Work to construct the walls and columns for the new Crossrail station at Paddington is now complete.

Work started in April 2012 to construct the 40 metre deep reinforced concrete wall around the perimeter of the new station. Crossrail, Costain Skanska JV and subcontractor Cementation Skanska worked round the clock for 11 months to put in place the 165 individual diaphragm wall panels to form a box 265 metres long and 22.5 metres wide.

The completed walls have required over 64,000 tonnes of concrete and 5,000 tonnes of steel in their construction. They are made up of 165 rectangular panels that measure 3.3 metres in length, 1.2 metres in width and 40 metres deep. The excavation of these panels saw over 53,000 tonnes of London clay removed. 165 diaphragm walls and 51 plunge columns have been installed to support the new station.


Ben Hardy, Crossrail Paddington Project Manager said: "The completion of the walls and central columns is a significant milestone for the new Crossrail Paddington station. The next phase of construction will now focus on excavation of the station box."

The new Paddington station will be 260 metres long, 30 metres wide and 30 metres deep and will provide step free access to platform level along with an interchange with national rail and London Underground. Eastbourne Terrace will be reinstated above the station once main works have finished.

(CD)