Woolwich Online: Good Progress On Crossrail As Project Moves Ahead With 67% of Work Complete

by Benson Agoha | Crossrail

The programme to build the new railway for London and the South East is now 67% complete and continues to be delivered safely, on time and within the available funding, Crossrail has said.

* Canary Wharf Crossrail Station

Crossrail announced the latest update of it's huge cross-capital project saying it had now completed the fitting out of Canary Warf Crossrail station, making the project 67% complete.

The announcement follows the successful completion of 42km tunnel in the spring, and according to Crossrail, the project "continues to move closer towards delivering the new railway" which will open in phases from 2017.

"The 10 new Crossrail stations being built in central London are starting to take shape" Crossrail said, adding that the Station structures are complete at Canary Wharf and Custom House.

All other new stations continue in central London, Crossrail said, and good progress is being made to upgrade stations on the West and the East, including Woolwich, where a new station is being fitted out.

The concreting aspect of the project, to construct platforms and track bases are also in progress, assisted by the arrival of the concreting train which is helping to build more than 50km of new tracks.

The new phase also presents many more opportunities for skills, talent and good news for the British economy to which more than 95% of the contracts have been awarded so far.

Also interesting is the fact that 61% of Crossrail suppliers are based outside of London. 485 apprentices are supported by Crossrail in collaboration with its supply chain.

* Latest Crossrail Route Map

Environmentally speaking, very effort has been made to turn environmental waste to gain, Crossrail said, with 98% of spoil excavated during the construction programme being beneficially reused to bring new life to areas in London and the South East.

This includes the creation of a new wildlife habitat at Wallasea Island, the first phase of which was completed in the summer.

Crossrail will cut journey times massively and travelers from Woolwich will be in Canary Wharf in only 8 minutes.