A Costain Skanska Joint Venture (JV) has excavated down to the new Crossrail tunnels, breaking into the top of the tunnels 16 metres below ground level, as part of construction of the new Paddington station.

Costain Skanska will excavate the earth between the two tunnels creating a large open station platform level. Once excavation is completed, they will start building the station platforms and laying the track bed.


Costain Skanska JV Construction Manager Andy Mooney said: "Reaching the tunnels marks an important phase in the construction of Paddington station. The excavation down 16 metres underneath Eastbourne Terrace will allow us, once we have removed all of the 2,640 individual tunnel segments, to start the construction of the platforms and track bed."

Costain Skanska's workforce of 400 subsequently excavated more than 40,000 tonnes of earth, enough to fill 44 Olympic-sized swimming pools to reach the western running tunnels.

(CD/JP)