Crossrail’s lead tunnelling machine Phyllis has broken through into Bond Street station as she nears the half way point on her 6.8km journey from Royal Oak to Farringdon.

Phyllis is one of two machines currently heading east from Paddington on the £14.8Bn project. Crossrail will eventually see eight machines create 42km of new tunnel, equivalent to the distance road runners will race at the London Marathon next month.

“Arrival of Phyllis at Bond Street is a significant milestone for Crossrail,” said programme director Andy Mitchell. “These transport improvements together with new commercial space created above the station will help boost the West End’s position as a thriving cultural and retail destination.”

Elsewhere on the Crossrail project the tunnel boring machine Elizabeth is inching her way towards Canary Wharf station and another named Sophia is close to breaking through into a station box at Woolwich. Tunnelling machines are burrowing 30 to 35m below ground level, rising up to the station boxes and dropping down at they leave to help trains to brake and accelerate.

Crossrail services are due to begin in 2018. Transportation Professional’s April issue contains a two page feature about the progress of Crossrail’s tunnel boring machines, including a map of progress to date and an interview with Mr Mitchell.

(Photo: Crossrail)

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