UNDER LONDON

The Elizabeth line is the first complete new underground line in more than 30 years. Crossrail tunnelling began in May 2012 and ended at Farringdon in May 2015 with the break through of tunnelling machine Victoria. Eight 1,000 tonne tunnelling machines have bored 26 miles or 42 km of new 6.2m diameter rail tunnels under London.

A marathon of new Crossrail tunnels have been constructed beneath the busy streets of London by huge tunnel boring machines.