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The first train load of material excavated from under the streets of London by the Crossrail tunnel boring machines has left London bound for Kent.
Departing from Crossrail’s Westbourne Park site, the 13-wagon train set off for Northfleet carrying 492 tonnes of earth.
However, this is just a fraction of what is to come, with Crossrail estimating that it will excavate some six million tonnes of material during the construction of stations and the 21km of twin-bore tunnel which comprise the development.
At the peak of tunnelling on the western side up to five 27-wagon freight trains a day will operate from Westbourne Park carrying a total of 7,000 tonnes of earth.
Once at Northfleet, the material will be taken by ship to regeneration sites, including a new RSPB nature reserve at Wallasea Island in Essex.
Andy Alder, Crossrail’s western tunnels project manager, said: “This excavated material will be used help create a RSPB nature reserve at Wallasea Island that will be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Author: Editor Gavin Pearson (gpearson@acenet.co.uk or 0207 202 0255)
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