And Now Berkeley Homes Get In On The Act
Crossrail is setting new standards in the way it distributes information about Europe’s largest project and London’s new railway.
And now Berkeley Homes, who are developing the site at Woolwich Arsenal with new homes and a new station, have published a time-lapse video, which shows the construction of the enormous station box, where the railway tunnels will go. It has been embedded in this web page on the Crossrail web site.
It is definitely worth watching.
I shall be going to the Open Day for the station box on February 27th, if I can get a ticket.
Following Crossrail
There are a series of articles on the Crossrail web site.
If Crossrail builds the tunnel as well as it distributes information about the project, we’ll have no worries about the project looking like it says on the tin.
I find it unsurprising that the most viewed article is this one, which shows aerial views of various locations.
The Latest Proposal For Crossrail 2
Crossrail 2 has been around since the early days of the twentieth century, but it is only now that Crossrail is well underway, that a serious proposal for a north-east to south-west cross London railway has been brought forward. It’s here on the BBC.
Crossrail 2 will be a lot easier than Crossrail.
When we were planning North Sea Oil platforms in the 1970s, every few years the cranes, barges and drills would be a lot bigger. So for a start, the tunnelling machines available to Crossrail 2, will be an order of magnitude bigger than those for Crossrail. I suspect if you look at the map for Crossrail 2, the two machines will start at Hackney and come out at Wimbledon or vice-versa, as there is no major junction in the middle like Farringdon, where the machines will have to be extracted or turned.
The project engineers for Crossrail 2, will probably take advantage of all the tricks they have learned on the previous project.
But if they follow the design published yesterday, there is tremendous simplification in the design, with much simpler-to-build stations in Central London. One is the very large double-ended station at Euston-Kings Cross. Why we don’t have more of these, I do not know!
I think, an early start is needed.
Building A Station Like A Caisson
I was at the new CrossRail station at Canary Wharf today and took these pictures.
They show the enormous concrete block of a station and the walkway, that will connect it to the area of Canada Square and its offices.
Note how the main building looks almost like one of the giant caissons used for Mulberry Harbours, that were used in the Second World War to invade Normandy.
These giant Phoenix caissons, were actually built in these docks, after they had been drained and filled with sand. They were then floated out for the invasion. I’ve actually been in several of these amazing concrete structures in The Netherlands, where they were used to fill the last gap in the dykes after the North Sea Flood of 1953. They are now a museum, dedicated to the floods and those who perished.
It’s rather strange how history is repeating itself in a similar manner. I suppose though, that the engineers know that the ground is strong enough to take the weight of the station.
It does look from this web page on the Crossrail web site, that Canary Wharf Crossrail station is going to be worth the wait until 2018, although it will be substantially complete by the end of this summer.
The highlight of spring and summer will be the tunnelling machines passing through on their way to Farringdon station.
Creation Of Crossrail At Custom House
The Crossrail line through Custom House is unusual in that because it is close by the DLR, you can see all of the work as the new railway is being installed.
It is very much unusual to see a modern railway being created, but as the pictures show, you can get a good view of London’s new railway as it is created.
The pictures were taken from the three stations; Royal Victoria, Custom House and Prince Regent. It will be interesting to see how the view changes as Crossrail is built.
There’s more about Custom House station on this web page on the Crossrail web site.
Lots Of Orange At Custom House Station
I took these pictures at the site of the new Custom House Station for CrossRail today.
It doesn’t look as if there has been much progress, since I last visited, but then buildings are always slow to start as foundations have to be done correctly.
As you can see right into the construction works from an overbridge linked to the DLR platforms, it is one of those few building sites, where the public gets a good look at what is going on.
Where’s The Building Gone?
The last time, I walked through here on my way to Liverpool Street station, I’m sure there was a building.
But it’s gone now to be replaced by a new 5 Broadgate, which replaces 4 and 6. Those buildings didn’t live as long as I have so far!
Note that it will be completed in 2015. That shows what I think is a very tight timetable and probably some good project management.
It’s All Go At Custom House Station
I returned to Custom House station today, to see if anything had started.
There did seem to be a fair bit going on. but no parts of the new station seemed to have arrived.
And what was the shark doing? I suppose the river isn’t far away.
On the other hand, the pub opposite; The Barge, seemed to have all the architectural merit of the average Australian dunny. Some buildings have to be sacrificed in the name of progress.
Vermilion And Other Developments At Canning Town
Canning Town is on the up literally.
Vermilion and the other developments are just a stone’s throw from the excellent station, which I visited earlier.
You will notice Vermilion really stands out in pictures like these taken from the Emirates air-line.
The Anonymous Widower 