Crossrail announces major contract for tunnel fit-out

Date: 22/9/2011

Work on the Crossrail project continues apace, with a notice being posted in the Official Journal of the European Union in order to begin the procurement process for the fit-out of the new tunnels.

The first tunnel boring machine is set to be launched in spring next year, and by the latter part of 2014, more than 21 km of twin-bore subways running across London via the centre of the city and Docklands will be complete.

Once this part of the project is finished, work will begin to install the track and all the other necessary equipment - such as ventilation, drainage and overhead power rails - to get trains running on the line by 2018.

It has been estimated that the contract will be worth around £400 million due to the amount of work involved and will see up to 14,000 individuals being employed when construction is at its height.

Andy Mitchell, Crossrail Programme Director, said: "Such is the scale and complexity of the task it will take several years to complete the fit-out works, with people working around the clock to complete the job."

The contract is scheduled to be awarded at the end of 2012 to allow time for design and planning before the project begins in 2014.

Crossrail has also now confirmed its shortlist of organisations in the running to deliver the rail service's signal and control system.

Posted by Mary Treen