Final Crossrail track
The final clips are installed at Whitechapel as the cross-London project enters the next crucial stage of building.
THE final piece of permanent track to be installed on the Crossrail project was secured into place on September 14, 35 metres below ground in the eastbound tunnel of the new Whitechapel station.
Track Quality Control Engineer Ellen McGuinness was joined by Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport Val Shawcross and Crossrail Chairman Sir Terry Morgan at the event, where the final clips were fixed.
This now means that trains can travel the full length of both new tunnels. A construction train entered at Plumstead earlier this year, passing through nine new stations and leaving at Royal Oak.
“The Elizabeth Line will transform rail transport in London with better and faster journeys for passengers. The official completion of the track is a hugely significant milestone towards delivering this scheme on time and within available funding,” said Grayling.
“But this isn’t just a success story for London. Crossrail, Europe’s biggest construction project, has created jobs and driven economic growth across the UK with companies based here winning 96% of the scheme’s contracts.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The completion of the Elizabeth Line track is a huge milestone on the way to finishing a project that will transform transport across London and the South East.
“With brand new trains and step-free stations, the Elizabeth Line will provide a truly world-class service for passengers, and this important landmark is testament to the hard work and expertise of all the men and women who have been working on the project.
“Alongside progressing plans for Crossrail 2, the completion of the Elizabeth Line will be vital for helping us deal with London’s growing population, it will boost jobs across the UK, and improve the quality of life for millions of people living and working in the region.”
Howard Smith, Transport for London’s Elizabeth Line Operations Director, said: “It’s a huge moment in the project, turning it from a construction project into a railway, with around 15 months until our customers ride the first trains beneath the streets of London.
“Crossrail will continue working hard to fit out the line and stations ahead of TfL preparing to run and maintain the Elizabeth Line from next year.”
Work is now focused on installing platform screen doors, signalling, tunnel ventilation and communications systems, as well as overhead line electrification.
The first phase of Crossrail began in June, with the launch of the Class 345 Aventras on the Metro section from London Liverpool Street to Shenfield. Phase 2 is the introduction of ‘345s’ on the Western section from Paddington High Level to Heathrow Airport in May next year.
December 2018 is Phase 3, when it officially becomes the Elizabeth Line. Trains will start running from Paddington Low Level to Abbey Wood via the Central Tunnel.
Phase 4, due in May 2019, is the start of direct trains from Paddington to
Shenfield. Heathrow trains will continue to serve the high level platforms. The final phase (and project completion) is December 2019 when the full route is open.