Construction teams worked around the clock from Sunday 23 December, through Christmas Day and Boxing Day to move both tracks of the DLR route next to ExCeL. Final track adjustments were then made on New Year’s Day after new signalling was installed by DLR’s contractors. In total, some 420 metres of twin DLR tracks were renewed and realigned. The track works were essential to create space for the construction of Victoria Dock Portal that will allow the new Crossrail trains to move from the surface railway from the east, into the route’s new central tunnelled section. Work will shortly get underway to construct Victoria Dock Portal.
A single tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be launched in early 2014 tocreate nearly 1km of twin-bore tunnels between Limmo Peninsula near Canning Town station and Victoria Dock Portal in the Royal Docks, completing a key part of the Crossrail route in east London. Once the TBM completes its first tunnel and breaks through at Victoria Dock Portal, it will then be turned around and driven back to Limmo to create the second adjacent tunnel.
Bill Tucker, Crossrail Area Director Central said:“Engineers worked around the clock over the Christmas break to complete these important track works as planned. The completion of this DLR track work paves the way for construction of Victoria Dock Portal to begin, a key part of the Crossrail route in east London.”
When Crossrail opens in 2018it will increase London's rail-based transport network capacity by 10%, supporting regeneration and cutting journey times across the city. Crossrail will help transform rail transport in east London with areas such as Whitechapel, Ilford and Romford gaining direct links to the capital’s major employment areas.
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