Crossrail’s tunnel boring machine, Phyllis, has completed the construction of the first of the new train tunnels under London.
Phyllis reached Farringdon – the midway point of the project – 17 months after starting her 4.2 mile journey from Royal Oak in west London. During the coming weeks, Phyllis will be dismantled and her 130 metre long trailer system will be removed from the tunnel via the recently completed Fisher Street shaft.
Six other Crossrail tunnelling machines are hard at work deep under London burrowing along their 26 mile marathon. Says Andy Mitchell, Crossrail Programme Director, ‘Crossrail’s construction continues to move ahead at a significant pace. Crossrail has not only completed the first Crossrail tunnel under London but has reached the half-way point for our tunnelling machines with a phenomenal 13 miles of train tunnels constructed to-date.
A further six tunnelling machines are currently hard at work constructing over 100 metres of new tunnel each day with major tunnelling due to complete next year.’
