Crossrail has released a set of photos showing the critical work to fit out the tunnels to turn them into the Elizabeth line operational railway.

Although much of the recent focus has been on building the tunnels and stations, they are blank canvases that need to have all the power supply and signalling systems applied to them.

A team of engineers is now working around the clock to install the 2 x 25kV overhead traction power system.Each Elizabeth line train will draw power in the tunnels from the rigid overhead catenary system’s aluminium alloy conductor bar which houses copper contact wire. These bars are currently being installed in 10 metre sections.

The main power supply in the tunnels under central London will come from two new bulk supply points and their associated autotransformer feeder stations which are being built at each end of the new railway along with autotransformer sites in east and southeast London.

In total, over 1,500km of cable will be used to supply power, lighting and ventilation systems to the new railway.

Applying the International Standard for Measuring Things, that’s the equivalent of 100,000 double-decker buses.